DETROIT — Fr. Richard Cyr, who served for many years as a pastor at parishes across the Archdiocese of Detroit, passed away Sept. 7. He was 80.

His last pastoral assignment was as pastor of St. Matthias Parish in Sterling Heights, where he served from 1989-2004. In his retirement years, Fr. Cyr had been a weekend associate at St. Peter Parish in Mount Clemens.

Jeanne McGlinchey, parish secretary at St. Matthias who worked with Fr. Cyr during his time there, said the late pastor was “good-natured” and “quiet.”

“He was good man, a nice man,” she recalled, adding he was always very patient with parishioners and compassionate in responding to their needs. “Everybody loved him,” she said.

McGlinchey recalled Fr. Cyr’s love of golf, as well as his fondness for cooking, as he was always willing to try new recipes.  “He loved having his weekly dinners with his priest friends,” McGlinchey said. “He was a great host.”

In an online remembrance, Connie Dostine of Rogers City remembered Fr. Cyr as a “most understanding friend and spiritual confidant.”

Fr. Michael Cooney, pastor of St. Peter Parish, wrote in his parish’s bulletin that Fr. Cyr was “one of a kind.”

“He touched us with his words of wisdom and his humor. He touched us from his heart to ours because he loved us and we loved him,” Fr. Cooney said. “There will never be another Fr. Richard Cyr.”

Born in Detroit on Aug. 14, 1934, Richard Edward Cyr was one of 13 children born to George and Elizabeth Cyr. He studied for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth Township, before being ordained June 4, 1960 for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Fr. Cyr’s first assignment was as associate pastor of St. Raymond Parish in Detroit from 1960-65. He later served as associate pastor of Christ the King Parish in Detroit (1965-69) and St. Regis Parish in Bloomfield Hills (1969-72), before becoming pastor of St. Ronald Parish in Clinton Township, where he served from 1972-89.

Fr. Cyr then served as pastor of St. Matthias from 1989 until his retirement in 2004.

Fr. Cyr is predeceased by his parents and a brother, Thomas. He is survived by 11 siblings: Mary Ann (Jack) Brehmer, Jacquiline Whelan, Paula Michaels, Gary (Machiko), Douglas (Barbara), Janet (Jim) Mowid, Donna Derey, George (Gloria), Bernadette (Mike) Coats, Diane (Gary) Kuechen, and Gerilyn (Tim) Doherty, in addition to 95 nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated for Fr. Cyr at St. Peter Parish, Mount Clemens, on Sept. 12. Interment was to be in Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township. Condolences may be sent to Paula Michaels, 18981 Lauren Drive, Clinton Township.