Humphreys, Henry J. June 27, 1928 - March 5, 2021

Henry J. Humphreys of Bronxville, N.Y., devoted husband of Joanne Humphreys, passed away on March 5, 2021. Son of the late Mary (Reilly) and Henry J. Humphreys, he was born in 1928 in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from Saint John’s University, attended the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, and received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Saint John’s University in recognition of his extensive humanitarian efforts.

Henry served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He joined Bankers Trust Company in 1953 as a loan officer, held various positions over his 38-year career, including serving as the primary liaison officer for relations with the Archdiocese of New York, and retired as a Vice President in 1991.  He also served as a member of the Board of Directors for Sterling National Bank.

After retirement, Henry, a Knight Grand Cross of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, took on a second career as the Chancellor and Chief Operating officer of the American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and upon retiring a second time in 1999, represented the order as a member and counsellor of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the United Nations.

Henry was also a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher and a Knight of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus and devoted much of his life to numerous Catholic charities, including Our Lady of Victory Church, Catholic Charities USA, International Catholic Organizations Center, Catholic Youth Organization – Archdiocese of New York , Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center , The Cardinals Committee of the Laity and the Tanenbaum Foundation, founded by the widow of Rabbi Mark Tanenbaum to promote understanding among faith communities.

In addition to his work for the Catholic Church, Henry was involved with many other charitable organizations, including the Maritime Association of the Port of New York, serving as a Trustee for the New York Medical College, Treasurer for the NYC Chapter of the American Cancer Society, Trustee for the Ursuline School and Calvary Hospital, and Chairman of the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center.

Throughout his life Henry was honored with many awards to recognize his efforts, including American Cancer Society’s Annual (1980), the St Ursula Award of the Ursuline School (1981), the Catholic Youth Organization Meritorious Service Award (1984), the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Award for Outstanding Service (1988), the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2000), The Terrence Cardinal Cooke Partnership Award (2004), and the Silver Grand Cross of the Heraldic Order of Christopher Columbus presented to him by the President of the Dominican Republic in 1999.  In 2007, Henry was honored by the United Hospital Fund to recognize his extraordinary personal leadership and longstanding contributions to improving the health of New Yorkers and New York City’s health care system.

Henry also had a deep love of his Irish heritage, and he enjoyed visiting often and regaling family and friends with Irish songs he would sing while playing the piano.  He was a member of the NYC chapter of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick.

Henry was preceded in death by his wife Eileen (Kelly) in 1980.  And In 1997 found love again with Joanne. He is survived by Joanne, his children Maureen Heckler (Robert), Henry J Humphreys III (Pamela), William Humphreys (Sara), Ellen Humphreys; his stepchildren Mary Dilworth (Rob), Laura O’Neill (Gerry), Gary Westhoff and fourteen grandchildren, Ian (Kate), Leo, Kathleen, Mallory, Jack, William, Robbie, Elizabeth, Mackenzie, Aileen, Connell, Aubrey, Reilly and Reagan, all of whom he loved and was so proud.

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to Calvary Hospital. There will be a viewing for friends and family at Fred H. McGrath & Son Funeral Home, 20 Cedar St, Bronxville, NY.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Church, Bronxville at 9:45 a.m. on March 10, 2021. The mass will be livestreamed by following this link www.facebook.com/churchofsaintjoseph or on the website for Fred H. McGrath & Son Funeral Home.