Robert J. Waldron

West Harwich – Reverend Robert J. Waldron, of West Harwich, died Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at Cape Cod Hospital. He was 83.

Father Waldron was born in Medford on December 20, 1931, a son of the late Michael and Mary Waldron. He grew up in Saint Joseph Parish and graduated from Saint Clement High School in Somerville. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1953 from Boston College and then spent the next two years serving in the United States Army.

He later earned his master's degree in business administration from Northeastern University in Boston and worked for a number of years before answering the call to priesthood in 1964. He was a member of the first graduating class of the new seminary in Weston for delayed vocations now re-named Pope Saint John XXII Seminary.

Father Waldron was ordained on May 11, 1968 by Richard Cardinal Cushing at Saint Ignatius Church in Newton and celebrated his first Mass at his home parish in Medford a day later.

He began his ministry at Saint Margaret Parish in Burlington and later served as a parochial vicar at Saint Patrick in Natick, Saint John the Evangelist in Chelmsford, Saint Margaret Mary in Westwood and at Saint Mary in Randolph.

In April, 1992, Father Waldron was appointed administrator of Saint Jude Parish in Waltham and in June of that year was installed as the parish's sixth pastor. He served God's people in that capacity until his retirement ten years later.

During his tenure as pastor at Saint Jude he celebrated the silver jubilee of his ordination in May, 1993 and the 50th anniversary of the parish in 1999. A major project completed during his pastorate was the acquisition of a parcel of land adjacent to the church creating a large parking area, a playground for the school and handicap access for the church.

His last Sunday Mass at Saint Jude's was celebrated before a full church on November, 24, 2002 and ended with parishioners giving him a rousing round of applause. He retired to the Cape that same year.

He leaves his sister, Dorothy M. Fitzgerald-Bachynski of Yarmouthport and many nieces and nephews and their families.

He was also the brother of the late James T. Waldron.

Fr. Waldron will lie in state in Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Monday, April 13th from 4 to 7 p.m.

A con-celebrated Funeral Mass will be offered on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. in Saint Jude Church followed by burial in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.

Memorial donations may be made to Pope Saint John XXIII National Seminary, 558 South Street, Weston, MA 02493.