March 13, 2006 – A mass and memorial service are set for Saturday for Richard F. 'Rich' Kirwan, who died of lung cancer March 6 on St. Thomas. (See "Richard F. Kirwan, Dead at 74").
A mass will be said at 3 p.m. at Holy Family Church on Cassi Hill in Tutu, followed by a memorial service at 3:45 p.m. at Columban Hall on the church property.
Kirwan is survived by Helen, his wife of 35 years; son Richard; daughters Sydney Kirwan and Alicia Carusona; brother Roger; sisters Carol Aikenhead and Clare Briody; six grandchildren; many loving relatives and friends.
Kirwan graduated from Cornell Hotel School in 1953. He was manager of private clubs and restaurants including New York City's Playboy Club in the 1960's. Moving to St. Thomas in 1971 he became a prominent Realtor. He was also Rotarian and president of the Council on Alcoholism (COAST). Kirwan had achieved more than 20 years of recovery from alcoholism at the time of his death.
