By JAIME STUDD

Recorder News Staff

NORTHVILLE -- Father Francis X. Gunn, the pastor of both St. Francis of Assisi Church in Northville and St. Joseph's in Broadalbin, was found dead Wednesday morning from an apparent fall down a flight of rectory stairs.

St. Francis Parish Secretary Diane Purtell Gunn after he did not respond to the door buzzer. Purtell was alerting him that it was time to leave for Mass at St. Joseph's.

According to Denny Poulin, a St. Francis volunteer who was at the rectory with Purtell, Fulton County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene, along with Fulton County Coroner Margaret Luck.

By Wednesday afternoon, a small group of devastated parishioners began to gather at the rectory, along with other local clergy, as word of Gunn's passing quickly spread throughout the small community.

"It all seems surreal to me," Purtell said.

At St. Joseph's in Broadalbin, the loss was felt just as deeply.

"Everyone is totally in shock," said Pat Cardone, the parish secretary. "He just came here in February. He was a wonderful man. He was kind, humble. He was a great [speaker]. He was just such a wonderful addition to the parishes, and it's a great loss."

Born on April 15, 1953, in Brooklyn, the 58-year-old Gunn was ordained a priest in 1981. As a theology student in Boston, he became an EMT in 1979.

Gunn later received degrees in social work and counseling, dedicating much of his Franciscan service to trauma counseling and trauma intervention. He was a member of the crisis intervention team that visited hundreds of New York City area firehouses in the weeks following Sept. 11, 2001.

According to Jocelyn Thomas, communications director for the Franciscan Friars, Holy Name Province, of which Gunn was a member, his passing has shocked and saddened many in the Franciscan community.

"The friars all thought so much of him. He was a very talented Franciscan and we here at the provincial office are very shocked and saddened by his sudden death."

Funeral services are being planned by the Franciscan Friars. There is no word yet regarding the arrangements, though a Mass was held Wednesday for mourning parishioners.

According to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, both parishes will have pastoral coverage for services this weekend and the search for a permanent leader for the churches will begin immediately.

In November, Gunn would have celebrated 30 years in the priesthood.