SEATTLE – Father Anthony “Tony” J. Haycock died peacefully Feb. 17, 2024, at his home in Bayview Retirement Community in Seattle after a long struggle with dementia. He was 87.

Born Sept. 22, 1936, in Birmingham, England, to Fred “Sonny” and Ann Haycock, he was the middle of three boys. His early years were overshadowed by World War II and repeated bombings by Nazi Germany.

Taking after his father, a professional soccer player, Tony played semiprofessionally for the Sutton Town Football Club. He also was a Royal Marine stationed in Cyprus. Later, he attended the prestigious Strawberry Hill Teachers College and taught at Cardinal Wiseman RC School.

At the age of 24, he surprised everyone when he left his teaching job and a chance to play for the Birmingham County Football Club by joining the Cistercian monks. Around this time, he read “The Seven Story Mountain” by Thomas Merton, which was decisive in his response to a call to the priesthood. He became Brother Malachy at the monastery of Mount Saint Bernard in Leicestershire. 

He soon discerned the call to be a missionary priest. After study, he was ordained Aug. 13, 1972, in Wexford, Ireland, for the Salesians of Don Bosco, formerly known as the Society of St. Francis de Sales —an order known for a spirituality of simplicity and kindness in defiance to human violence and conflict. 

He served as a Salesian in England, Germany and South Africa, where he refused to obey the strict apartheid laws of the time. After being warned, then arrested and jailed overnight, the authorities went to the Salesian superior with an order that Father Tony had to leave or the entire order had to leave.

After being expelled from South Africa, he made his way to the Diocese of Boise, Idaho, where he had a connection with Bishop Syvester Tiernan from his seminary days. He was assigned to a rural parish but found it lonely since he had always lived in cities. The bishop, a close friend of then-Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen of Seattle, suggested he attend a training program in Seattle. He asked Archbishop Hunthausen to find a parish for Father Haycock, who was assigned to St. Anne Parish on Queen Anne Hill.

On June 24, 1982, Father Haycock was incardinated for the Archdiocese of Seattle. He served as pastor of St. Francis Parish in Friday Harbor, later serving at St. Gabriel Parish in Port Orchard and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Seattle. He became the chaplain at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and for the Seattle Seamen’s Club, which ministered to seafarers. Between 1994 and 2011, he was assigned to St. Mary Parish in Seattle, serving at various times as pastor, parochial vicar and administrator.

At St. Mary, Father Haycock championed the Operation Nightwatch street ministry, helped develop the food bank and grew a bicultural and bilingual community of Catholics. He pushed himself to learn Spanish through many immersion trips to Central America.

Father Haycock is remembered for his receptiveness, youthfulness, kindness, playfulness and peacefulness. He was most comfortable outside the walls of the church building, wanting to be where there was action, people in need and nature. He loved street ministry and was a social justice champion. He also enjoyed spending time on the water or in an airplane.

He became a senior priest in 2012. After he began suffering memory loss, Father Haycock spent many years at Aegis Living near St. Mary before moving to Bayview. The loss of memory didn’t hinder his enthusiasm and smile.

Father Haycock is survived by his brothers Tom and Ray, many cousins, nieces and nephews and an extended family.

A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. March 5 at St. Anne Church in Seattle. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. March 6 at St. Anne Church, followed by a reception in the parish hall. Interment will be at 1 p.m. March 6 at Calvary Cemetery in Seattle.