Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home, Canton, MA 02021
Michael Curran
5/11/2015


Curran, Michael P. ESQ, 82, passed away peacefully Monday, May 11 in his home with his family at his side after a long illness. He is survived by his beloved wife Marilyn, married 56 ½ years; his children, Stephen of Canton, Maurice and his wife Sue, of Upper Saddle River, NJ; Alison and her husband John, of Roswell, GA; and Megan of Canton. He had great love for his eight grandchildren: Dr. Erin Curran, Ashley Curran Nandi, Kaylie Curran, Alex Curran, Kevin Curran, Michael Hashimoto, James Hashimoto and the great light in his life, Lucia Curran-Barker. He also leaves behind his sisters Eileen and her husband Bob Mahar of Northampton, MA and Peggy Dowd of Westfield, MA and his “brother” of 76 years, Charlie Smith of Holyoke/Chicopee, MA.
Curran served in the Army in “Big Red One” during the Korean War. He was a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and the New England School of Law. From 1961 to 1966 he served as the first Executive Director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association (Nee Massachusetts League of Cities and Towns). During the summer of 1966 he became Staff Director of the Special Commission on Implementation of the Municipal Home Rule Amendment to the State Constitution. Beginning in 1967 he engaged in the general practice of law, specializing in what became his career-long passion: municipal organization and by-laws, for which he was hailed as a “small time Thomas Jefferson.” Curran served as counsel to elected charter commissions in more than sixty cities, towns and counties in Massachusetts, and as a consultant to appointed committees in dozens more. Attorney Curran was tremendously committed to the Town of Canton, serving as Town Moderator for over a decade, as Town Counsel from 1990-2002. He served as President of the City Solicitors and Town Counsel Association and was awarded the Association’s President’s Award in the year 2000.
He was deeply proud of his Irish roots and was passionately committed to the Democratic Party as well as the Knights of Columbus and his parish St. Gerard’s, where he served as Eucharistic Minister, usher and co-chair with his wife of the pre-cana marriage program. He was a vociferous reader- subscribing to three daily newspapers- and an avid follower of current events who could converse with anyone from Senator to janitor, with great kindness, compassion and very dry humor. Visiting hours at the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home 455 Washington St. Canton Sunday 4-8 pm. Funeral mass at St. Gerard Majella Church Canton Monday morning at 10. Burial Canton Corner Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Michael’s memory to the Canton Veteran’s Service Department 801 Washington St. Canton, MA 02021 or to “Music Counts” c/o Canton Public Schools, P.O. Box 182 Canton, MA 02021.
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Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home
455 Washington St.
Canton, MA USA 02021
781-828-0811