The online testimonials for Father James A. Broderick following his death on Aug 31, 2020, at Regina Cleri, Boston, were a witness to the effect a priest can have on people's lives; and how the good effects remain appreciated and recalled even decades later.

Born in Lynn on Sept. 22, 1925, he was the only child of the late James and Beatrice (Riggs) Broderick. He was raised in Gloucester and attended local schools and, after his high school graduation from St. Ann High, Gloucester, in 1943, he immediately entered the United States Army, serving the Army Air Corps, the predecessor to the United States Air Force.

Following training in Biloxi, Miss., and Sioux City, Iowa, he was deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) and, over the next two years, he participated in air raids over Germany and occupied France not infrequently in company with Royal Air Force (RAF) and Free French flyers. Of these days, he had a vivid memory and a plethora of stories he readily and willing shared.

He returned to the United States after the war and took advantage of the GI Bill. He is an alumnus of Boston College and received a BS in economics in 1951. He worked in banking and was a junior vice president of Old Colony Trust. He was engaged to be married but he went on a retreat to Spencer Abbey in Spencer, Mass., and then decided he wanted to be a priest. He entered St. John Seminary and, on Feb. 2, 1960, he was ordained to the priesthood at Holy Cross Cathedral by Richard Cardinal Cushing.

During the next 38 years, he had only four assignments: assistant at Our Lady of the Presentation, Brighton; member of the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle, serving in Peru; and then, on his return to the United States in 1964, he was appointed an assistant at Our Lady of Grace Parish, where he remained for an astonishing 21 years.

Not surprisingly, many of the accolades and notes of appreciation stemmed from his Everett and Chelsea years, where so many thanked him for his kindness, his wonderful sense of humor, and his influence, especially on young people.

On July 2, 1985, Bernard Cardinal Law named him pastor of St. George (Lithuanian) Parish in Haverhill; he was just shy of 60 years old. He brought the same excitement and enthusiasm to Haverhill that he had demonstrated for the two decades in Chelsea-Everett. As many stories as he could tell about his military experience, as many could be told about his priestly life and ministry. He was, as far as most people and priests knew, one of the happiest and kindest men and priests.

In 1998, Cardinal Law granted him senior priest retirement status; he was then 73. His retirement would be his longest assignment! He initially resided at Sacred Hearts, Haverhill (1998-2004); and, then for the next dozen years, at Immaculate Conception, Newburyport, until he moved to Regina Cleri in 2016. During his first years at Regina Cleri he was known to hop on the commuter rail at North Station and get off for dinner on Saturday night at Immaculate Conception Rectory.

Father Broderick died at Regina Cleri on Aug. 31, 2020, just a few weeks shy of his 95th birthday. Although physically weakened, he was still mentally alert.

Father Broderick's Funeral Mass was celebrated at Immaculate Conception, Newburyport, on Sept. 5, 2020. Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley was the principal celebrant of the funeral Mass; concelebrating with the cardinal were Merrimack Regional Bishop Robert Hennessey; the parish's pastor Father Timothy Harrison who served as homilist; Father John Delaney, pastor of Sacred Hearts, Haverhill, and vicar forane of the area; Father Christopher Wallace, pastor of All Saints, Haverhill; and Father John Mulloy, senior priest, St. Joseph, Malden.

Father Broderick was buried in St. Mary Cemetery, Newburyport.