In Memoriam: Robert McCloskey ’67
The Rev. Robert McCloskey, Class of 1967, died in his home in Ashe County, North Carolina on November 4, 2022, from terminal cancer. He was a third-generation clergyman on his paternal side, father Robert Sr. and grandfather Nevin. He spent most of his childhood and youth in Jacksonville, Florida which he considered home, graduating from Parker High School. From 8th through 12th grade, he served as organist-choirmaster of St. Paul’s and St. Luke’s Parishes and assisting organist for concerts at St. John’s Cathedral.
He graduated from Stetson University with a degree in organ and was for two years organist-choirmaster of St. John’s Cathedral, Jacksonville, in succession to two of his mentors. Contemplating a dual vocation in church music and priesthood he entered General, graduating in 1967. During that time, he was assistant organist of the seminary and organist of parishes in Newark and Yonkers, as well as Temple Judea, Valley Stream, Long Island.
McCloskey was ordained Deacon and Priest in the Diocese of Massachusetts where he was rector of St. James’, West Somerville and St. Mark’s, Westford. He was also Episcopal Chaplain in a team chaplaincy with the Paulist Fathers at Tufts University for two years. In 1976 he became rector of St. Mary of the Hills, Blowing Rock in the Diocese of Western North Carolina. In 1982 he became rector of St. Peter’s Parish and Day School, Bay Shore, in the Diocese of Long Island. In 1989 he became rector of St. Stephen’s Parish and Day School, Coconut Grove, Miami, in the Diocese of Southeast Florida. He retired from St. Stephens at the end of 1999 whereupon he was assistant priest at Church of the Incarnation, Liberty City, Miami for five years. He served as chair of both the Ecumenical and the Music and Liturgy Commissions of each diocese in which he served.
McCloskey married Kathleen [Kay] McCloskey, a native of England, in 1968. They have three adult children: Janice Bainbridge, Peter McCloskey and Elisabeth Rock and four grandchildren: Alaina and Elijah Bainbridge, Caroline Culmo and Ray McCloskey. For nearly twenty years Kay was a mentor trainer for the EFM program. For twenty years they owned a cottage in the Cotswolds of England, during which time Bob was a regular assistant at Tewkesbury Abbey, Diocese of Gloucester. In 2005 they returned to the mountains of Western North Carolina to make their retirement home. His funeral liturgy will be celebrated at St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Parish, Blowing Rock, NC on November 18, 2022, at 11:00. The service will be celebrated by McCloskey’s classmate, The Rt. Rev. Mark Sisk, and the Rev. Samuel Tallman ’12 will preach.