The Rev. Dr. Federico Serra-Lima

July 17, 1929 - March 22, 2020

Federico was born in Argentina to Federico and Elena (Dixon) Serra-Lima.  Though he emigrated to the United States to attend

Columbia University, Federico returned to Buenos Aires many times to visit family and friends. It pleased him still to see Serra-Lima

name plate on elegant town car taxis, his father having had the first Ford dealership in Argentina.

Federico earned his undergraduate degree in French, his PhD in Spanish and initially taught at Barnard.  In the late 1960's, Federico

was recruited by Hartwick College in Oneonta to teach Spanish language and literature, eventually chairing the Department of

Modern and Classical Languages.

In 1980 Federico returned to NYC spending a year at the General Seminary of the Episcopal Church and in 1984 was ordained Priest

in the Albany Diocese by his Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Wilbur Hogg.  For years Dr. Federico taught at Hartwick while Fr. Federico ministered

to the congregation of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Franklin, NY.  After retiring from college teaching, Federico continued to pastor

several small parishes (Chatham, Cohoes, Ashland) around the Albany Diocese, serving also on the diocesan Commission of

Ministry.

Federico earned a Phi Beta key, and always eager to learn, took courses at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary in Yonkers, also

engaging in profound discussions with a new Buddhist friend Monk Krishna.  Federico cherished his memberships in the Holy Cross

Society and the Order of St. Luke the Physician.

Federico's greatest satisfaction came in teaching and preaching, source materials coming both from his voluminous library as well as

the internet.  He loved chess, poetry, and writing (for several years publishing his own theological newsletter The Wood Bridge ).  He

was fond of crafting letters to the editor in The Living Church and other magazines, each word, each phrase labored over for the

perfect 'bon mot'.  Federico's conversation too was that of a wordsmith, laced liberally with puns and other witticisms.

Federico came full circle, spending his latter years back in Oneonta, first as a resident of Hampshire House, the last several months

living at home on East Street enjoying his windows on the world of squirrels and deer.

Federico is survived by wife Margaret Serra-Lima, daughter Denise (Jose Luis) Gonzalez, granddaughters Eileen and Joyce, son

Jack Paul (Mary), god-daughter Graciela Victorica and her family. Fr. Serra-Lima's cremains will be interred within the columbarium,

Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, NY at a later date.  Memorials may be sent to Doctors Without Borders , an organization for which Federico had passionate concern. For on-line condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com