Richard Earl Cross , April 28, 1932 — October 17, 2018

Richard Earl Cross was born April 28, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the only son of Judge Earl R. Cross and Felipa Moss McKey. His family has been in America since before the American Revolution and several of his ancestors fought in that way, the Civil War and the First World War.

Richard was raised in the Presbyterian and Methodist traditions and was later attracted to the music and liturgy of the Catholic faith. He eventually became a Roman Catholic, but always with an ecumenical orientation. Attracted to church ministry, Richard undertook seminary studies in religion, the humanities, Latin, Greek and sacred music.

He took early piano lessons at the Peabody Music Conservatory. Richard later did advanced studies in philosophy and theology at the Catholic University of Louvain/Leuven, Belgium (established in 1425). He earned a graduate degree in theology from Louvain and in Education from Manhattan College.

Richard served in parish ministry and as a seminary professor for a decade. While teaching French he led teams of students to do volunteer work on the island of Martinique. He also studied piano, theory and Gregorian chant at the Pius X School of Liturgical Music and obtained a graduate degree in education at Manhattan College.

He later worked as learning specialist in the New York public schools and as a Hospice volunteer for fifteen years. Richard was devoted to church reform and participated in interfaith activities with the Muslim community of Westchester. He was honored in 2006 by the American Muslim Women’s Association “for his commitment to building bridges of understanding among our diverse communities,” Richard was also a published composer, essayist and translator.

As a member of the American Liszt Society he researched and wrote about the 19th century musical world of Franz Liszt. In 1969 Richard’s marriage to his beloved wife Kathleen Marie Stanton was witnessed by a family friend, the future Archbishop of Washington, James Cardinal Hickey. Richard and Kathleen spent their years together as a pastoral music team in their home parish of Transfiguration.

Richard is survived by this precious wife Kathleen, their son Christopher Joseph and his wife Millie, and grandchildren David Earl and Isabel Marie Cross.

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