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Michael Brown, associate publisher of Catholic San Francisco, died peacefully at his Peninsula home Feb. 21, 2021 following a long battle with cancer. He was 73.

Salesian Father Robert E. Stein, a native Californian, died on Feb. 16, 2021 succumbing to COVID-19 at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco. 

Father Wilton Smith, retired pastor of St. Veronica Church in South San Francisco, died Feb. 12, 2021 at Golden Home Extended Care in San Rafael. Father Smith was a priest for 62 years and 88 years old.

Dominican Sister Marie Bride Walsh baptized Therese Rita Walsh, died on Sept. 26, 2020, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 100 years old and in the 81st year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Jesuit Father Robert Walsh died Oct. 24, 2020 at his order’s Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos.

Les McDonald, a longtime presence in Bay Area real estate and as a part of the property management arm of the Archdiocese of San Francisco died Oct. 17, 2020. He was 80 years old.

Sister Mary Josephine (Mary Jo) O’Hanlon, formerly known as Sister James Patrick, died on October 7, 2020, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 96 years old and in the 76th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Thomas Josephine Lawler, baptized Julia Jeanette Lawler, died on May 16, 2020, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 99 years old and in the 78th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Alice Boland Asturias, a well-known voice in programs of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the first woman president of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, died Sept. 21, 2020. She was 105 years old.

Notre Dame Sister Barbara Hamm died on Aug. 29, 2020 at Mercy Retirement & Care Center in Oakland. In 2019 she celebrated her 75th anniversary as a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur. She was 93 years old.

Dominican Sister Barbara Ann Hehr, formerly known as Sister Fredrick Ann Hehr, died May 10, 2020, at her congregation’s Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 86 years of age and in the 68th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Presentation Sister Ruth Patrick died on June 26, 2020 at the Presentation Motherhouse in San Francisco. She was 89 years old and a Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary for 71 years.

Presentation Sister Patricia Elower (Sister Mary Laurence) died on July 7, 2020 at the Sisters of the Presentation Motherhouse in San Francisco. Sister Patricia was 84 years old and a Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary for 67 years.

Sister Lillian Bartosik died Aug. 29, 2020. Sister Lillian was 97 years old and had been a Sister of St. Joseph of Orange for 79 years.

Mercy Sister Patricia Williams died on August 18, 2020 at the age of 84 at Mercy Retirement Center in Oakland. While attending Bishop Conaty High School in Los Angeles, she came to know the Sisters of Mercy. She entered the community in 1955 and professed vows in 1958, taking the religious name Sister Raphael Marie.

Sister Cecile Bertheau (Sister Christina Marie), a Sister of St. Joseph of Orange, died on Aug. 22, 2020. She was 81 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph of Orange for 63 years.

Holy Names Sister Catherine Nessi (Sister Francis Venard) died on Aug. 18, 2020. Sister Catherine, a Sister of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary for 70 years, was 89 years old.

Marist Father Dennis Steik died Aug. 20, 2020, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco. He was 78 years old. “His health had been declining for some time, and his death followed a more recent diagnosis of coronavirus COVID-19,” Father Andrew Spyrow, vicar for clergy, said in an announcement.

Father Ray Zohlen died Aug. 3, 2020 at Nazareth House in San Rafael following a slow decline in his health. Father Zohlen celebrated his 95th birthday July 20.

Msgr. Edward McTaggart, retired pastor of St. Brendan Parish and former vicar general of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, died July 30 in San Mateo. Family members kept company at his side until the end. Ordained in 1955, he was 91 years old.