Father Cowhig died Jan. 6 at his home in Scituate of congestive heart failure. He was 90. Father Cowhig was a natural leader and a wonderful gentleman and priest. Edward Cowhig was also a gifted athlete, an outstanding student who was first prefect of his class at the seminary, and a great Army chaplain.
Edward Cowhig, who had a 43-yard interception for a touchdown in BC’s 14-0 victory over Indiana in 1938, missed the opportunity to play for the 1940 BC team that went 10-0 and defeated Tennessee, 19-13, at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year’s Day 1941. Edward also appeared at quarterback in the 1940 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, where BC lost to Clemson, 6-3, after a 9-1 season.
Three of his four brothers also were football players: Jerry Cowhig was an All-Scholastic at Mechanics Arts High School and a Notre Dame captain who played professionally, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams; James Cowhig played for the High School of Commerce and then starred at Fordham; and Frank put on the pads at Boston College High and BC.
Their father, David, was a champion bowler and sculler in Ireland who met his wife, Mary Ellen (McCarthy), on the boat that brought them to America in 1903. Edward was one of six of their offspring.
He had contemplated the priesthood since his sophomore season in college. Between ordination and 1950, when he entered the US Army Chaplain Corps, Father Cowhig was assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Revere and also served at St. Francis de Sales Church in Charlestown.
During his 12 years in the military, he served Army personnel at Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Campbell, Ky., and in Korea, Germany, and Okinawa, mainly with the 82d Airborne Division.While at Fort Bragg, Father Cowhig helped start a 600-member chapter of a Catholic church group, the St. Michael’s Society, which he referred to as “my boys.’’ He parachuted from 1,250 feet during “Operation St. Michael’s,’’ while smoking a cigar, a tradition he upheld no matter where he served. Father Cowhig would conduct Mass in drop zones after jumps.
He resigned his commission in 1962 after attaining the rank of major and moved to Scituate, where he lived for many years with his sister, Peggy.
From 1963 (at St. Michael’s Church in Lowell) until his retirement in 1995, Father Cowhig held assistant pastor positions at several parishes, including St. Joseph’s Church in Somerville, St. Jude Church in Norfolk, and Gate of Heaven Church in South Boston. He was pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Gloucester in 1971.
In 1972, he was called to the state prison at Walpole at the request of convicted murderer William Sullivan, who was dying of leukemia. Sullivan told Father Cowhig that the codefendant in the case, George Reissfelder, was not involved in the shooting death of a Railway Express clerk at Boston’s South Station six years earlier. Father Cowhig, hoping justice would be served, told authorities about Sullivan’s admission. Reissfelder’s court-appointed attorneys, future senator and presidential candidate John Kerry and Roanne Sragow, won Reissfelder’s release in 1982, based in part on Father Cowhig’s testimony.In 1986, Father Cowhig was featured in a television documentary that chronicled the Reissfelder case.
Father Cowhig, who earned a Master of Divinity degree at St. John’s Seminary in 1975 and a master’s in guidance counseling at Framingham State College in 1976, provided counseling to disabled veterans. He was chaplain at Pondville Hospital in Norfolk and Walpole from 1971 to ’77 and a work release counselor for the state’s Department of Correction.
“We mourn the passing of Father Cowhig, who was called to the priesthood during tumultuous times in the history of our nation and world,’’ Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, said in a statement. “He ministered with love, commitment, and a desire to bring the message of Christ to parishes and communities across the Archdiocese. We pray that God grant him eternal rest."
Father Cowhig leaves three other nephews and three nieces. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday at St. Mary of the Nativity Church in Scituate, where he was a parishioner. Burial was at New Calvary Cemetery in Mattapan. (ref: excerpts[edited] courtesy of Globe Newspaper Company Jan 18, 2010)
Edward Cowhig, who had a 43-yard interception for a touchdown in BC’s 14-0 victory over Indiana in 1938, missed the opportunity to play for the 1940 BC team that went 10-0 and defeated Tennessee, 19-13, at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year’s Day 1941. Edward also appeared at quarterback in the 1940 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, where BC lost to Clemson, 6-3, after a 9-1 season.
Three of his four brothers also were football players: Jerry Cowhig was an All-Scholastic at Mechanics Arts High School and a Notre Dame captain who played professionally, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams; James Cowhig played for the High School of Commerce and then starred at Fordham; and Frank put on the pads at Boston College High and BC.
Their father, David, was a champion bowler and sculler in Ireland who met his wife, Mary Ellen (McCarthy), on the boat that brought them to America in 1903. Edward was one of six of their offspring.
He had contemplated the priesthood since his sophomore season in college. Between ordination and 1950, when he entered the US Army Chaplain Corps, Father Cowhig was assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Revere and also served at St. Francis de Sales Church in Charlestown.
During his 12 years in the military, he served Army personnel at Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Campbell, Ky., and in Korea, Germany, and Okinawa, mainly with the 82d Airborne Division.While at Fort Bragg, Father Cowhig helped start a 600-member chapter of a Catholic church group, the St. Michael’s Society, which he referred to as “my boys.’’ He parachuted from 1,250 feet during “Operation St. Michael’s,’’ while smoking a cigar, a tradition he upheld no matter where he served. Father Cowhig would conduct Mass in drop zones after jumps.
He resigned his commission in 1962 after attaining the rank of major and moved to Scituate, where he lived for many years with his sister, Peggy.
From 1963 (at St. Michael’s Church in Lowell) until his retirement in 1995, Father Cowhig held assistant pastor positions at several parishes, including St. Joseph’s Church in Somerville, St. Jude Church in Norfolk, and Gate of Heaven Church in South Boston. He was pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Gloucester in 1971.
In 1972, he was called to the state prison at Walpole at the request of convicted murderer William Sullivan, who was dying of leukemia. Sullivan told Father Cowhig that the codefendant in the case, George Reissfelder, was not involved in the shooting death of a Railway Express clerk at Boston’s South Station six years earlier. Father Cowhig, hoping justice would be served, told authorities about Sullivan’s admission. Reissfelder’s court-appointed attorneys, future senator and presidential candidate John Kerry and Roanne Sragow, won Reissfelder’s release in 1982, based in part on Father Cowhig’s testimony.In 1986, Father Cowhig was featured in a television documentary that chronicled the Reissfelder case.
Father Cowhig, who earned a Master of Divinity degree at St. John’s Seminary in 1975 and a master’s in guidance counseling at Framingham State College in 1976, provided counseling to disabled veterans. He was chaplain at Pondville Hospital in Norfolk and Walpole from 1971 to ’77 and a work release counselor for the state’s Department of Correction.
“We mourn the passing of Father Cowhig, who was called to the priesthood during tumultuous times in the history of our nation and world,’’ Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, said in a statement. “He ministered with love, commitment, and a desire to bring the message of Christ to parishes and communities across the Archdiocese. We pray that God grant him eternal rest."
Father Cowhig leaves three other nephews and three nieces. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday at St. Mary of the Nativity Church in Scituate, where he was a parishioner. Burial was at New Calvary Cemetery in Mattapan. (ref: excerpts[edited] courtesy of Globe Newspaper Company Jan 18, 2010)
Father Cowhig died Jan. 6 at his home in Scituate of congestive heart failure. He was 90. Father Cowhig was a natural leader and a wonderful gentleman and priest. Edward Cowhig was also a gifted athlete, an outstanding student who was first prefect of his class at the seminary, and a great Army chaplain.
Edward Cowhig, who had a 43-yard interception for a touchdown in BC’s 14-0 victory over Indiana in 1938, missed the opportunity to play for the 1940 BC team that went 10-0 and defeated Tennessee, 19-13, at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year’s Day 1941. Edward also appeared at quarterback in the 1940 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, where BC lost to Clemson, 6-3, after a 9-1 season.
Three of his four brothers also were football players: Jerry Cowhig was an All-Scholastic at Mechanics Arts High School and a Notre Dame captain who played professionally, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams; James Cowhig played for the High School of Commerce and then starred at Fordham; and Frank put on the pads at Boston College High and BC.
Their father, David, was a champion bowler and sculler in Ireland who met his wife, Mary Ellen (McCarthy), on the boat that brought them to America in 1903. Edward was one of six of their offspring.
He had contemplated the priesthood since his sophomore season in college. Between ordination and 1950, when he entered the US Army Chaplain Corps, Father Cowhig was assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Revere and also served at St. Francis de Sales Church in Charlestown.
During his 12 years in the military, he served Army personnel at Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Campbell, Ky., and in Korea, Germany, and Okinawa, mainly with the 82d Airborne Division.While at Fort Bragg, Father Cowhig helped start a 600-member chapter of a Catholic church group, the St. Michael’s Society, which he referred to as “my boys.’’ He parachuted from 1,250 feet during “Operation St. Michael’s,’’ while smoking a cigar, a tradition he upheld no matter where he served. Father Cowhig would conduct Mass in drop zones after jumps.
He resigned his commission in 1962 after attaining the rank of major and moved to Scituate, where he lived for many years with his sister, Peggy.
From 1963 (at St. Michael’s Church in Lowell) until his retirement in 1995, Father Cowhig held assistant pastor positions at several parishes, including St. Joseph’s Church in Somerville, St. Jude Church in Norfolk, and Gate of Heaven Church in South Boston. He was pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Gloucester in 1971.
In 1972, he was called to the state prison at Walpole at the request of convicted murderer William Sullivan, who was dying of leukemia. Sullivan told Father Cowhig that the codefendant in the case, George Reissfelder, was not involved in the shooting death of a Railway Express clerk at Boston’s South Station six years earlier. Father Cowhig, hoping justice would be served, told authorities about Sullivan’s admission. Reissfelder’s court-appointed attorneys, future senator and presidential candidate John Kerry and Roanne Sragow, won Reissfelder’s release in 1982, based in part on Father Cowhig’s testimony.In 1986, Father Cowhig was featured in a television documentary that chronicled the Reissfelder case.
Father Cowhig, who earned a Master of Divinity degree at St. John’s Seminary in 1975 and a master’s in guidance counseling at Framingham State College in 1976, provided counseling to disabled veterans. He was chaplain at Pondville Hospital in Norfolk and Walpole from 1971 to ’77 and a work release counselor for the state’s Department of Correction.
“We mourn the passing of Father Cowhig, who was called to the priesthood during tumultuous times in the history of our nation and world,’’ Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, said in a statement. “He ministered with love, commitment, and a desire to bring the message of Christ to parishes and communities across the Archdiocese. We pray that God grant him eternal rest."
Father Cowhig leaves three other nephews and three nieces. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday at St. Mary of the Nativity Church in Scituate, where he was a parishioner. Burial was at New Calvary Cemetery in Mattapan. (ref: excerpts[edited] courtesy of Globe Newspaper Company Jan 18, 2010)
Edward Cowhig, who had a 43-yard interception for a touchdown in BC’s 14-0 victory over Indiana in 1938, missed the opportunity to play for the 1940 BC team that went 10-0 and defeated Tennessee, 19-13, at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year’s Day 1941. Edward also appeared at quarterback in the 1940 Cotton Bowl in Dallas, where BC lost to Clemson, 6-3, after a 9-1 season.
Three of his four brothers also were football players: Jerry Cowhig was an All-Scholastic at Mechanics Arts High School and a Notre Dame captain who played professionally, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams; James Cowhig played for the High School of Commerce and then starred at Fordham; and Frank put on the pads at Boston College High and BC.
Their father, David, was a champion bowler and sculler in Ireland who met his wife, Mary Ellen (McCarthy), on the boat that brought them to America in 1903. Edward was one of six of their offspring.
He had contemplated the priesthood since his sophomore season in college. Between ordination and 1950, when he entered the US Army Chaplain Corps, Father Cowhig was assistant pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Revere and also served at St. Francis de Sales Church in Charlestown.
During his 12 years in the military, he served Army personnel at Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Campbell, Ky., and in Korea, Germany, and Okinawa, mainly with the 82d Airborne Division.While at Fort Bragg, Father Cowhig helped start a 600-member chapter of a Catholic church group, the St. Michael’s Society, which he referred to as “my boys.’’ He parachuted from 1,250 feet during “Operation St. Michael’s,’’ while smoking a cigar, a tradition he upheld no matter where he served. Father Cowhig would conduct Mass in drop zones after jumps.
He resigned his commission in 1962 after attaining the rank of major and moved to Scituate, where he lived for many years with his sister, Peggy.
From 1963 (at St. Michael’s Church in Lowell) until his retirement in 1995, Father Cowhig held assistant pastor positions at several parishes, including St. Joseph’s Church in Somerville, St. Jude Church in Norfolk, and Gate of Heaven Church in South Boston. He was pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Gloucester in 1971.
In 1972, he was called to the state prison at Walpole at the request of convicted murderer William Sullivan, who was dying of leukemia. Sullivan told Father Cowhig that the codefendant in the case, George Reissfelder, was not involved in the shooting death of a Railway Express clerk at Boston’s South Station six years earlier. Father Cowhig, hoping justice would be served, told authorities about Sullivan’s admission. Reissfelder’s court-appointed attorneys, future senator and presidential candidate John Kerry and Roanne Sragow, won Reissfelder’s release in 1982, based in part on Father Cowhig’s testimony.In 1986, Father Cowhig was featured in a television documentary that chronicled the Reissfelder case.
Father Cowhig, who earned a Master of Divinity degree at St. John’s Seminary in 1975 and a master’s in guidance counseling at Framingham State College in 1976, provided counseling to disabled veterans. He was chaplain at Pondville Hospital in Norfolk and Walpole from 1971 to ’77 and a work release counselor for the state’s Department of Correction.
“We mourn the passing of Father Cowhig, who was called to the priesthood during tumultuous times in the history of our nation and world,’’ Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, said in a statement. “He ministered with love, commitment, and a desire to bring the message of Christ to parishes and communities across the Archdiocese. We pray that God grant him eternal rest."
Father Cowhig leaves three other nephews and three nieces. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday at St. Mary of the Nativity Church in Scituate, where he was a parishioner. Burial was at New Calvary Cemetery in Mattapan. (ref: excerpts[edited] courtesy of Globe Newspaper Company Jan 18, 2010)
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