Obituary of Daniel Mahoney

Daniel H. Mahoney, a retired motorman for the MBTA passed away after an extended illness on Tuesday afternoon, March 25, 2014; he was 77 years old. Dan was born in Somerville, the son of Irish immigrants, the late Daniel and Margaret Mahoney. In the 1940's the family moved to Medford from Somerville. His father later became the sexton of the church, school and convent at St. James Church on the Fellsway in Medford. During his high school years, he was very active in the Boy Scouts. He was a graduate of Medford Technical School. He worked as a printer for a number of years until finding a position with the MBTA. Dan joked that over his 32 years at the MBTA he worked almost every position except being a bus driver. He ended his career as a motorman on the Orange Line. In his retirement years, he often met up with his MBTA buddies for a cup of coffee or lunch, reminiscing about the old days and catching up on their activities and families. Dan’s life revolved around his family and work. He was a provider and caregiver for his family and he handled that in his own unassuming manner. Having six children often necessitated working extra hours to meet the challenges and expenses of a big family. Not only did he take care of his own family and home, but he also cared for his mother and helped maintain her home. He was proud to see his children become adults and then parents themselves. He loved being “Grandpa” to his 11 grandchildren, watching them grow up, and was immensely proud of their accomplishments and activities. He also enjoyed going back to Ireland to see where his parents grew up and to visit with his relatives that remained. In short, Dan lived in a simple manner, giving much to his family, but asked very little in return. Dan was the loving husband of 52 years to his wife, Barbara A. (Zuis) Mahoney. He was the loving father of Dan of Chicago, IL, Terry Giannetto & her husband Michael of Northboro, Bill & his wife Lori of Billerica, Peg Mahoney of Tiverton, RI & her fiancée Eric Lepore, Cathy Kubitz & her husband Kurt of Rochester, NY, and Barbie MacLeod of Burlington. He was the brother of the late James Mahoney. Dan was the proud grandfather of Matthew, Kate, Kristina, & Jason Mahoney, Marissa, Nicole, & Dominic Giannetto, Noah & Ethan Nicoletti, and Connor & Trevor MacLeod. He was also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Friday, March 28 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Daniel’s name may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Greater New England, 101A First Ave., Waltham, MA 02451 or Care Alternatives, 100 Locke Drive, Marlborough, MA 01752. Eulogy by Daniel Mahoney Welcome and thank you for joining my mom Barbara and our family as we say goodbye to our husband, father, and grandfather, Dan. On behalf of the family, our thanks to Fr. McCormick for being able to help us through this difficult day. There is a great relief in seeing my mom and dad's 52 years together shared with Fr. McCormick, both on their wedding day and on my dad's passing day and the full circle it represents. I am the oldest of six. Six kids in ten years. Oh my! Lots of memories and lots of rituals. My dad and our house had both. Growing up with grandparents in Medford and Dorchester we were the house that waited till the third ring to pick up the phone. In those days, calls cost money. &quote;Wait till the third ring&quote; was bellowed down the hall, cause God forbid we pick up on 1 or 2 and it was either grandparent. For the eleven grandkids in today...this was a phone with a corded line attached to a wall. Google it. Every dinner had a cadence to it. A bit of &quote;Survival&quote;. No talking at the dinner table, just eat. I think part of it was to make sure every one had a chance at food, and Bill and I didn't consume all of the food on the table. A lot of good Sunday dinners of roast beef with grandparents. After dinner had it's chores and it's complaints...&quote;How come Terry doesn't have to load the dishwasher, I cleaned the table?. His response, &quote;Get out the measuring cup!&quote; And then the chores would continue on. My dad loved Boston and loved working the MBTA's Orange Line. There was no greater thrill for me or my siblings to be going into Boston and be on the platform and seeing my Dad's train pull in. Even at the wake last night, friends recall my dad pulling into their respective station, window going down and a &quote;How ya doin'?&quote; Thirty plus years of crazy hours early mornings or late nights led to fun-filled retirement weekly coffees with T buddies at Meadow Glen Mall...where they could while away the hours talking shop or updating each other on kids and grand kids. His love of city also gave him an uncanny ability to know Boston's streets. His post retirement job of driving a limo gave him the chance to meet new people as he drove them around Boston or to Logan. He loved to chat them up. All of this served him well in sharing the city with family and friends and house guests. Relatives from Ireland or England never left a Boston visit without a personalzed tour of the City. He would show them Charlestown, Fanuiel Hall, South Boston, the North End and of course Castle Island. Every nook and cranny of the city had a story. This same tour was provided to the handful of exchange students who stayed in our house during our high school years. The simple pleasures transcended the years: • Watching the Red Sox, Bruins, Patriot's or Celtics. Yet - I can't recall him going to a game. • Buying scratch tickets and the Herald at Town Grocery or White Hen. • O'Douls. • Going to Jimmy's for breakast or Stelio's for broiled swordfish. • Going to Hampton Beach. To a sibling - we can recall him coming home after some crazy shift, gathering up kids and friends into the station wagon and heading North. In the scarred memory department - red lobster belly dad with no sunscreen....not so pretty. • My dad loved to talk. He stayed up on the news and like any good New Englander had an opinion on every politician. He lived in a neigborhood with friends of 40 plus years and as he could walk the streets or in their back yards he loved to bend their ear. Breakfast at Jimmy's with him and my mom was a chance to say hello to the room. He loved to read the newspaper. Just today I learned of his quiet Tuesday mornings visiting his brother at the Fellsway, and the two of them sitting silently reading the paper. To my siblings. Barbie - you will always be his baby. Cathy - how he loved the drives to Rochester to see you, Kurt, and the casinos! Peg - his daugher, named for his mom, how they both light up the room with their smile. He is so happy that Eric is part of the family. Bill - the rock of the family. Terry - the great memories you have been able to provide all of family. Northboro or Meredith. Dad looked so happy on your boat! Mom - wife, travel companion, and partner for 52 years. My dad was typical of his generation. Quiet on words. As some of his neighbors told me yesterday - he is so proud of his family, both children and grandchildren alike. So now we tak Dad home...back to Medford, where he will be buried with his Mom and Dad. He gets to see his brother Jim, and the friends that have predeceased him. Dad always liked to ask each of us as we headed out in our adult years...&quote;Give me a call when you get back home.&quote; Well you do the same, and we'll let the phone ring three times. Dad, we love you, and may your memory be eternal.