Remembering a beloved St. Bonaventure friar

He's being remembered as one of "the most beloved friars in the history of the university," as the St. Bonaventure community mourns the loss of Father Dan Riley, ofm.

According to the university, Fr. Dan passed away Wednesday at the age of 81.

The university said Fr. Dan was a professed Franciscan friar for 58 years and a priest for 53 years. He was a 1964 graduate of St. Bonaventure and other than two provincial assignments in the mid-1970s, his career was spent at the university since 1971.

“In my two years at St. Bonaventure, I have been overwhelmed with so many stories about the impact that Fr. Dan had on so many students and members of our community. His boundless passion for life, his ability to see the good in everything, was something I’ll always admire."

In a statement posted to its Facebook page, the Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province said:

It is with great sadness that we share that our brother Daniel Riley, OFM, 81, embraced Sister Death on July 24. Br. Daniel lived in Holy Peace Friary, where he was a former guardian and a founding friar of Mt. Irenaeus Franciscan Mountain Retreat. Br. Daniel made his simple profession on July 15, 1966, and his ordination on September 11, 1971.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Please keep Br. Daniel, his family and friends in your prayers.