Longtime Parish Leader Mourned

Father John Gribbon passed away on Tuesday, August 9 at Oznam Hall. He was 80 years old.
Gribbon served the parishioners of St. Anastasia Roman Catholic Church in Douglaston from 1966 until his retirement in 2002. He resided there and remained active until his failing health necessitated special care.
According to associates and parishioners, Gribbon was known and loved by all. His humble, gentle smile, manners and humor endeared him to all, but especially to the young people of the parish.
“He was quintessentially priest,” said Monsignor Cantley, who served as pastor to Gribbon’s associate pastor for nearly 22 years. “He was constantly looking to be of service to people.
“Very unique, he was a man of tremendous interest in everything having to do with the church.”
Gribbon was born in Brooklyn in 1925. He grew up as in parishioner in the Queens Village church of Saints Joachim and Anne. He was ordained at St. James Cathedral in Brooklyn in 1950.
A Mass of Christian burial was held at St. Anastasia.
toni@queenscourier.com