RIP: Former Florida Bishop Frank Cerveny dies at 92
[Episcopal News Service] The Rt. Rev. Frank Stanley Cerveny, who served as bishop of the Diocese of Florida from 1975 to 1992, died on Jan. 7. He was 92.
“Bishop Cerveny was a beloved bishop, leader, shepherd and friend to so many in the church,” the Jacksonville-based diocese said in announcing his death. “His faithful ministry, generous service, and pastoral heart have left a lasting mark on our diocese and beyond.”
Cerveny, who served as the diocese’s sixth bishop, will be remembered at a service celebrating his life at 11 a.m. Jan. 17 at St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville.
Cerveny first began serving in the diocese as dean of St. John’s Cathedral in 1972, and he was elected bishop coadjutor in February 1974 and consecrated as a bishop that May, according to the diocese’s online biography. When his predecessor, Bishop Edward West, retired at the end of the year, Cerveny became diocesan bishop in January 1975.
“During his episcopate, the diocese increased church membership, built heavily used Camp Weed and the Cerveny Conference Center … and established the Episcopal Foundation for support of extended ministries within and outside the church,” according to the diocese. “His commitment to witnessing the Gospel in both word and action … led Bishop Cerveny to take his sabbatical in Madrid, where he served as a worker priest at a Roman Catholic mission.”
The Diocese of Florida, under Cerveny’s leadership, also worked closely with the Diocese of Cuba through a partnership relationship.
Cerveny stepped down at the end of 1992 to become executive vice president of Church Pension Group in New York.
He is survived by his wife, Emmy.
