Daniel O. Mahoney

MATTAPOISETT — Daniel O. Mahoney, 78, of Mattapoisett died Friday, November 9, 2007, from complications due to Alzheimer's disease.

Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Robert and Virginia (O'Connell) Mahoney, he was raised in Mattapoisett. He lived in Marblehead for many years, where he and his late wife, Nancy (Miller) Mahoney, raised their family. He then returned with Nancy to Mattapoisett in the 1980s.

Mr. Mahoney was a senior litigation partner at the law firm of Palmer & Dodge in Boston until his retirement. A prominent member of the Boston trial bar, he had a distinguished career, both in his private practice and in public service. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and served as president of the Massachusetts Bar Association. In the late 1970s, he was a member of the Ward Commission, which investigated corruption in the awarding of state and county building contracts in Massachusetts and brought about far-reaching reforms, including the first-in-the-nation state inspector general's office.

He served on the board of directors of Social Justice for Women and as president of the boards of trustees of the Tower School in Marblehead and Concord Academy. In Mattapoisett, Mr. Mahoney was a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals for many years and served two terms as a selectman.

During the Korean War, he served as a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He was a graduate of Center School, Fairhaven High School, Williams College, and Harvard Law School.

He is survived by three children, Daniel O. Mahoney II of Marion, Timothy M. Mahoney of Folsom, CA, and Hannah Mahoney of Cambridge; a brother, Robert Mahoney of Springfield, MO; three grandchildren, Daniel and Meaghan Mahoney and Emily Larabee; and several nieces and nephews.

He was the father of the late Matthew B. Mahoney and brother of the late Maureen Mahoney Murphy and Dennis Mahoney.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 11 AM in St. Anthony's Church. Burial will follow in St. Anthony's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Mattapoisett Library Trust, P.O. Box 475, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.