Rev. William J. Moriarity, pastor emeritus in Streamwood, dies at 86
Rev. William J. Moriarity, pastor emeritus of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Streamwood and a former chaplain at Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, died Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. He was 86.
Friends called him “Mort.” He loved being a priest and always made time to listen with an open heart, said Very Rev. Gregory Sakowicz, rector of Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, who had known Moriarity since Moriarity was a young priest.
“He was loved by the people, very compassionate, filled with wisdom and a wonderful sense of humor,” Sakowicz said. “He never judged. He was a great listener and team player.”
He was also, Sakowicz said, “a die-hard Chicago White Sox fan.”
Rev. Charles Rubey, a retired archdiocesan priest and Moriarity’s classmate, remembered him as a very calming, gentle, understanding and loving person.
Moriarity was born June 5, 1940, in Chicago. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.
Cardinal John Cody ordained him to the priesthood April 26, 1966. He celebrated his first solemn Mass May 1 of that year at St. Philip Neri Parish in Chicago.
He served as assistant pastor at St. Nicholas Parish in Evanston, St. Thomas More Parish on California Avenue in Chicago, St. Athanasius Parish in Evanston and St. Hubert Parish in Hoffman Estates, and as associate pastor at St. Linus Parish in Oak Lawn. He later became pastor of St. John the Evangelist, which bestowed on him the title of pastor emeritus.
He was a member of the National Catholic Chaplains Association.
Visitation: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 3 to 8 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., and Thursday, Oct. 1, 9 to 10 a.m., at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St., Chicago.
Funeral Mass: Thursday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m. at Holy Name Cathedral. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, will celebrate the Mass. Rev. Joseph Mulcrone will be the homilist.
Interment: Private.