The following comes from a November 17 SF Gate obituary:

Father Felix Francis Edward Cassidy, OP died peacefully on Friday, November 13, 2015. Father Felix was born on June 3, 1927 and raised in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights. He was baptized at St. Dominic’s Church in San Francisco. He attended St. Ignatius Prep. He was a World War II veteran, joining the Merchant Marine at the age of 17, serving from 1945-46.

Throughout his life in the Dominican Order, Father Felix had various assignments; however, he would spend most of his life at his beloved St. Dominic’s Church & Priory. Father Felix was clothed in the Dominican habit on August 14, 1948 in Ross, CA, and was ordained a priest on June 11, 1954 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco.

His parents, Edward George Cassidy and Mildred Mary Callan, christened him “Francis,” but the Dominican Order would give him the name “Felix.” It was a most appropriate name because it means “Happy” and that is how we would best describe him. His brothers and most others called him “Fr. Cas” or just plain “Cas.”

Even though it was not unexpected, after a long struggle with declining health, his death was a jolt to us, particularly to the contemporary generation of his confreres who could not imagine the Western Dominican Province without him. His was a defining presence in our lives. We were never unaware that there was a saint among us. With his distinctive voice and humor, he was our own local St. Joseph of Cupertino. He lived life to its fullness, displaying his child-like simplicity and playfulness-yet, always remaining a model of Christian virtue, like the great saints of old.

To honor the memory of Fr. Felix, donations to “opwest.org/frfelixmemorial” will support the education of future priests and brothers of the Western Dominican Province.

Vigil Services were celebrated on Thursday, November 19th, at St. Dominic’s Church, San Francisco. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, November 20th, at St. Dominic’s Church, San Francisco, which was followed by burial at St. Dominic’s Cemetery in Benicia, CA.