Fr. Richard Bendorf, OFM, 82, passed away on the morning of Dec. 16, 2025, in San Antonio. In 44 years as a Franciscan friar, he served in the U.S. military and as a hospital and an Army chaplain who flew more than 100 missions in the field, anointing and administering last rights to dying soldiers in Afghanistan. Known affectionately on base as the “Fryin’ Friar,” he shared his talents and love of cooking with others in his ministerial life. 

Born July 9, 1943, in Highland (Springfield), Illinois, to Richard and Elizabeth (née Tragesser), Fr. Richard joined the Order of Friars Minor on June 22, 1981, at age 37, in St. Bonaventure, New York. He made his simple profession in Oak Brook, Illinois, on Aug. 11, 1982, and took his solemn vows on Oct. 12, 1985, in Chicago. He was ordained as a priest on June 6, 1987, in Chicago. 

He attended Catholic Theological Union (1986 to 1987), then spent a year as parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in St. Louis. In 1988, he served at Il Ritiro Franciscan Retreat Center in Dittmer, Missouri, and began working as an associate campus minister at Quincy College (now Quincy University). From 1989 to 1990, he was a hospital chaplain at St. Thomas in Memphis.  

Fr. Richard served in the United States Air Force from 1990 to 1996, then returned to Quincy University until 1998 while also acting as pastor of St. Anthony and St. Joseph parishes. He pursued graduate studies in social work at St. Louis University from 1998 to 2000. He began serving as an Army chaplain at Fort Gordon, Georgia, in 2000, then worked in South Korea (2003 to 2005), Hawaii (2005 to 2007), and returned to Georgia (2007 to 2010). After retiring in 2015, he moved to Mission San Jose in San Antonio, where he helped in the supply ministry and led interactive marriage workshops while residing at Blue Skies of Texas at Air Force Village. He assisted with weekday Mass, performed some anointings and officiated several weddings for Blue Skies residents. 

Fr. Richard developed a lifelong passion for cooking, inspired by his grandmother, who was a skilled baker and head cook at the local school system. He even considered writing a cookbook filled with his favorite recipes. In a 2004 interview with Stars and Stripes, he mentioned that while he often uses recipes as guidelines, he enjoys making them his own or inventing new dishes entirely. Fr. Richard was especially fond of French cuisine, followed by German, Mexican and Italian food. 

Fr. Richard balanced the demanding nature of chaplaincy by turning to cooking, which he considered his form of “therapy.” Holding a master’s degree in social work, he provided counseling for military community members. As he explained to Stars and Stripes, “I’m a therapist for others, so cooking serves as my therapy.” On base, he frequently hosted small dinners with groups of people. 

Fr. Richard is survived by his fellow friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.