1911 – 1967 (November 30)
William Francis McDermott was born in Avoca, Pennsylvania, on November 19, 1911. He received his primary education there, and his secondary education at Saint John’s High School. He entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, as a postulant in September 1932 and was received into the novitiate at New Hamburg, New York, on September 9, 1933. He made profession of simple vows on September 10, 1934. After graduating from Villanova in June 1938, he did theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, DC, and was ordained to the priesthood at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on June 10, 1941. He received his M.A. from Catholic University of America in June 1942.
Father McDermott was assigned to Saint Augustine High School, San Diego, California, in June 1942, where he taught and was Athletic Director for the next five years. In September 1947, he was assigned to the Mission Band, and for the next 17 years went about the country preaching retreats, novenas, days of recollection, and various other spiritual exercises. He became a very popular preacher and spoke in many church and religious houses in the eastern part of the United States.
In poor health and suffering from diabetes, he was assigned to the Villanova Monastery in 1964, where he remained until September 1967 – except for a brief period as an assistant in the parish of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Bryn Mawr, PA. On September 18, 1967, Father McDermott was assigned to the faculty of Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, where he taught religion and economics.
Father McDermott died suddenly on Thursday evening, November 30, 1967 after a brief illness. His death was diagnosed as the result of a diabetic coma at Fitzgerald-Mercy Hospital, Yeadon, Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Father McDermott was buried from Saint Mary’s Hall Collegiate Seminary. Internment took place at the community cemetery at Villanova.
