HEADLINE:
SUBHEAD: Monsignor J. Robert Yeazel passes away at the age of 84
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By Elizabeth Landry, staff writer
On paper, Monsignor J. Robert Yeazel’s various roles and contributions to the Diocese of Syracuse and to the wider community seem endless. He was a tireless servant in so many capacities throughout his priesthood: faithful pastor at parishes including St. Patrick’s in Binghamton, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse, Immaculate Conception in Fayetteville, and Holy Cross in DeWitt; steadfast leader within the diocese as vice chancellor, chancellor, vicar for administration, vicar for priests, regional vicar for Onondaga and Cortland counties, and as vicar general to Bishop Robert Cunningham; helpful collaborator as board member for several local organizations such as Hospice of Central New York, Francis House, the New York State Troopers Foundation, and the Road to Emmaus Ministry; and devoted chaplain to a motherhouse, monastery, and the Syracuse University football team.
But for those who were blessed to know the late Monsignor Yeazel, who died on March 12 at Francis House, describing who he was is much simpler.
“He was just kind to people,” said Monsignor Richard Kopp, longtime friend and colleague of Msgr. Yeazel. “[He had] a lot of talent, and you know, a lot of times talented people are a little arrogant, you know, but not him. He was very kind, unassuming.”
His talents made him a respected community leader, able to get work done efficiently and ensure the community’s needs were met.
“There are very few priests who have served in as many leadership roles as Msgr. Yeazel. As a young priest, he began by being secretary to the bishop, and his roles and responsibilities grew exponentially because he had so many gifts and talents,” said Danielle Cummings, chancellor and director of communications for the diocese.
“He established a firm footing for the diocese, financially and structurally. He helped in terms of establishing committees and things of that nature … whatever needed to be done in the community. … People of all different faiths knew him and could rely on him and go to him for advice and for assistance,” Monsignor Kopp said.
A friend, a helper, a servant leader
Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Cunningham and Msgr. Yeazel were close friends for more than 50 years. They first met when each was working for the bishops in their home dioceses. Bishop Cunningham attributes his friend’s legacy of kindness to his genuine connection and concern for others, and his desire to serve them in any way he could.
“We became very good friends, and we shared a lot of things with each other, sometimes problems, sometimes joys,” Bishop Cunningham said. “I think he was always, first, a priest. He knew who he was. He wanted to be a priest from very early on in his life, and he was very successful at what he did. People loved him, and he always found special ways to reach out to people who were in some sort of need or difficulty. I think he brought a spiritual dimension to everything. And then, of course, he was also just a very good human being and helped out wherever he could. He’s been a treasured friend for all of these years, and it’s tough to let him go.”
Another of Monsignor Yeazel’s strengths was leaving lasting first impressions on those he worked with and who were blessed to call him a friend.
“When you were with him, he was entirely present to you, listening and offering wisdom and care at each interaction,” Cummings said. “When I was hired as director of communications almost 30 years ago, he was so welcoming and left me a note on my desk that said, ‘Remember, everyone in this building, whether lay or clergy, is simply this: human beings. They put one foot in front of the other, sometimes they stumble and need support to put the next foot forward.’ They are words I have remembered for my entire tenure.”
“I first met [Msgr. Yeazel] in a professional way, when I came into the office as assistant chancellor in 1977,” Msgr. Kopp recalled. “Of course, we soon became friends, as everyone who worked with him experienced. The thing I remember about coming into the office [was] I knew nothing, nothing, when I came into the office. I was surprised to be asked to come in. He sat me down, and I can remember it like it was yesterday. He said, ‘You’ll learn a lot of stuff eventually, that’s fine. But always keep in mind your primary job will always be to be kind to everyone. And your primary responsibility in this position is to assist the priests. We need to be especially kind to the priests. You can make all kinds of mistakes,’ he said, ‘but always be kind.’”
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia shared an interesting fact about his relationship with Msgr. Yeazel: Yeazel was one of the few priests he knew before he came to the diocese. He recalled that the last three bishops of Syracuse (Bishops Moynihan, Cunningham, and himself) were all present at the 2006 dedication of Holy Cross Church – the church that was built under the leadership of Msgr. Yeazel. In recent years, Bishop Lucia said Msgr. Yeazel was his host when he visited priests at The Nottingham, always greeting him and helping lead him to whomever he was there to see.
“I always found him to be warm, hospitable, very welcoming, and so he just really put people at ease. He was very much interested in people,” Bishop said of Msgr. Yeazel. “He [just had] this genuine pastoral care for another person. … He was a man of service, wanting to serve God’s people in many different ways,” such as through community organizations, in parishes, and through scholarships for students to attend Catholic schools. “It comes down to [he was] a very caring person, but those aren’t just words, he lived those words.”
Going home to God
“It was never about him. It was truly that imitation of the Good Samaritan, just really wanting to help people where they’re at in their need,” Bishop Lucia said. Certainly that care for others was felt by so many who knew him and shared their memories, condolences and prayers on the tribute wall under his obituary, found here (for print, say “on the Schepp Family Funeral Home website).
Msgr. Yeazel himself once left a tribute wall message after the passing of his dear friend, Monsignor Eugene Yennock, who died in 2023. On Msgr. Yennock’s tribute wall, Msgr. Yeazel’s message reads:
“Friends,
We have all lost an amazing priest and friend.
His last few weeks with us at The Nottingham were graced for us. We shared many a story and laugh.
Monsignor was a Faith-filled man who inspired so many to ‘come and see’ the Lord, and we have all lost a great proclaimer of the Faith.
Masses and prayers are with him and all of you.
Prayerfully,
Msgr. Robert Yeazel”
Now, these same words can be said of Msgr. Yeazel. By his side when he passed was Bishop Lucia.
“It was a privilege for me to be with him the other day when he went home to God,” Bishop shared. “We were praying together when that happened, and I don’t think there could have been a greater privilege.”
