Constance M. "Connie" McLaughlin

Constance “Connie” (Martin) McLaughlin, of Melrose passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at the age of 81, on January 31, 2026.

She loved following her children and grandchildren’s sports careers having attended countless youth league, high school, and college events: baseball, softball, football, ice hockey, field hockey, equestrian, and wrestling matches and games. In 1982 Connie spearheaded the Melrose 500 Club, that was needed to fully fund and restore all Melrose Junior High School sports programs, for six years, after they were cancelled due to a school budget crisis.

She loved attending and watching Boston’s four professional sports teams and, especially, professional tennis. During the Larry Bird era, in sections 99 and 100, she became known as “Big Game Connie” because she always (and only) went to the big, most important games.

She was a partner in the family business, McLaughlin Insurance and Risk Management, having founded and managed their personal lines family division. Connie was beloved by her handpicked and personally trained staff who were dedicated to providing clients with her unique brand of professional client services.

An avid reader of thousands of books, Connie loved Sundays where she could devour the Boston Globe and New York Times, cover to cover. She attended and loved hundreds of pop and rock concerts, especially her last one, James Taylor’s Boston show in August, eagerly looking forward to his September 2026 return.

Her remarkable life was defined by her children and grandchildren, feeling blessed by their presence, all of them living near her home. Her home served as the base of operations for the two families and cousins to meet, play, sleepover, and watch movies, allowing cousins to be raised with togetherness, humor, competitiveness, and love. Even as the children went off to college Connie was in constant contact, calling and texting, including reaching out to every grandchild, the day before her end days began.

Connie is survived, after 65 years of love and marriage, by her husband John McLaughlin Sr., and her son John McLaughlin Jr., his wife Patricia (Lynch) and their children Brian, his wife Maddie (Young) and Julia and Alec; her daughter Christine Hickey, her children Jack, Kathleen and Matthew, and their father, Christopher Hickey, her beloved sister Florence Martin and her cousins Carol Driscoll(Martin) and Regina Scotto (Quinn). Connie is also survived by her lifelong friend Kathy O’Donnell and dearest friends Jane Miliotis, Janet Runge, Gail Enos and Peggy McDonough. Connie was predeceased by her granddaughter Victoria McLaughlin, her parents Earl Martin Sr. and Helen Martin (Quinn), her brothers Earl Martin Jr., John (Jack) Martin, Joseph Martin, and cousins Frank Quinn and Patricia Quinn. Connie will be missed by extended family, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 4 Herbert St., Melrose. Please go directly to church for Connie’s mass: Interment will follow at Wyoming Cemetery, family & friends respectfully invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Joey Fund, Massachusetts Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 220 N. Main St., Natick, MA 01760.