Rev. Lawrence Banfield, O.P.

Rev. Lawrence O.P. Obituary

Fr. Lawrence Banfield died Monday after a long illness. Viewing will be at 10:00am, Saturday, April 16, 2011, followed by recitation of the rosary at 11:30am and a con-celebrated funeral Mass at noon, all at Holy Rosary Church, Portland.

Fr. Banfield, known to many as Fr. Larry, was a well-known mission and retreat preacher in the Western United States. Born September 30, 1914, in Chicago to Charles Patrick Banfield, M.D. and Pearl Patricia Langley, he was raised in Gratiot, Wisconsin; and Columbus, Ohio. He attended Providence College where he became acquainted with the Dominican friars and the University of Wisconsin. Coming west, he joined the Dominicans in 1936, pursued theological studies at St. Albert’s College in Oakland, California, and was ordained a priest June 7, 1941 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco. His first assignment to Portland was in 1943, the beginning of a love affair with Oregon, where he spent most of his career.

Although Fr. Larry served in parishes throughout the west, his talent proved to be in itinerant preaching. He literally became a fixture among the clergy in many dioceses. His style was informal and usually humorous. He had an unlimited bag of jokes which he used in the pulpit to make the Scriptures relevant to his listeners. He also had a memory that retained about everyone he ever met. An inveterate golfer, he often partnered with some of the big names in the the game. Recruited by the military to preach missions to soldiers and sailors around the world, his Dominican confreres awarded him the rank of preacher general, the highest honor given to a preacher.

As Fr. Larry grew older, his health began to slip away. Inactivity and the inability to be on the road were difficult for him, but he retained his memory for detail and his humor. He had a keen interest in charity and was particularly devoted to his adopted projects in Venezuela. But he was grateful to God for granting him a long and fruitful life. Indeed, he would have celebrated his 70th year as priest in June.

Among his many living relatives are his brother, Charles Banfield of Lake Tahoe, California; and his cousin, Mary Murphy of Portland; who provided him with years of loving care as his body refused to match his spirit. Fr. Larry died at Maryville Nursing Home in Beaverton. As he approached his end, he requested that his friends pray for his soul. In his honor, he sought donations to Light of Life, a charity supporting the education of young Dominican friars. Interment will be at the Dominican Cemetery in Benicia, California.

Funeral Mass

noon ,Saturday, April 16, 2011
Holy Rosary Church
Portland, OR
Notes: Viewing begins at 10:00am, followed by recitation of the rosary at 11:30am.`

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One reply on “Rev. Lawrence Banfield, O.P.”

I served as an altar boy with Father Banfield in Berkely at St. Mary Magdalene’s in the 1960’s. He was always in a good mood, a lot of fun to serve with and I have fond memories of him.

Best wishes, Father.

John Gamman,on behalf of the Gamman Family, Berkeley, CA