Father R. Stephen Almagno

Father R. Stephen Almagno, died on March 1, 2024 in New York City. He was a Friar-priest of the Franciscan Order and professor emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh. At his death, Fr. Almagno was 84 years old, 67 years a Franciscan, and 59 years a priest. Before retiring his final assignment was 6 years on the staff of the Franciscan Retreat Center in Wappingers Falls, New York. Prior to that he was for 30 years a professor at the University of Pittsburgh. He was superior of the Franciscan Holy Land Monastery, Washington, DC and taught at Catholic University. Before that, he worked in Rome at the International Franciscan-Dominican Research Center. In retirement he lived at the Mary Manning Walsh Home in New York City. Professor, lecturer, and author, he conducted many parish missions and retreats (especially for bishops, priests and religious) throughout the United States, Canada, Central-South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In the 1970s and 1980s he preached more than 40 Lenten retreats in various parishes throughout the Diocese of Providence. A specialist in the life and thought of Fr. Teilhard de Chardin, he was one of the founding members of the American Teilhard Association and had written and lectured extensively on Teilhard. He was appointed literary executor for the late Cardinal John Wright and published with the Ignatius Press 7 volumes from Wright's papers.

Fr. Almagno was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen Almagno and Theresa LaFazia Almagno, and his brother Joseph Almagno. Fr. Almagno is survived by his sister-in-law, Marie Almagno, his niece Dr. Stephanie Almagno, her husband Rodolfo Valadez, and their daughter Isabella Valadez, and by his nephew Stephen Almagno, his wife Cindy, and their children, Jenna and Christian.

Visitation will be on April 3 at NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave., Cranston, RI from 5:00 - 8:00 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on April 4 in St. Bartholomew Church at 11am followed by burial in the Almagno Family plot at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Cranston. Memorials may be sent in honor of Fr. Stephen Almagno, OFM to the National Institute for Newman Studies. 211 North Dithridge Street. Pittsburgh, PA 15213.