Longtime priest dead after being found in pool

A monsignor at a large Catholic parish in Forest Hills, Queens, has died after being found at the bottom of a pool at his Southold residence, officials said.

Msgr. Gerald Langelier, 78, was discovered unresponsive just before 5 p.m. Friday.

Responding police and members of the Southold Fire Department were unable to resuscitate Langelier before transporting him to Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport.

Msgr. Ronald Richardson, who shares the house with Langelier and another priest, said he went downstairs to take a swim and found the body. He said Langelier was in his swimsuit.

"I'm numb. It's a shock seeing that scene," said Richardson, 78, formerly of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Greenport.

"Gerry was a man of integrity," he said. "He very much loved being a priest."

Langelier was pastor emeritus at Our Lady of Mercy Church, where he had been a priest for more than 30 years. A woman, who declined to be identified, answered the phone at the parish office and confirmed his death.

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She said the church's current leader, Msgr. John A. McGuirl, was unavailable, but was taking the next flight back from Ireland because of the unexpected death.

Wake and funeral information would likely not be available until Monday, she said.