DETROIT — Fr. Robert Morand was “a real people person,” who loved Detroit and the people he served, said longtime Our Lady of the Rosary parishioner Norbert Kidd.

“He really reached out to all sorts of people, and was always willing to talk — to parishioners or to just anybody who came to see him,” Kidd said.

Fr. Morand had come to the parish — its church is the landmark Romanesque structure at Woodward and Interstate 94, topped by a statue of the Blessed Virgin — in 1989 as associate pastor. He was named pastor upon the death of Fr. Thomas McAnoy.

Kidd noted that Fr. Morand had been one of the founders of St. Martin de Porres High School in northwest Detroit back in 1967. “Fr. Morand remained involved there as a religion teacher and counselor until it closed in 2005, and many of his former students would come by the rectory to see him,” he said.

Another aspect of Fr. Morand’s lifelong advocacy for social justice was his work counseling prisoners in the Wayne County Jail.

Having been a camper himself at Camp Sancta Maria near Grayling, he continued to be active with the camp and served on its board, Kidd said.

Fr. Morand died March 17. He was 82.

Born Oct. 26, 1930, in Detroit to Louis and Helen (Walsh) Morand, he attended Gesu Elementary School in Detroit, Assumption High School in Windsor, Sacred Heart Seminary College in Detroit, and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township.

He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 1, 1957.

Fr. Morand’s many assignments included serving as associate pastor at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Detroit; St. Theresa of Avila Parish, Detroit; St. Peter Parish, Mount Clemens; St. Brigid Parish, Detroit; and St. Clement Parish, Center Line.

He was pastor of St. Theresa of Avila Parish and Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, both in Detroit; and also served as prison chaplain at Wayne County Youth Ministry and Youth Detention Criminal Justice Ministry.

Fr. Morand was predeceased by his parents, and a brother, John. He is survived by his brother Louis (Mary); and by many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated March 21 at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Detroit. Interment was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.

Condolences may be sent to Rosemary Morand, 39221 Woodward Avenue, No. 603, Bloomfield Hills 48304.