Paul S. McDonough

Paul Stephen McDonough, of Richmond Hill, New York, passed away on January 3, 2025, at the age of 78. After a life of many great joys and some great sorrows, Paul is now reunited with his late parents and siblings. Paul was born in the Bronx in 1946 to James McDonough and Pauline Farber McDonough. A few years later he gained a baby brother, Kevin. Paul's father died when Paul was just six years old. The loss of his father at such a young age shaped Paul in profound ways. Raised by a single, widowed mother in the Bronx during the 1950's, Paul grew up loving his strong and determined mother. Education was a priority in his childhood, and after Catholic grammar school, he attended the Bronx High School of Science. While attending Columbia University, he met Mary Finneran on a blind date and found the strong and determined woman he could build a life with. Mary and Paul fell in love and married on February 3, 1968. Together they built a life that Paul could have only dreamed of as a child. And just as he fell in love with Mary, he fell in love with the entire Finneran clan - Mary's nine brothers and sisters, her father, Dr. John J Finneran, and her mother, Mary Finneran. And they loved him back with equal enthusiasm. Paul developed a special relationship with his father-in-law and his mother-in-law. Through them he saw a parenting team that would greatly influence the father he was to become. A year after they married, Paul and Mary began their young family with their daughter Kathleen, and then a year later, their daughter Patty joined the fray. But as his family grew, Paul suffered another untimely loss with the death of his younger brother, Kevin. While attending Queens College, Paul became determined to pursue a law degree. While working full time to provide for his family and going to school at night, Paul excelled at Fordham University School of Law, where he was a member of the Fordham Law Review. His achievement would not have been possible without the love, strength, and support of Mary, his mother, Pauline, and his extended family. While Paul was in law school and soon after he graduated, he and Mary welcomed more children into the family - their daughter Sheila, then their son Kevin, and finally their daughter Moira. Paul loved the law and being a lawyer. Paul's legal career included working at law firms such as White & Case, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, and Jackson Lewis; corporations including Tel Plus and Siemens; and his own private practice, with a focus on labor and employment law. Later in his career, Paul became a skilled and well-respected mediator. He mediated regularly for the EEOC, FINRA, and private parties. Finally, Paul served as an Administrative Law Judge for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
As much as Paul loved the law, he loved his family more. He supported Mary in raising their children in the Catholic faith, and they prioritized education, including their children attending Holy Child Jesus Elementary School (the same school Mary and Mary's parents attended) and various Catholic high schools. He was involved in his children's extracurricular pursuits, including coaching and leading sports organizations. He and Mary emphasized gender equality and achievement among their children. And he strongly supported Mary when she returned to her service roots and pursued her Master of Social Work. He enthusiastically enjoyed his extended family and always looked forward to large family gatherings, such as graduation parties, hosting Christmas Eve, or just a weekend at Port Jefferson to visit the extended Finneran clan. Later in life, Paul reconnected with his siblings from his father's first marriage. The openness and love with which the McDonough siblings embraced each other (and their respective families) was wonderful, and these relationships brought him great joy and happiness. Through all of the joy that he gave and received in life, and of all the relationships that he shared, he was singularly devoted to Mary. They would spend every evening together - talking, or reading, or watching the news - but always together. They traveled together. They laughed together. And they raised a family together who all love each other very much. They shared a marriage of 56 years. If you are reading this, you and Paul knew one another in some way, shape, or form. And if Paul knew you, he enjoyed you because he delighted in people. He was sincere in his interest and his care for those he knew and met. And while we feel the sting of loss and the sadness of his passing, we take comfort in knowing that we have these feelings because of the love and happiness that we shared with Paul, who was known to different people as McD, Dad, Grandpa, or Uncle Paul. He will be missed. Paul leaves behind Mary and their five children (Kathleen-Lenny, Patty-Chris, Sheila-Paul, Kevin-Kyla and Moira-Brian) and 13 grandchildren (Caitlin, Patrick, Matthew, Colin, Brendan, Ryan, Erin, Cullen, Tommy, Alexandra, Bryce, James, and Declan) and his sister, Irene Moyna. Service Details are as follows: A wake will be held Wednesday January 8, 2025, from 4-8:00 p.m. at Franklin Funeral Home (42 New Hyde park road, Franklin Square, NY 11010). A funeral Mass will be held Thursday January 9, 2025, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church (62 Wright Avenue, Malverne, NY 11565).
Burial immediately following at St. Mary's Cemetery 114 Sprain Road, Yonkers NY 10701. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Paul, please visit our Tree Store.