With sadness we share the news of the passing of the Rev. David Badgley, age 73, on Saturday, September 20, 2014 in Florida.
Born in St. Petersburg, FL in 1941, David was ordained in the Diocese of Southwest Florida in 1993. At the time he decided to enter seminary, he was working on the staff at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in St. Petersburg.
After his ordination, David served in the Diocese of Bethlehem from 1993 to 1998. He then came to the Diocese of Newark to serve as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Haledon (now closed) from 1998 to 2003. During that time he also served for two years as the Executive Coordinator for Province II.
Retired diocesan administrator Michael Francaviglia says of David, "He was a sweet and gentle person who was quite a craftsman and excelled at carpentry work," noting that David employed these skills building custom work surfaces in several Episcopal House offices.
Michael also noted that David's wife, Chris, was a member of the diocesan staff starting soon after they arrived here. Michael says, "She and David were a loving couple, devoted to each other, and fun to be around, especially during any minor disagreements on how something should get done in the office - very humorous."
David retired in 2004, and in 2008 he and Chris moved to Tampa, thereby returning to the Diocese of Southwest Florida, although he remained canonically resident in this diocese.
Contact information for David's family was not immediately available. Condolences may be sent to:
The family of the Rev. David Badgley
c/o The Diocese of Southwest Florida
8005 25th Street East
Parrish, FL 34219-9405
Good and gracious God, the light of the faithful and shepherd of souls, you sent your servant David to be a priest in your Church to feed your sheep with your word and to guide them by his example; give us the grace to keep the faith he taught and to follow in his footsteps. We entrust him into your unfailing mystery of Love and Hope through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Editor's note: A "Celebration of Life" service will be held at St. Peter's Cathedral, St. Petersburg, at 1 p.m. on November 15, 2014.
