Beloved Mt. Irenaeus Founder Fr. Dan Riley Laid to Rest

ALLEGANY, NY — Friends, family and friars gathered at St. Bonaventure Cemetery to lay to rest the Rev. Dan Riley, OFM, one of the university’s most cherished figures and the founder of Mt. Irenaeus.

Brother Kevin Kriso, OFM, led the service, reminding attendees of the significance of the day.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

“How appropriate we have the feast of St. Francis,” Kriso said.

Kriso also reflected on the deep spiritual connection between the day and Father Dan's passing.

“I was noticing that Dan’s tomb is right by some of the older friars," Fr. Kriso said. “This history here — the Order of Friars Minor, the Order of St. Francis — reminds us of Dan’s connection to a long legacy of service and faith.”

Riley, who passed away at age 81, had been a professed Franciscan friar for 58 years and a priest for 53. He is remembered not only for his work as the founder of Mt. Irenaeus but for his unwavering dedication to the university and its students.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

“He was a mentor, a spiritual guide, and a friend to so many,” Kriso said. “Dan acted in many, many ways in the lives of family, friars, friends and people from the area who got to know him.”

During the ceremony, the Rev. Joe Kotula, OFM, shared a story about a recent encounter that reminded him of  Riley’s enduring spirit.

“The day Dan died, I was driving back from Bonas with a young lady from Australia,” Kotula said. “There was this dog in the middle of the road in a terrible place. So, I called it Dan. I said, ‘Dan, get in the car.’ And the dog did. It took over the car, just like Dan would have. Luckily, we were able to bring the dog home, where it belonged. That was Dan — always finding his way home.”

Kriso invited those in attendance to share any thoughts or memories of Father Dan. Denny Riley, the friar’s brother, was the first to speak.

“He had more books than I do,” Denny Riley said. “He read everything, and he believed everything. Every philosopher, every religion — Dan studied it all. That’s who he was.”

The connection between the spiritual and natural world was a recurring theme throughout the service, a testament to Dan Riley's philosophy.

“Dan always believed there was no difference between the secular and the sacred,”  Kriso said. “Everything is infused with God’s love. The larger world is all part of wisdom’s playground.”

The Rev. Bill McIntyre, OFM, a newer member of the Mt. Irenaeus community, shared a story about his first encounter with Riley.

“I met him when I was 18,” McIntyre said. “I always liked to tell him he was the second friar I ever met. He was upset about something once, and I said to him, ‘Dan, you’re the most influential friar since Thomas of Bonaventure.’ He didn’t like that at all. Father Dan told me, ‘He’s history. I’m living,’”

The ceremony concluded with Kriso leading a final prayer.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net