JOHN FRANCIS MAHONEY

MAHONEY, John Francis Of Old Saybrook CT, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 20, 2025. He lived a long and fulfilling life and was deeply loved by his family and friends. John was gentle, witty, well-traveled and had the gift of great storytelling. He was quietly charismatic, charming, and humble. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of life: a bowl of spaghetti and a glass of red wine, walks along the water, a friendly game of cribbage or ping-pong, a dip in Lake Massapoag, and the NYT crossword puzzle. His most cherished moments were spent with his family who will miss him for his unconditional love, wisdom, and encouragement. John was born in Everett, MA, on September 6, 1935, son of Carolyn M. and John J. Mahoney. He attended Boston College High School, Cardinal O'Connell Seminary, St. John's Seminary and received his doctorate at Gregorian University in Rome. It was in Rome that Fr. Mahoney was ordained on July 17, 1960. He later returned to the Boston area to Pope St. John XXIII Seminary to live and work. But apparently God had another plan and her name was Sharon A. Coulter (Lowell, MA). The two were wed on November 14, 1969 in Lugano, Switzerland where John taught theology and philosophy at Franklin College. The couple welcomed their daughter, Siobhan, a dermatologist (Old Saybrook CT); and son, Ryan, an architect/designer at Workstead (Brooklyn, NY). After returning to the States and two years in Saudi Arabia, the family settled in Fairfield, CT. John became the executive director of Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU) in New York and editor of The Link newsletter. He devoted over four decades to fostering dialogue and advancing peace in the Middle East. His directorship allowed him to travel, speak and meet people of many backgrounds who shared his vision that some day all people could live with dignity and freedom. His legacy at AMEU continues with the annual conferring of the John and Sharon Mahoney Award for Service. In his later years, nothing brought John more joy than time with his granddaughters. To the girls he was Pa, the man who let them stay up as long as they wanted and eat whatever they wanted. Pa had no rules! He was the one to drop off a forgotten lunch box, drive them home from school "the beautiful way," watch the double feature of Columbo on Saturday nights, press apple cider in the back yard and make every Christmas Eve the most special night of the year. John is survived by his wife, Sharon (Coulter) Mahoney. The two had the deepest, enduring love and appreciation for each other: a commitment that would sustain them through the joys and sorrows of life and that would endure through the challenges of aging and disease. They simply lived for each other. John also leaves behind his children, Dr. Siobhan (Mahoney) Collins and Ryan Mahoney; his son-in-law, Timothy Collins; and his granddaughters, Maeve R. Collins, a teacher in Hartford, CT, Fionnoula A. Collins, a third-year fashion design major at SCAD in Savannah, GA and Aoife C. Collins, a soon-to-be freshman at Boston College. He was predeceased by his parents, John J. Mahoney and Carolyn M. (Lee) Mahoney; and his sister Theresa A. Mahoney. John's family is grateful to his caregivers and hospice team for their kindness and compassion. A private Celebration of Life is planned. To honor John, the family requests that those who knew and loved him share a bowl of pasta together and raise a glass in his honor.

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