An area Catholic priest voted most witty by his East High School classmates, who grew flowers to place at the front of the churches he served, and was Uncle Bob to his niece and nephews, died Tuesday.

The Rev. Robert Egan, 82, was the pastor for 17 years at St. Anthony's parish in Groton and pastor for six years at St. Bernard's parish in Scipio Center. Egan was born in Auburn and served three years in the Air Force in World War II, before being ordained in 1954.

Egan had a remarkable spirituality, said the Rev. Carl Pilla, who first met Egan in 1946 while they were attending St. Andrew's Seminary.

"He was an ideal priest. He was completely dedicated to his flock. He would do anything for his parishioners," including consistently visiting those who were sick or those who were alienated from the church, Pilla said.

Egan and Pilla were great running buddies, taking vacations together to Bermuda, Florida, Myrtle Beach and Canada, going golfing and often spending Sunday afternoons together at the Groton rectory.

Egan is survived by niece Patricia Walter, of Auburn, as well as three nephews and other family members.

Walter became closer to her Uncle Bob as he grew older and she eventually took over as his caregiver. Egan was deeply devoted to his family, joining them for holidays and Sunday dinners, Walter said.

"He was devoted to the Lord. He never wavered from that, and he tried to instill that in other people. He was just a very holy man," Walter said.

Egan's first placement as a full pastor was in Cayuga County in 1972 at St. Bernard's parish, before moving in 1980 to St. Anthony's parish. Egan also served between 1954 and 1972 as an assistant pastor at five parishes in the Rochester Diocese.

After his retirement in 1997 at the age of 75, Egan still ran strong, keeping up his love of the outdoors, his bad game of golf, and helping out at St. Alphonsus and Holy Family parishes in Auburn.

He then went to a retirement home for priests in Syracuse, but his health really began to deteriorate following a severe car accident in 2001, and he ended his years in the Auburn Nursing Home.

Egan was predeceased in 1999 by his elder brother, Paul, Walter said.

Egan had wanted his "spiritual son," a former Groton parishioner he was instrumental in influencing to become a priest, to officiate his funeral, but the Rev. Robert Kantor is serving in Afghanistan as a naval reserve captain.

Instead, Bishop Matthew Clark of the Rochester Diocese will preside over Egan's funeral Mass Monday.

Egan will lie in state from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday with a vigil service at 7 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Church. He will also lie in state from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday at the church with a Mass of Christian burial at 11:30 a.m.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 x282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net