BRIDGEPORT–The Reverend Frank A. Winn, who became a priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport after a successful career in advertising, died in Providence, Rhode Island, August 31 after a long illness.
“Fr. Winn will be affectionately remembered by many across the diocese, particularly at St. Paul Parish in Greenwich, for his humble and joyful service. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr. Winn and for the consolation of his family,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.
He was 79. Born in Providence, son of Joseph R. and Margaret M. (McDonell) Winn, Father Winn grew up in North Scituate, R.I., and attended LaSalle Academy in Providence and Scituate Junior-Senior High, graduating in 1958. He went on to earn an undergraduate degree in English and religious studies at Fordham University.
Following a long career as an advertising executive in Manhattan, Father Winn heeded a spiritual calling that would keep him active in the Catholic Church for the next 25 years. After receiving a master’s degree in theology from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, N.Y., in 1992, he completed a one-year residency program in Hospital Chaplaincy at Cabrini Hospital in New York and at Bridgeport Hospital, then serving in both cities providing pastoral care. After chaplaincy service,
Father Winn studied for the priesthood at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Mass., a spiritual community dedicated to educating older seminarians.
He was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Reverend Edward M. Egan at St. Augustine Cathedral, Bridgeport on May 23, 1998.
Following ordination, Father Winn was appointed parochial vicar at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Ridgefield, where he said his first Mass on Sunday, May 24, 1998. He later served at St. James Parish in Stratford and went on to serve as parochial vicar of Assumption Parish in Fairfield.
In 2005, Bishop William E. Lori appointed Father Winn as pastor of St. Paul Church in the Glenville section of Greenwich where he served until his retirement in 2015.
Father Winn also served as Territorial Vicar for Vicariate 1 (Greenwich, Stamford and Darien) from 2006 through 2009.
In announcing his retirement due to ill health, Father Winn reflected on his long and joyous service at St Paul, telling his beloved parishioners, “Many of you know the priesthood was a second career vocation for me, and these last 11 years here at St. Paul have truly been the best years of my life. This has been my home and all of you have been my extended family – it was a good match; God has been good to me.”
Father Winn is survived by a sister, Marilyn Winn Seymour and her husband, David, of North Kingston, R.I; a brother, Joseph R. Winn Jr., and his partner, Elizabeth A. Laposata, MD, of Providence; nieces Jennifer Hodge and husband William, and Jane Dickinson and husband Blake; four grand nieces; and a grand nephew.
Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial and Fr. Thomas Lynch will deliver the homily on Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. in St. Paul Church, 84 Sherwood Ave., Greenwich, CT. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery will be private. Relatives & friends are invited and may call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. prior to the Mass. Due to COVID restrictions and limited seating and masks and social distancing are required.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the MS Society of Rhode Island in memory of John E. Seymour, Father Winn’s nephew and godchild.
Arrangements have been entrusted to THE CRANSTON-MURPHY FUNERAL HOME of WICKFORD. For online messages of condolence, kindly visit www.CranstonMurphy.com
