CHARLES F. MAHONEY, JR.
CHARLES F. MAHONEY, JR. age 88, of Quincy, formerly of Dorchester and a South Boston native, died Wednesday Apr. 26, 2006 at his daughter's home in Norwell, MA following a brief illness. Born in Boston, the son of the late Charles F. and Catherine (Murphy) Mahoney, he graduated from South Boston High School.
Mr. Mahoney was a former employee of the Railway Express Agency and a retired employee of the U.S. Postal Service having worked at the South Postal Annex for many years. He was also a longtime headwaiter for Hart's Caterers of Dorchester. While working at the Railway Express in November, 1942; he took it upon himself to dispatch several railway cars to assist in the transportation needs of the victims of the Coconut Grove Fire. He was considered by some to have been an "unsung hero" of the tragedy.
Mr. Mahoney was recently pictured on the front page of The Patriot Ledger for a story entitled "The Bomb Remembered". Serving as a cryptologist in the United States Army during World War II, he decoded hundreds of top secret messages including the official notification from General George C. Marshall to Allied Comander General Douglas MacArthur that the Japanese had surrendered.
After answering a casting call and mentioning that he had a "South Boston face", Mr. Mahoney was cast as an extra in the movie "Mystic River". He is shown in the initial sequences of the movie as one of the patrons sitting at the bar.
Mr. Mahoney was a member of the Castle Island Association and the Fitzgerald Post #561, V.F.W.. He enjoyed ballroom dancing and trips to the Connecticut Casinos.
Husband of the late Anna (Connolly) Mahoney. He is survived by his children; Elaine C. Holmberg of Carver, Cathleen F. Perry and her husband James M. of Norwell, Charles F. Mahoney, III and his wife Constance M. of Milton, and Colleen A. Ivens and her husband Paul M. of Hanover, and his brother; John "Sonny" Mahoney of Dorchester. Mr. Mahoney was known as "PA" to his 13 Grandchildren, 8 Great Grandchildren and 3 Great Great Grandchildren. He was also the brother of the late Helen Mahoney of Dorchester, John F. Mahoney and Mary Murphy both of Quincy.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated by Fr. Thomas Foley at St. Ann's Church, Neponset on Saturday April 29, 2006 at 9:00 A.M. Visiting Hours were held on Friday April 28, 2006 in the O'Donnell & Mulry Funeral Home 138 Neponset Ave., Dorchester. Interment followed at Hanover Centre Cemetery in Hanover, MA. Donations in his memory may be made to The Brain Tumor Society at www.tbts.org, click on Ride for Research, team Journey for Julie.