Robert-Mary Michael McAuliffe

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McAuliffe, Robert-Mary Michael Beloved husband, uncle, priest, mentor and friend to many died peacefully of congestive heart failure November 23, 2005 in his home in Plymouth, MN under hospice care with his wife Mary at his side. He was born in Ann Arbor Township, MI, April 30, 1918. He attended elementary school at Hagen School #5, a one room country schoolhouse, graduated St. Thomas the Apostle High School; graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in economics in 1941. That same year he joined the Dominican Order, River Forest, IL and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1948, receiving the clerical name of Fr. Dennis Mary McAuliffe, O.P. His life as a Dominican embraced a wide range of ministries. In 1968 he became a grateful graduate of Hazelden in Center City, MN. After a two-year leave of absence from the priesthood, Fr. McAuliffe received official dispensation from the obligations of the priesthood. He married in 1970. His own recovery experience prompted him to devote a major part of the next 25 years of his professional life to the service of addicted persons and their families. He served as first Director of the Alcoholism Treatment Unit at St. Mary's Hospital and initiated the Chemical Dependency Specialist Training Program at Minneapolis Community College. With Mary, for twelve years he co-directed Five Thousand One, an outpatient addiction treatment center for addicts and their families in Golden Valley, MN. He delivered education, training and consultation services nationally in the chemical dependency profession. He co authored with his wife Mary, The Essentials of Chemical Dependency plus a Diagnostic Manual and a Patient Workbook. He was President of the American Chemical Dependency Foundation. Robert was a long distance staff member of the Marian Movement of Priests, St. Francis Maine and a professed member of the Dominican Laity. He is preceded in death by parents Dennis and Genevieve; brother John; sisters D. Patricia Lasky, Margaret Lirette. He is survived by his wife, Mary (Boesen); nieces, Patricia Patrick (OH), Judy Durand (MI) Joan Carstens (IA) Kathy Treves (WA) Carol Miller(NV); nephews, Robert, Charles, Michael, Joseph Kramer, Jerry and Thomas Lirette (MI). Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 AM Monday at the Church of St. Raphael, 7301 Bass Lake Rd. Visitation and Rosary Sunday, Nov. 27, 5-7 PM, Gearty-Delmore Chapel of Plymouth, 37th and Vicksburg Ave. N., and 1 hour prior to Mass at Church. Luncheon in Marian Hall immediately after Mass. Robert has bequeathed his body to the University of Minnesota for research and training purposes. Interment later at St. Thomas the Apostle Cemetery, Ann Arbor, MI. Donations to Priests for Life or to a pro-life organization of personal choice. Gearty-Delmore Plymouth 763-553-1411

Published on November 26, 2005