The Honorable John A. Tierney, 83, of New Bedford, Fort Myers, and Nantucket passed away Friday, May 22, 2015 at his home in New Bedford surrounded by his loving family. He was born and raised in Boston, the son of Dr. James F. Tierney, Sr. and Margaret (Crowley) Tierney.
He was a graduate, with distinction, of Boston Latin School. He received his bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1953, his law degree from Boston College Law School in 1956 and his master of law degree in taxation from Boston University.
He spent four years as an officer in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the United States Air Force. His duties included a three-year assignment at Chaumont Air Base in France during which time he traveled throughout Europe trying courts-martial. Upon discharge, he entered the private practice of law in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was a partner with Jack London and John Sheehan, both of whom became judges.
He served as an assistant city solicitor for the City of New Bedford from 1972 to 1974. In 1974 he was elected the District Attorney for Bristol County and served for four years. From 1983 to 1984 he was the City Solicitor for the City of New Bedford. In 1989 Governor Dukakis appointed him a judge of the Superior Court. He served as a judge of the Superior Court until his mandatory retirement at age 70 in 2002. After his retirement from the bench, he served as the New Bedford representative on the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket Steamship Authority Board of Governors. He sat as an arbitrator and mediator with Commonwealth Mediation and Conciliation, Inc. in Brockton. He mediated his last case just months prior to his death.
His community service included work for the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society and the Massachusetts Bar Association. He was a past president of the New Bedford Bar Association and a founding member of the Bristol County Bar Association. He earned multiple commendations and awards including the prestigious Public Service Award of the Massachusetts Bar Association.
He loved his family, the law, the Red Sox, golf, and crossword puzzles.
He was married to Rosemary (Seibert) Tierney, a former mayor of the City of New Bedford, for over 58 years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his five children, Attorney Moira Tierney, Attorney Sheila M. Tierney-Curry and her husband Keith Curry, Attorney and restaurateur John E. Tierney and his partner Robert Brichacek, Dr. Matthew J. Tierney and his wife Patricia Swain-Tierney, and Kara A. Tierney and her husband, Dr. Douglas Smink. He is also survived by his ten grandchildren: Sara Jacobsen and her husband John Jacobsen, David Sosnowski, Declan Tierney, Keaghan Tierney, Maeve Tierney, Griffin Tierney, Tierney Smink, McLean Smink, Kirby Smink, and Finlay Smink, and his three great-grandchildren, Gabriel Jacobsen, Theo Jacobsen, and Elliot Jacobsen. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. James F. Tierney, Jr. and his wife Jean, his sister-in-law, Joanne Warren and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. His sister, Mary Claire Burns, her husband William Burns, his niece Annemaria Warren, and his nephew Ian Tierney predeceased him.
His family wants to extend its sincerest thanks for the care given to him by the Community Nurse & Hospice Care of Fairhaven, particularly Carlton Jorge and Nicole Reedy, R.N, as well as Tony Dias.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 AM at St. Lawrence Church, followed by burial in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday from 4-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.