Beloved Memorial Hospital chaplain passes away. He was ‘the definition of selfless.’

The Rev. John Ugochukwu, the chaplain at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport who helped thousands of people across the Coast in times of sickness and loss, died Tuesday. He was 73.

The Catholic Diocese of Biloxi confirmed his death on Facebook.

Ugochukwu was beloved by patients and staff for his calming, cheerful presence in the hospital. He was hardworking, humble and devoted to God, said the people who knew and loved him.

He even liked to sing – and would often do so to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries during mass at Most Holy Trinity in Pass Christian, said the Rev. Paddy Mockler, who had known Ugochukwu ever since he came to Mississippi 15 years ago.

“Whenever we’d have somebody from our church sick, we would call Father John right away,” Mockler said.

“He was a very dedicated chaplain,” he added, and a great priest. “He loved to cheer people up.”

Ugochukwu was born in Lagos, Nigeria, said Lindsey Green, director of clinical support services at Memorial Hospital. He was ordained in 1984, joined the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Nigera and earned two degrees — in philosophy and theology — in his home country before he eventually came to the U.S.

Here, he earned two more degrees, Green said — this time in counseling and education at Fordham University in New York.

But he returned home with a mission, and spent his early adulthood building and leading schools across Nigeria.

Violence in the country forced him back to the U.S., and by 2001, he had returned to New York to serve as chaplain at New York Methodist Hospital.

But he saw a job opening in Mississippi, applied and began working at Memorial Hospital in 2008, said Terry Dickson, communications director at the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi.

On the Coast, Ugochukwu was known for his kindness, and also his forgiveness. He filled in often for local pastors, and people liked to confess to him. He did not judge.

At Memorial Hospital, he would walk the halls, administer last rites and pray with patients every day. After news of his death, old patients remembered his comforting presence during final moments with family members, and his faithful promises to keep in touch.

Green said Ugochukwu had “a servant heart that was unmatched.”

“He was the definition of selfless devotion to others, loving and supporting his immediate and extended family all across the globe for decades, all while coming to our hospital day in and day out to provide comfort, compassion, and spiritual healing to those who needed him,” she said.

“His welcoming smile and warm greeting in every hallway as you passed, and his shared visits with sick and grieving families from decades ago still make up the stories we hear about his life of service.”

It is unclear if he has family in the U.S. Mockler said Ugochukwu often worried aloud about the turmoil in his home country.

During his time at Memorial Hospital, he lived in Gulfport.

Arrangements are pending but will be handled by Riemann Family Funeral Home in Gulfport.