Walter H. McLaughlin Jr.
Walter H. McLaughlin Jr.
Obituary
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Walter McLaughlin Obituary
Beloved husband of 49+ years of Katherine A. (Mullen) McLaughlin. Devoted and caring father of Walter K. and his wife Martha of Hampden, William M. and his wife Linda of Newton, David E. and his wife Betsy of Belmont and Michael J. and his wife Beth of Lincoln. Cherished and admired grandfather ("Gramps") of Caitlin, Jack, Walter Thomas, Bridget, Kevin, Erin, Sean, Ryan, Dylan, Brendan, Charlie, Connor, and Brian. Loving brother of Robert E. and his wife Joan of Belmont and Alice Ann Grayson and her husband Edward of West Falmouth. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews and their children.
Walter was the son of the late Alice A. (Fitzgerald) and Chief Justice Walter H. McLaughlin Sr. He born in Cambridge and raised in Belmont. Walter was a graduate of Belmont High School ('51), Harvard College (Magna Cum Laude '55), and Harvard Law School (Magna Cum Laude '60), where he served as an Editor on Law Review. He was a lieutenant in the US Navy, serving as the navigator on the USS Strickland, a destroyer escort.
An accomplished attorney and law professor, Walter was an adjunct professor at BU Law School and at Suffolk Law School for decades and a substantial contributor to continuing legal education in Massachusetts. He co-founded and operated the SMH Bar Review where he prepared tens of thousands of law students across the nation for the bar exam spanning more than three and a half decades. He was a founding partner in the Boston law firm of Gilman, McLaughlin & Hanrahan from its creation until his recent retirement after which he served as the president of a privately owned real estate company. A committed resident of Belmont, he was active for decades in local civic affairs, most notably as a town meeting member and a member of the warrant committee.
Funeral Mass in St. Joseph Church, Common St., Belmont, on Thursday at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours in the Stanton Funeral Home, 786 Mt. Auburn St. (Rte. 16), Watertown on Wednesday 3 to 8 p.m. Interment in Highland Meadow Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory to the Melanoma Research Fund Attention: Kirsten Swan, Cancer Center Development Office, Mass General Hospital (MGH), 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02214 would be appreciated.
www.stantonfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Jean Shioji
September 7, 2010
Condolences to Kathy. Both she and Walter were so good to me and changed my life. Jean Shioji
Marie Buckley
July 17, 2010
I was so saddened to open the Globe this week and find the warm face of my friend and mentor in the obituary page. Walter had a tremendous influence on my life! He hired me when I was fresh out of college and just trying to find my path in life. I knew nothing about the law-and less about life-and working for Walter taught me both. I worked for him for two years and loved his frantic pace, his spitfire intelligence and, above all, his passion for teaching. His intelligence would have been intimidating except that he was having so much fun practicing law that the joy of it all just took over. Because of Walter, I found my path and went to law school - where I also had the privilege of being his student. I learned more about the law working for Walter as a paralegal than I learned in my first ten years of practice.
Years later, I taught one of his sons during training sessions at a big firm in Boston - and I felt privileged to bring the wheel full circle.
Walter was a lawyer's lawyer. I have never known anyone to love the law more. His passion was infectious.
I will always remember him and be grateful for the tremendous influence he had on my life. He was just the best!
-Marie Buckley
The Bennett Family
June 22, 2010
Dear Dave and Betsy,
We were so sorry to hear about your loss. We will continue to keep you in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time. Our sincere condolences to the entire McLaughlin family.
Valerie Valenti
June 17, 2010
My sincere condolences- Valerie Valenti
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Richard Clayman
June 17, 2010
My sincere condolences--Richard Clayman from Chelsea
Richard Kobayashi
June 17, 2010
I met Walter in 1976 when we were both appointed to serve on Belmont's Cable TV Committee. Partly due to Walter's urging the Selectmen, who were going to award the Town's first cable TV franchise, decided to explore if there was a way that the Town could keep some of the wealth that would accrue to the first franchise holder. Walter figured out how to do it very quickly and convinced the rest of the committee and Selectmen of the concept. But implementing the concept was a mind boggling exercise. The industry was against the concept, navigating the regulatory set up was difficult, as was sustaining the interest and support of the Town which was fast becoming one of the few towns in Massachusetts without cable TV. After a decade, in 1986, the Town granted a franchise which, after all was said and done, yielded the Town about three million dollars which the Town placed in a Capital Endowment Fund. For twenty years this fund has helped finance capital project in Belmont. There were many other members of the Committee who made significant and sustained contributions over the decade, but none was more committed, diligent or gave more of his professional time than Walter. I tell this story because it demonstrates just how willing and generously Walter would give of his time (a mere decade) and very considerable talents to the needs of the Town. He was an exemplary citizen and will be sorely missed.
Ken Mauzy
June 17, 2010
Although I conversed with Walter only a few times over the years, the pleasure of knowing and working with some of you his children tells me that he must have been a fine father indeed. Coincidentally, a lawyer friend I spoke to today turned out to be one of the many thousands he shepherded on their way to passing the bar exam. His life has touched so many. Our prayers are with your families.
David & Linda Roberts and Family
June 16, 2010
Out Thoughts and Prayers to Walters Family. Walter was a true gentleman that was very passionate about his work. He always cut to the chase never mincing his words, we have some great memories of Walter at work. It was a treat to see him work his magic. We will miss him.
Sheila O'Connell Roberts
June 16, 2010
Walter was a true gentleman and friend of our family for many decades. You are all in our prayers.
Margaret Hagen
June 16, 2010
It was a privilege to have Prof. McLaughlin as my lecturer in the short bar preparation course last May and I will benefit immeasurably from the materials he created for bar review every day between now and the bar exam a the end of July. I listen to his lectures from the spring course at Suffolk as I commute between Boston and Maine. I am so grateful to him for his wisdom, common sense approach to complex problems and commitment to helping candidates for the bar succeed. He is an inspiration to me as a fellow teacher. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
Bob Barry
June 16, 2010
Michael and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Paul Caruso
June 16, 2010
I am very sorry for your loss. He was a fine attorney, a dedicated educator, and a gentleman. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kevin Shea
June 15, 2010
In the Irish tradition, I'll add a story:
I prepped for the Massachusetts Bar Exam in 1977 with SMH (and passed, thankfully). In 1992, I took an MCLE course at Western New England School of Law in Springfield at which Walter was one of the lecturers. As luck would have it, I arrived in the parking lot of the school at about the same time as Walter, and Walter parked his van next to my week-old Acura Vigor, dubbed by my wife "Precious." Recognizing Waletr as one of the "Miracle Workers" responsible for my passing the Bar Exam many years earlier, I approached him as he was unloading his van with a box-full of seminar materials. I introduced myself and asked if I could give him a hand. He accepted my offer gratefully...and proceeded to pile several boxes of materials on the hood of my new Acura, scratching the bejesus out of the finish on it!!
My condolences to the entire McLaughlin family. I do not pretend to know him, but from the brief exposures I had to him, I could tell he was a man who loved the law and who loved people. God rest his soul.
Edward & Jacqueline Etsten
June 15, 2010
With all our love and prayers to Walter's family and friends. It must have been around 45 years ago that we met and all my family valued this relationship.
Our love and prayers are with you.
Ed and Jacqueline Etsten
Andrew & Klee Miller
June 15, 2010
Bill , Linda, and family, our thoughts are with you. So sorry for your loss. Your Dad had quite a life, he obviously was an incredible man. Hang in there.
Eleanor and Barry White
June 15, 2010
To Bill and family: I was so sorry to learn that you lost your Dad. No matter how old they (or we) are, it's very hard to lose a parent. He sounds like a wonderful, accomplished guy and I know he must have been VERY proud of you. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Susan Duffy Potter
June 15, 2010
Dave and the McLaughlin Family, I'm sorry for the loss of your father, husband, brother and grandfather. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Rose Talbot-Babey
June 14, 2010
To the Walter, Martha, Tom and Kevin and the entire McLaughlin Family.
So sorry to here of the loss of your father. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Jane Fenton
June 14, 2010
Bob,
I was so sorry to hear of the passing of your brother Walter Jr. He was truly a "lawyer's lawyer" in every sense of the word.
My sincere condolences to your entire family. I will keep you all in my prayers.
Bill Almond
June 14, 2010
Mrs. McLaughlin, Mike, Dave, Bill & Walter: Please know that you have my deepest sympathies and sincerest condolences at the passing of your Husband/Father. He was a strong man and an even stronger influence on all of you as well as the those of us who were fortunate enough to get to spend some time with him. I will not forget the warmth and laughter the McLaughlin family shared with me over the years, and your Dad was a big part of that. He will be missed. And while I know it is not much comfort at this time, know that your Dad touched many and that you will not grieve alone.
Mike, you know your friends are here if you need us.
The Hodge Family
June 14, 2010
To the McLaughlin Family,
We are so very sorry for your loss. May your wonderful memories of Walter (Dad, Gramps)help ease the pain of his passing.
~Randy, Janine, Justin & Kayla Hodge
June 14, 2010
SO MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED BY, BUT I ALWAYS REMEMBER THE LOVING FAMILY THAT I WAS ABLE TO SHARE A LOT OF MEMEORIES WITH. THINKING OF YOU ALL AND WISHING YOU PEACE IN THIS DIFICULT TIME. GOD BLESS YOU. BARBARA (MARTIN) DAVIDSON
MADEIRA BEACH, FL
Barbara Kane
June 14, 2010
Kathie and family,
Please know that you are all in my prayers. The wonderful memories of Walter will help you get through these difficult times.
Barbara Kane
Michael Sullivan
June 14, 2010
To the McLaughlin Family:
Please accept our deepest sympathies at the passing of your husband, father and grampa. Walter was a great guy and friend. The legal profession and his community are better because of his service.
Sincerely,
Walter and Michael Sullivan
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