WORCESTER___ Reverend George J. Ridick, III, 76, of Worcester died on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, in St. Vincent Hospital, 123 Summer St.
He was born in Worcester, a son of George J. Ridick II and Angela Catherine (Bender) Ridick. He was a graduate of Classical High School and Assumption College. He worked as a teacher and youth counselor at Mount St. John School in Deep River, CT. He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, MD. Father Ridick was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Worcester on June 2, 1973. During his 48 years as a priest, he was first assigned to St. Charles Borromeo, Church, Worcester, he then served as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. Upon his return to Worcester he was assigned to St. Roch’s Church, Oxford. He was named Pastor of St. Catherine of Sweden Church in 1988 and in 2007 was named Pastor of the merged St. Catherine of Sweden Church and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church which became Sacred Heart-St. Catherine Parish in Worcester, from where he retired.
At Assumption he played basketball and was named All American Athlete. In 1978, he was inducted into the Assumption College Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2016, he was named to the Worcester City Athletic Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his brother, James G. Ridick and his wife Nancy (Foley) of Worcester; nephew Timothy Ridick; his nieces Kate Ridick and Kris Sullivan. He is predeceased by his sister, Georgiana Ridick.
The reception of Father George’s body into Sacred Heart – St. Catherine Church, 600 Cambridge St. will be Monday, December 27, 2021, where he will lie in state during calling hours from 4:00 pm to 7:00pm with a Vigil service to be conducted at 7:00 pm. The Concelebrated Funeral Mass with the Most Reverend Robert J. McManus as Principal Celebrant, will be at Sacred Heart-St. Catherine Church on Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at 11:00 am. The committal service and entombment will follow in St. John Mausoleum, Worcester, MA. DIRSA - MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 298 Grafton St. is assisting the family.