Rev. John Doherty, 64, Longtime Educator, St. Catherine's Pastor

John Doherty loved the sentimental singalongs with his relatives in Ireland. Throughout the evenings they'd recall home, from Ireland's "Hills of Donegal" to America's "Streets of Laredo."

The Rev. Doherty, pastor of St. Catherine's Parish in North Seattle, died Sunday of cancer. He was 64.

Over the years, Rev. Doherty took uncounted trips back to Ireland, to visit the places of his parents, John and Rose Ferry Doherty, and the relatives they left behind when they immigrated to America. Often he took one or more of his American relatives.

Last year his cousin Sally Keane, his sister Grace Hart and her family went.

At Bunratty Castle, where tourists are served a medieval dinner, Rev. Doherty was "arrested" and clapped into a cell. To get out, he was told he'd have to sing. He chose his favorite, "Streets of Laredo" - which he always led for the Irish relatives.

A woman came up to him later, Keane said, and asked if he was a professional singer.

"He never let anyone forget that," Keane said, "but we got a huge laugh out of it because he really got off-key every now and then."

Rev. Doherty grew up in Tacoma in a family of seven children. He entered St. Edward's Seminary in Kenmore in 1943 and was ordained in the priesthood by Archbishop Thomas A. Connolly May 15, 1954. He earned a doctorate in education at the Catholic University of America in 1958 and served the Archdiocese of Seattle as assistant superintendent of Catholic schools and director of education.

"He had a great love of the priesthood and of children," Hart said. "That's why he was so drawn to education."

Rev. Doherty was in residence at St. James Cathedral from 1954 to 1955; St. Peter Parish from 1958 to 1964; St. Alphonsus Parish from 1964 to 1971, and Sacred Heart Parish in Bellevue from 1971 ro 1973. He was pastor of Christ the King Parish from 1973 to 1985, when he was named pastor at St. Catherine.

He loved golf and fishing off Whidbey Island.

He is survived by two brothers, Frank of Tacoma and James of Gig Harbor; two sisters, Hart and Rosemarie Price, both of Tacoma, and 21 nieces and nephews.

A vigil will be held at 7:30 tonight at St. Catherine Church, 8610 Eighth Ave. N.E.

Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the church.