1907 – 1971 (February 27)
William Thomas Eagan, son of James Eagan and Anna Rooney, was born in Plymouth, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1907, but he was raised in nearby Kingston. He graduated from the Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York in 1928, and entered the novitiate in September, 1928. William professed simple vows on September 10, 1929 and solemn vows on the same day in 1932. He obtained his B.A. degree from Villanova College in 1933. He completed his theological studies at Augustinian College and pursued graduate work in Mathematics at the Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the priesthood in Washington, DC, on June 9, 1936, by Archbishop Michael Curley of Baltimore.
Father Eagan was assigned from 1937 to 1959 at Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, Pa., where he taught Mathematics. From 1959 to 1965 he was prior of the community at Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pa., and from 1965 to 1967 he was prior at Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, DC.
After many years of teaching, hee was assigned as assistant pastor at Saint Paul's Church, Mechanicville, N.Y. He died there suddenly while hearing confessions on Saturday afternoon, February 27, 1971. A requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Paul’s on Monday, March 1, by Father Ernest Autch, O.S.A., pastor, with many friars and other clergy present. The following Wednesday a funeral Mass was celebrated at Villanova, with Father John Dunne, O.S.A. as homilist. Father Eagan was is buried in the Community Cemetery at Saint Mary's Hall, Villanova. His body was later transferred to the Augustinian section of Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken, Pa.
Father Eagan was described by Father Dunne as a kind, appreciative individual, whose sometimes gruff exterior could not hide his sensitive and humble nature. Father Eagan was 64 years old at his death and was survived by no close relatives.
