Rev. John P. Spellman, OSFS, professed member of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales for 64 years, died January 25, 2022.

Father was born in Philadelphia, PA, on June 23, 1938, the son of Joseph Spellman and Marie (Sieyes) Spellman. He attended St. Martin of Tours Elementary School, in 1954 graduated Northeast Catholic High School, after which he entered the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.  Father was ordained a priest on October 1, 1966, completed a BA in Philosophy (1963) at The Catholic University of America (DC) and an MA in French (1972) at Villanova University (PA).

Following ordination, over the years he worked at Father Judge High School (Philadelphia, PA), Salesianum School (Wilmington, DE) and Bishop McDevitt High School (Harrisburg, PA). Father Spellman stepped away from Secondary Education (in which he served for a total twenty-five years) and served as Director of Senior Oblates for three years, from 1993 – 1996. He retired from full-time active ministry in 2012.

In addition to his years in Secondary Education and internal ministry, Fr. Spellman also served as a Chaplain in the Unites States Navy for more than a quarter of a century. Between 1972 and 1975, he was assigned to active duty with the US Marine Corps at Twenty-Nine Palms, CA and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He continued to serve as a Chaplain in the Naval Reserve through December 1996, retiring with the rank of Captain.

Father is survived by a sister-in-law, Rosemarie Spellman, and many devoted nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

Visitation will begin at 9 AM Monday, January 31, at Hicks Home for Funerals, 103 West Stockton Street, Elkton, MD with a Prayer Service at 9:45AM.  Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions and precautions in the State of Maryland, the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in private on Monday at the Oblate Community Chapel, 1120 Blue Ball Road, Childs, MD. Interment with full military honors, to which visitors are welcome, will take place at 12:15 PM at the Oblate Cemetery, Childs.

In memory of Fr. John P. Spellman's life and legacy, donations may be made to the Oblate Development Fund, P.O. Box 87, Childs, MD 21916-0087.