Marilyn Doherty
Education Advocate, wife of the Honorable Gerard Doherty
Marilyn M. (Dillon) Doherty, a longtime resident of Charlestown and Worthington, entered into eternal life on Friday, December 9 at the Curahealth/Kindred Hospital in Brighton. She was 85 years old.
Marilyn was born in Allentown, PA, a daughter of the late William J. Dillon and Helen (Coughter) Dillon. She was raised by her mother’s aunt, Agnes Fallon, following the untimely death of her mother. She grew up in Pittsfield, MA where she attended St. Joseph’s Parochial school and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School. She received a full scholarship to attend Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, MA where she graduated with a degree in Sociology.
Marilyn demonstrated an exemplary commitment to the education of the children of her community. She worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a research librarian in the Legislative Research Bureau and also on the staff of past Senate President William Bulger, where she fought vigorously to provide textbooks and literature to all the children being educated in Massachusetts. She was a member of the Boston Partners for Education, assisted at the Mission Grammar School in Roxbury, and volunteered at the Burns Library at Boston College where she worked toward the cataloging of eighteenth and nineteenth century texts about Ireland. Marilyn also managed each of her husband’s four successful bids for election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Marilyn has been recognized with an honorary Doctorate from Our Lady of the Elms College, where she also served as a trustee. Malden Catholic acknowledged her commitment to Catholic education by naming the Marilyn and Gerard Doherty Gymnasium. Recognition has been bestowed on Marilyn by several institutions, including the Irish International Immigration Center, the Irish Charitable Society, and the John F. Kennedy Family Service Center. Most recently, the Our Lady of the Rosary Courtyard at Malden Catholic was dedicated in her honor, a gift from her husband.
The beloved wife of 61 years of The Honorable Gerard F. Doherty, she was the devoted sister of the late Patricia (Dillon) Moore and William Dillon and is survived by many loving Pittsfield cousins, several nieces and nephews, and many friends. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Marguerite Doherty and her brother-in-law Richard Moore.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, December 14 in St. Mary’s Church, Charlestown. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. Arrangements were by the Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St., Charlestown. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Marilyn’s name to the Marilyn and Gerard Doherty Scholarship Fund, Elms College 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013-2839.
Gerard would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Kindred Hospital for the wonderful care provided to Marilyn.
To send a message of condolence, please visit www.carrfuneral.com