Vincent Maurice McGrath, age 91, of Marblehead, MA and Ft. Myers, FL, passed away Friday October 3, 2025.
Raised in Malden, he graduated from Malden High School in 1951. In 1953 he enlisted in the US Marine Corps where he served for eight years, including two years of active duty. Before and after the Marine Corps he was a working member of Local #7 Ironworkers until retirement from that work in the early 1980’s.
He graduated from Salem State College and was his class president in 1961. He earned a masters degree in 1962 from Boston University, and continued taking courses in advanced graduate study at Boston University and Boston College.
His first teaching position was at Marblehead High School in 1962 where he taught “History of World Civilizations”. He moved on to Salem State College where he taught various history courses from 1965 until retirement in 1996.
While at Salem State College he organized and became the first president of the Massachusetts Society of Professors. He then chaired the Massachusetts State College Association and was its first president from 1977 to 1988. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Mass. Teachers Association for several years.
He married his loving wife Marilyn (Downey) at St. Joseph’s church in Malden and they shared 49 years of marriage until her death in 2011.
His daughter, Susan McGrath Larcom of East Greenwich, RI, passed away in October 2021. He was also predeceased by his parents, William Thomas McGrath and Jennie (McDonald), and a loving step father Phillip McGrath all from Newfoundland Canada; his brother William, who was killed while in the US Air Force in Europe, brother Donald (Jacqueline), sister Mary McGrath Batchelder (Duane), and son in law Gregory McNamara of Marblehead.
Vincent is survived by two loving children, Mary McGrath McNamara and William McGrath of Marblehead; two siblings, Helen McGrath and Gerald McGrath (Beverly); seven grandchildren Brendan, William and Mary Vincent Larcom, Gregory and Edward (Teddy) McNamara, Julia and W. Henry McGrath, son in law Robert Larcom, daughter in law Kristen McGrath. He had eight nieces and nephews and several grand nieces and nephews.
He was a 50 year member of both the OKO’s and Gerry 5 Organizations. He truly enjoyed living in and being involved with Marblehead.
A celebration of life will be held at the Gerry No. 5 VFA, 210 Beacon Street, Marblehead, MA on Friday November 28, 2025 from 12-3 pm.