Fr. Denis Read of the Holy Family passed away on Monday, October 18, 2004, in Miami, Florida while preparing for Mass. A native of Seattle, Washington Father was serving as a teacher and minister at the Spiritual Life Center of the Discalced Carmelite Friars in Miami prior to his passing.

Fr. Denis was born William Vincent Read on July 19, 1927, to Edwin and Helen (nee McGee) Read and was the fifth of nine children. He entered the novitiate of the Discalced Carmelite Friars at the Brookline, Massachusetts Carmel on October 14, 1944; made his simple profession on October 15, 1945, and was ordained to the priesthood on December 20, 1952. His first 20 years of ministry were spent in formation work at the minor seminary in Peterborough, New Hampshire; at the House of Philosophy at Holy Hill, Wisconsin; and at Catholic University in Washington, DC. After receiving a doctorate in sacred theology from the Lateran University through the Alphonsian Academy in Rome, he taught in St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth,  Michigan and the Carmelite House of Studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary, San Jose, California. 

In later years, Fr. Denis dedicated his life ministering to the Latino communities in Wisconsin, Chicago and from 1998, in Miami where he also served the Haitian community. From 1980-1997 he ministered as a prison chaplain. 

Father was fluent in Spanish and had a great deal of love, compassion and respect for the people he served. These communities loved him in return, and many came to his funeral to celebrate his life in service of the Lord. Fr. Denis died in Miami on October 18, 2004, and is buried at the Carmelite Cemetery in Hubertus, Wisconsin.