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The Rev. Patrick J. Rice of the Order of Saint Augustine was born on July 12, 1919 in New York City, the son of Patrick Rice and Catherine Callan. He was baptized in Good Shepherd Church, New York City, and attended the parochial school there from 1925 to 1933. He attended Manhattan College High School, 1933 to 1937. He attended Manhattan College in New York, 1937-1941 and graduated with a degree in business administration. He then made application to the Order and spent a year at the Augustinian Preparatory Seminary, Staten Island. He entered the novitiate in 1943 and made first profession Sept. 10, 1944. He then spent a year at Villanova College for course work in philosophy and went to Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. in 1945 and completed his theological studies in 1949. During this time in Washington, he completed a master’s degree at Catholic University. He professed solemn vows in 1947 and was ordained to the priesthood in Washington, D.C., on June 8, 1948.

In 1949, he was assigned to live at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish in Jamaica, N.Y., and he attended Columbia University, 1949-1953, for doctoral studies in economics. He continued from 1953 to 1955 at St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish as associate pastor. After assignment to Msgr. Bonner High School for the 1955-1956 academic year, in the provincial chapter of 1956 he was appointed to Saint Mary’s Hall, Villanova, as sub-master and procurator (1956-1958). He was assistant director of the Augustinian Seminary Guild from 1958 to 1959. In 1959, he was assigned to Merrimack College, North Andover, Mass., and he worked there as college procurator until 1965 and served on the board of trustees 1961 to 1966. In 1965, Fr. Rice came to Villanova University and he spent the next 34 years working at the University and living at the Villanova Monastery.

Among the many offices and duties he had at the university were assistant procurator for the College, vice-president for Student Affairs, executive vice president for Administration. He retired from the University May 1, 1998.

Fr. Rice was a quiet gentleman, a dedicated priest, a gracious brother, a keen administrator and faithful confessor for the Villanova students. He assisted on weekends at various parishes in Pomona, N.J., and later at St. Mary Magdalene in Rose Tree, Pa. His love for the University and for the campus led him to oversee in detail the maintenance of the campus. He was well-loved by the university’s maintenance staff. Fr. Rice died peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 21. His funeral liturgy at Villanova took place on Friday, Oct. 24 and a second liturgy was held on Saturday, Oct. 25, at St. Elizabeth Church, Wyckoff, N.J., with burial in his family’s plot in Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, N.J.