Former Worcester Mayor and Judge Paul Mullaney ’48 died on November 1, 2017, All Souls’ Day, at the age of 97.
Known affectionately as “Mr. Worcester,” Judge Mullaney was born and raised in Worcester and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1942. He served in both WWII and the Korean War, earning three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star Medal for gallantry, and a Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement. Between the two wars he went to law school at Boston College, graduating in 1948.
Judge Mullaney dedicated his life to serving others and, in particular, the Worcester community where he and his wife raised their nine children. His public service roles included city counselor (1960 to 1967), mayor (1963 to 1965), and district court judge (1978 until his retirement in 1991).
In 2014, Judge Mullaney was recognized for his longtime service to the city he loved with the dedication in his name of the plaza behind Worcester City Hall.
Fred Enman, SJ, ’78, assistant dean and chaplain of BC Law and a fellow Worcester native, recalls Judge Mullaney as “an outstanding decorated veteran, lawyer, elected official, judge, and most importantly the family man that he truly was. We were so blessed to have him as part of our community.”