R.I.P.- Three Boston Irish Community Leaders

The Boston Irish community lost three longtime stalwarts in the last week of June.

‘Peg’ Geraghty is dead at 85
The Irish-Amerian community is mourning the death of Margaret “Peg” Geraghty (at right), known as the “grande dame” of the Boston Irish, who passed away on Tues., June 26, at the age of 85. Born in Jamaica Plain and educated as a teacher at Boston Teachers College, she was the widow of Thomas J. Geraghty, the Boston area property manager who founded Geraghty Associates.
“She was an amazing woman who has impacted the lives of so many over the years with her kindness and generosity,” said Mary Mulvey Jacobson of West Roxbury, a longtime friend of the Geraghty family. “Peg was the backbone of so many important projects and initiatives and her loss will be deeply felt by many. Our condolences are sent to her three children, Tom, John, Anne, and their families.”
The funeral Mass for Mrs. Geraghty will be said on July 2, in St. Theresa’s Church in West Roxbury.
A Jamaica Plain native, she was the daughter of the late Anne (Carr) and Michael Cassidy and mother of Thomas and his wife Susan of Westwood, John and his wife Mildred of Milton, and Anne of Dedham, will be held at the William J. Gormley Funeral home, 2055 Centre St., West Roxbury on Sat., June 30, from 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 p.m., and on Sun., July 1. from 4 to 8 p.m.
Interment will be in Milton Cemetery.
Thomas Mannion: contractor, and St. Ann’s stalwart
A funeral Mass was said on Tuesday morning, June 26, for Thomas J. Mannion, owner for 30 years of the T.J. Mannion Construction Co. and a devoted member of St. Ann’s Parish in Dorchester.
Mr. Mannion, formerly of Kilbricken, Rosmuc, County Galway, leaves his wife, Julia E. (Lakes) and sons Patrick and his wife Monica, Thomas Jr. and his wife Linda, Michael and his wife Maire, Gerald and his wife Laurie, and John and his wife Colleen.
Son of the late Patrick and Teresa (McGrath) Mannion, Mr. Mannion also leaves his siblings Barbara Sullivan, Josie Mellett, Ann Cloherty, Eileen Grealish, Noreen Lee, Paddy, Bricken and John Mannion. He was pre-deceased by his sister Mary and brothers Michael and Colm. Remembrances may be made in memory of Thomas to the Kenney-Quinn-Ford Brain Tumor Research Fund, 55 Hallet St., Dorchester, MA 02124.
John M. Curran, 1938-2012
John Curran, the longtime host of the “Sound of Erin” radio program and travel agent, passed away on June 21. The Belmont resident, a native of Co. Kerry, was married for 52 years to his beloved wife Kitty (Ryan) Curran.
John was the loving father of Sean Curran of New York, Patricia Loomis and her husband Fred of Winthrop, Deirdre Tobin and her husband Sean of Sudbury and Maura Lally and her husband Sean of Belmont.
The former owner of Round Tower Travel, Curran was also a founding member of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Erin and former account executive of Morris Alper and Sons. Donations in John’s memory may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society 101A First Ave Waltham MA 02454 or the American Heart Association, 20 Speen Street Framingham, MA 01701.
John was also the Papa of Brendan and Catherine Loomis, Ryan, Fiona and Catrina Tobin and Ciara and Keelin Lally. Brother of Donal Curran, Eileen Murphy and Marion O’Riordan all of Crosshaven, County Cork, Ireland and the late Mary Curran and Christopher O’Brien.