Dr. John McAuliffe

1923 - 2019

Dr. John E. McAuliffe

WORCESTER - Dr. John E. McAuliffe, proud World War II Battle of the Bulge veteran and historian, dentist, poet, brother, uncle, friend, and all-around great guy, died on Monday, December 9, 2019 after ninety-six years of a life well lived.

John was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 6, 1923, the son of Florence and Virginia Hebert McAuliffe, and moved to Worcester, his father's hometown, following the early deaths of his parents. John loved Worcester and was one of the City's greatest boosters. He graduated from Mt. St. Charles Academy, Woonsocket, RI in 1941 and from the College of the Holy Cross in 1944.

John served in the US Army as a combat infantryman with Company M, 347th Regiment of the 87th Infantry Division, 3rd Army, and fought with the Greatest Generation in "Patton's Army" in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge and three Campaign Stars, the Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, the German Occupation Medal, and the Belgian Croix de Guerre. He always remembered that winter spent in the Ardennes Forest surrounded by the enemy, fighting and sleeping in over a foot of snow, as the coldest of his life. His Battle of the Bulge comrades are this week returning to Europe to mark the Battle's seventy-fifth anniversary that began on December 16th, a trip John had hoped to make.

After graduating from Georgetown University Dental School in 1950, he joined the US Army Dental Corps as a 1st Lieutenant. He served as the Post Dental Surgeon at Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C., during the Korean War. He then practiced dentistry in Worcester for thirty-six years, also serving as Chairman of the Worcester Public Schools Dental Clinic and with the Apollonian Guild of Dentists caring for underprivileged children. He served as President of the St. Paul's Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Following John's retirement, he turned to joining and serving other veterans. He was an active member of numerous veterans' organizations, serving as President and Commander of many and was often named Veteran or Person of the Year. He was a Trustee of the WWI Memorial at Lincoln Square and was appointed to the Worcester WWII Memorial Committee. He was presented with the Key to the City of Worcester in 2012 and was a frequent featured speaker on WWII at local schools and at Memorial Day and Veterans Day services. John was committed to honoring the sacrifices made by all veterans and to teaching about WWII by sharing his experiences firsthand. John also made multiple tours of the WWII European battlefields in Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany and was honored by the Belgian government.

John, a gifted athlete, was an avid golfer and Holy Cross sports fan. As the son and grandson of sculptors, he dabbled in sculpturing. He was a kind, humble, generous man who nurtured his friendships. One was always glad to see him and left his company feeling uplifted. He credited his faith for sustaining him through life's challenges. His joyful spirit will be missed.

John is survived by his sister Mary V. Rothaupt of Monsey, New York and his beloved nieces and nephews, Dr. Jo-Anne O. Shepard and her husband William, Deborah A. O'Malley, Patricia A. O'Malley, Timothy J. O'Malley, Elizabeth A. Murphy and her husband Timothy, John J. O'Malley, Jr. and his wife Jenifer, Stephen Rothaupt and his wife Darlene, Peter Rothaupt, Mary Ellen Riello and her husband Anthony, and Katherine Carpentier and her husband Lawrence, as well as many great nieces and nephews who adored him and describe him as "the best guy ever." John was predeceased by his former wife, May Elliott, his brothers Francis J. and William F. McAuliffe, his cherished sister Anne T. O'Malley, and brothers-in-law John J. O'Malley and George Rothaupt.

John also leaves his devoted caretaker, companion and friend, Geraldine Thompson, who helped make his last years active, happy and full.

In lieu of flowers, as a tribute to John's goodness, his family suggests that you take someone you love to lunch or dinner and let them know that you love them.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, December 13, 2019 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster Street, Worcester, MA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at Blessed Sacrament Church, 555 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA. A private burial will take place at a later date.