Rev. Patrick Christopher McGrath

Father Patrick Christopher McGrath, known as “Chris,” age 81, a resident of Annapolis, Maryland, passed away on April 22, 2016. Chris was born in Ireland. After graduating from high school, he went to England to work before returning to Ireland for seminary and becoming an ordained roman Catholic priest and completing a bachelor’s degree. After coming to the United States in the mid-1960’s, he served as a parish priest in the Southern States. He became a naturalized American citizen and subsequently attended the University of Maryland, where he earned a master’s degree in Social Work and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. After that, he worked for the Child Protective Services Unit in Montgomery County, Maryland, for a number of years before transferring to the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services, doing child custody and adoption investigations and testifying in such cases, for many years before, and even after, retiring. He was widely admired for his hard work, insights, and dedication to the welfare and best interests of children. Chris is survived by a sister, two brothers, ten nephews, eight nieces, and numerous grand nieces and grand nephews and a great grand niece, all of whom still live in Ireland. He is also survived by many close friends, several of whom regarded him as part of their families, in Maryland and elsewhere in the Eastern and Southern portions of the United States. Chris’s funeral will be at St. Mary’s Church on Duke of Gloucester Street in Annapolis at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2016, immediately followed by interment. A viewing will be held at Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2016.