Gerald T. Walsh was born in Manhattan on April 25, 1942, and graduated from Power Memorial Academy there in 1959. He began his studies at Iona College in New Rochelle before entering St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers in 1961, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s of divinity.

In 1967, Cardinal Francis J. Spellman ordained Walsh to the priesthood at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on May 27, 1967. After spending three months in the archdiocese’s Spanish language immersion program in Puerto Rico, he received his first assignment as parochial vicar of Holy Trinity parish in Manhattan.

Upon receiving his assignment letter from Cardinal Spellman, Father Walsh went to see the pastor of Holy Trinity. On his way, he encountered three sixth-grade boys wearing Holy Trinity shirts—Edmundo, Peter, and Anthony. This chance meeting set the tone for his personable and pastoral approach throughout his ministry. He would maintain connections with these boys throughout his life, noting years later that Anthony had died, one lived in Garnerville, and the third resided in Florida.

Father Walsh remained at Holy Trinity as a parochial vicar for 13 years and continued in residence there for another nine years after joining the staff of the archdiocese’s Catholic Charities in 1980. At Catholic Charities, he served first as the associate director and then as the director of family and children’s services. In 1983, he earned a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University.

In 1989, Walsh was named pastor of Incarnation parish in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. He was elevated to monsignor in 1990, and in 1996, he became secretary to Cardinal John J. O’Connor. Two years later, in 1998, he was appointed pastor of St. Elizabeth parish, also in Washington Heights.

In 2003, Monsignor Walsh was named vicar for development. A year later, in 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed him as an auxiliary bishop for the archdiocese. Cardinal Edward Egan ordained Bishop Walsh, along with Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan, who later became Bishop of Camden, New Jersey, on May 21, 2004.

Bishop Walsh served as rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary from 2007 to 2012, and in that capacity, he welcomed Pope Benedict XVI to the seminary in 2008. Since 2012, he has served as vicar for clergy and episcopal vicar for the Rockland, Central Westchester, South Shore, and Yonkers vicariates and deaneries. He also served as vicar general of the archdiocese from 2013 to 2014.

In April 2017, Bishop Walsh reached the normal retirement age of 75. On September 5, 2017, Monsignor Walter Erbi, charge d’affaires at the Vatican’s nunciature in Washington, D.C., announced that Pope Francis had accepted Bishop Walsh’s resignation. However, Cardinal Dolan reappointed him as vicar for clergy for one year, a position Bishop Walsh gratefully accepted.

Throughout his 50 years in the priesthood, which he noted had “gone by very fast,” Bishop Walsh has emphasized the importance of reverence in celebrating Mass, preparing homilies, and connecting with parishioners. He advocated what he called the “theology of hanging out”—spending time with parishioners after Mass, getting to know school children and their parents, walking the streets, and visiting hospitals.

Cardinal Dolan praised Bishop Walsh as “one of the finest priests I have ever met, whose sole focus has been, and continues to be, serving Jesus and His Church.” Bishop Walsh himself once reflected on his ministry with the simple statement: “I’ve been very happy.”

Bishop Walsh entered eternal life on May 4, 2025.

Reception of the Body and Wake ⦁ Lying in Repose

Monday, May 12, 2025, 2-7 p.m.

St. John Vianney Clergy Residence Chapel (Main Chapel of the John Cardinal O’Connor Pavilion)
5655 Arlington Ave, Bronx, NY 10471
‭(718) 581-0070‬

Mass of Christian Burial