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Joseph Martin Mullaly

Joseph Mullaly Obituary

MULLALY - Joseph Martin age 87, passed away on March 26, 2008. Joseph retired to St. Michaels, Maryland in 1995 with his wife after a 50 year career as a Real Estate and Insurance Broker in New Hyde Park and Roslyn, New York. He took part in the Invasion of Normandy, performing minefield demolition on Omaha Beach with the Army Corp of Engineers. He received the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service, and was Honorably discharged in 1945. He is survived by his loving wife Kathleen and their eleven children, seven grandchildren, his sister Helen McDermott, and a large extended family of nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all.

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Published by Newsday on Apr. 27, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Mullaly

20 Entries

Kathy Cohen

September 20, 2008

I have so many memories of Uncle Joe – and they all make me smile. He always made me feel special because I was the oldest cousin, and I remember him singing "I'll take you home again, Kathleen" to me as he left our house each time (way before he even met Aunt Kathleen!)

When I was about 10 or 12, he was playing hearts at our dining room table and needed a bathroom break. He asked me if I wanted to play his hand for him until he returned. I felt SO honored, since this was the very first time I was allowed to sit at the table while the adults were playing cards! I was SO nervous that I'd throw the wrong card down, and couldn't wait until he took that burden away from me! Of course, in true Uncle Joe form, he returned and pretended to be all upset about what I'd done to his great hand! I felt like I'd let him down... until that wink and that smile... and I knew he was only teasing.

As the years passed, I grew to love that mock indignation that he truly perfected. He always made us laugh with his stories, old and new... no matter how many times we'd heard them. As little kids, I remember how we always excitedly anticipated his arrival every weekend, knowing he would stop at Otto's Deli for a cake and a gallon of milk! And as a young adult – that thrill continued!

I remember his sadness while taking such good care of Aunt Lucille, and then his joyful happiness at his wedding to Aunt Kathleen. I cherish my memories of staying overnight, going on vacations with him, visiting his office, and just hanging out listening to his stories. The family investment club that he started opened my eyes to money and investing. Handing out pencils for "Joe Mullaly for Sheriff" introduced me to politics, and the reality that the good guy doesn't always win.

I learned much from him: the importance of family, how to treat people... no matter what they look like or their opinions, respect for others, caring for the downtrodden, sharing what little you might have, taking care of the older generation, love of country, fighting for what's right, the importance of laughter... and looking at life through the mirthful eyes of an Irishman.

Uncle Joe, I see you in every Irishman with a brogue. I hear your voice when I listen to a joke about a Frenchman, whenever D-Day is brought up, every time someone talks about visiting their mother, and any time a guest is leaving my house... and turns to say something that makes me laugh. You gave us all very special gifts – and I thank you.

With Love from Your Niece,

Elizabeth Gleghorn

September 14, 2008

Joseph, You are in our prayers and love you. The Gleghorns..

Theresa O'Doherty

September 14, 2008

We miss you Joseph, In the Old Marble Town of Kilkenny with it's Abbey's , Cathedrals and
walls - where once dwelt the great
chieftains "Mullalys'", but now they are scattered far and wide.
Always remembered in our prayers, may you sit at God's right side..
From Sister-inLaw.Theresa and Brother-in-law O'Doherty Septtmber 15, 2008Theresa

Al & Joyce Baragona Baragona

September 13, 2008

Joe Mullaly was a great person to talk with. He had a lot of class and a great personality. Joe Mullaly was a great inspiration to everyone. He was nice to talk with at any occasion.

phillip denig

September 13, 2008

all, i know you all think a lot of joe. he was a great guy. iappreciate the opportunity to say so.

Nicole Gondry

September 13, 2008

I was sorry to hear about your loss. Thank you for letting me share in this day with you.

JOYCE GENTILE

September 13, 2008

MY FONDEST MEMORIES ARE OF THANKSGIVING W/MY CHILDREN AND MY NOT SO FONDEST ON CASSEROLE NITE AT THE MULLALY'S.

WITH DEEPEST SYMPATHY.

Barbara Sherwood (was a Burke!)

September 12, 2008

Dear Aunt Kathleen.

I remember when you married Uncle Joe...and his family! There was such sparkle between you, it told this young girl that "true love" did exist. And every time I saw you two and your expanding family thereafter, the sparkle was still there. Life for the Irish might be a rock rocky road sometimes, but for the Mullalys the potholes were filled with courage and love... and blarney (when Uncle Joe was telling one of his "stories", the best part was watching you smile and rolling your eyes!).

Be well, be peaceful.

Love, Barbara Anne.

gerard rastelli

September 9, 2008

Theresa, you know your fathers heart,I cant comment further because I still cant grasp the loss of my mom and your dad.But, ,,,,your father knows your heart.And he hears you.

when Uncle Joe speaks....everyone listens

susan sheehan

September 3, 2008

Dear Aunt Kathleen and all my cousins,
Uncle Joe had a very special place in my heart. I remember all the stories, and I loved hearing each and every one. Whenever I had the movie camera on him, he would shine. When he came to visit, we would all gather, always anxious to hear a new story. I cherish all those moments and every story. I will never forget growing up, we ALWAYS had to consult Uncle Joe, on everything. He was a man of great knowledge, and always had good advice, and a story to boot!
I will also never forget how he and Aunt Kathleen and Kathrin were there almost every night at the hospital when the girls were in the accident. Just when we were feeling low, in they would come and always a smile and positive feeling. So supportive and always there to help whenever any of us were in need. He was an exceptional person and I am so grateful and proud he was my Uncle Joe.
I loved him dearly, and will always miss him.
My love to all of you and I hope we see each other very soon.

(I so enjoyed seeing all of you together...it's been too long)
Stay well, stay in touch.
Love, Susan

Thomas Ford III

September 2, 2008

Dear Mullaly Family,
In my not so long ago younger days and due to my adventurous nature and inability with school related items I wasn't one to provoke much faith in adults of ever becoming a useful working member of society. Few along the course of my developmental years encouraged me as did my Uncle Joe. He saw me as an entrepreneur, "the boy will become a millionaire" he always told me. He liked my zest. My parents worried about my irresponsible nature of spending my days on the beach. Surfing wasn't going to pay the bills. Uncle Joe saw me as a guy who can do whatever he decided to put his mind to. He inspired me to not let people like himself down. When I was 18 years old and in trouble at my first year of college and needed to leave it was Uncle Joe who took me down to the Rosalyn Carpenters Union and got me indoctrinated. It was at this job, being a lug for the skilled carpenters, that I grew to understand how important an education and skills were and how important all opportunity is a result of hard work. He was an uncle that I always liked to see. He, along with my father and I were golfing buddies that teed off on the first hole prior to the light of day so that we could be done a round and at our respective work environments before 9 AM. We always stopped at the diner for breakfast and a recap of the morning and of course sixteen more jokes after hearing about two hundred from him along the fairways. Is there a joke he hasn't told? Sometimes repeats were part of the program but it seemed that he could make you laugh even when you knew the punch line. He had what he always told me I had "The gift of Gab". His life was an important part of mine and he will be missed.

Maureen Rebele

September 1, 2008

I have always thought of Uncle Joe as the patriarch of the Mullaly family. He was the "keeper of the family stories." I don't think there was ever a better storyteller. I hope that we can share these stories with our children with as much enthusiasm as Uncle Joe had when he told them to us.

My favorite memory of Uncle Joe is our "Lucky Relatives Investment Club." I don't think we ever made any money but did we ever have a great time at those meetings! Uncle Joe had a way of sharing his excitment and it was very contagious. You couldn't help but see the potential to "strike it rich."

It is now our turn to share what we have learned from Uncle Joe with our families. His legacy is the whole Mullaly family. We will all miss you Uncle Joe.

Uncle Joe with his brother and sisters

September 1, 2008

Margaret Carnright

August 31, 2008

Dear Dad:

We all miss you more than words can say.

There is alot of you in William. You were in the Engineering Unit in the Army-Will is majoring in Engineering. You both love to read and learn new things. I'll always remember that puzzle with numbers that only you and he completed!

I remember "working" at your office when I must have been about 4 or 5. We were walking around the corner to the deli (or was it to buy ice cream?) and a man passed us. A minute later I asked you "Don't you know him?" And you said, "NO". I was surprised. I thought you knew everyone.

I know you are in heaven. Hope you are holding a place us all of us!

Thank you for being such a great father!

love,

Margaret, John and William

Theresa Mullaly

August 31, 2008

----- To Dad -----

who deserves far more thanks than I've written here...

Thank you for making us laugh - you were a man of few words, but you said them often. We lauged again and again!

Thank you for showing us it's important to make time for others - by giving us kids rides down the driveway in the mornings, calling "All aboard that's going aboard" when we climbed in, and "All ashore that's going ashore" when we climbed out ten seconds later. Those rides were a thrill.

Thank you for showing us that it's okay to be imperfect, by falling asleep in Church on Sundays, telling us that God is just happy we showed up.

Thank you for making us feel special, by taking us with you to the office with you. You bought us big lunches from the deli, and then paid us for doing nothing all day.

Thank you for showing us that being impulsive is not always a bad thing, by coming home with surprises, like a boat, a player piano, and a car with doors that opened the wrong way!

Thank you for teaching us to be (a little) more responsible, by creating the Knot Monster. It was a loving and humorous way to get us to clean up after ourselves, even if it did make us late for school.

Thank you for the adventure of Lake Wallenpaupack, and for building those bunk beds so we could each have our own bed.

Finally, thank you for working so hard to raise 11 kids. After working 363 days a year, nobody blamed you for sleeping the other two!

Dad, even though your relationship with us has changed, your presence is still very strongly felt. When I see a man reading a newspaper, I see you with yours. When I hear someone trying to choose between two desserts, I hear you choosing both. When I see plaid shirts, suit jackets, and tweed caps, I feel your hugs, and hear you ask "So when are we gonna see you again?"

Life goes by so fast, and I'll see you soon, Dad. Have the red wine poured and be ready with a toast!

Until then, you will be missed...

Love, Theresa