Attorney Joseph P. Harrington of New Bedford died Wednesday August 18, 2010. He was the husband of Lorraine L. (Bourque) Harrington.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Michael J. and Margaret F. Harrington, he lived in New Bedford most of his life.
He was a communicant of St. Lawrence Martyr Church, where he served on the St. Vincent dePaul Society. Since its inception, he served as the Chairman of St. Thomas More Red Mass Committee for the Diocese of Fall River. He had been awarded the St. Thomas More award as a distinguished attorney.
Mr. Harrington was a well known attorney who practiced in the city for more than 50 years. He was admitted to practice to the Massachusetts Bar in 1959, the United States District Court in 1963, and the United States Supreme Court in 1974. During the 1960s, he was an Assistant District Attorney serving Bristol, Barnstable, and Dukes Counties.
In 1959, he was elected to the New Bedford City Council where he served for five terms. He was twice elected by his colleagues to serve as President of that body.
He was a graduate of New Bedford High School, Boston College, and New England School of Law.
Attorney Harrington was a prominent member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and former president of the Bristol County and New Bedford Bar Associations. He was a member of the Country Club of New Bedford. He served as a Director on the Board of the New Bedford Boys and Girls Club.
He is survived by his wife; three children, Joan H. Woodworth and her husband Jeffrey of Westwood, Attorney Joseph P. Harrington, Jr. and his wife Tina of Milton, and Suzanne H. Connors and her husband Timothy of Westwood; nine grandchildren, Hannah, Katherine, and Lauren Woodworth, Colin, Brendan, and Declan Harrington, and Jack, Owen, and Brooke Connors; his sister Anne M. Downey of Mattapoisett; and many nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Attorney Edward F. Harrington.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, August 23 at 10 AM at St. Lawrence Martyr Church. Burial will follow at the Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 2-7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park Street, New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Lawrence Martyr Church, 110 Summer St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.