Attorney Philip L. McAuliffe Jr. a lifelong resident of Wakefield, died on Sunday, November 28, 2010, at E.N. Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford following an extended illness. He was 81 years old.
Philip was born in Melrose on October 27, 1929 to the late Dr. Philip L. McAuliffe D.M.D. and Margaret (Douglass) McAuliffe. He grew up in Wakefield, where he attended Wakefield Public Schools, graduated from Wakefield High School in 1947 and was a member of the varsity football team from 1944 thru 1946 and the varsity hockey team from 1945 thru 1947 and was selected to the Eastern Massachusetts All Star Hockey Team in 1947. He received his Bachelors Degree in Mathematics from Boston College in 1952 where he played on the Boston College varsity hockey team from 1947 thru 1950. He enlisted into the United States Navy on October 26, 1952 and served his country proudly during the Korean Conflict. While in the U.S. Navy, he was a swimming instructor and demonstrated swimming skills for the Navy training film "Swimming for Survival" from 1952 thru 1954. He was a member of the U.S. Naval Receiving Station Swimming Team from 1953 thru 1954. He was discharged on June 25, 1954 with the rank of Seaman First Class and received a commendation from the U.S. Navy for saving two women from drowning in Alexandria, Virginia, in June of 1954. He was a U.S. Government, Mathematician at The U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, in 1955. Philip furthered his education at Boston University where he received his Masters Degree in Education in 1956 and Suffolk University where he received his Law Degree in 1960. Phil taught Mathematics at Everett High School from 1959 thru 1990. He taught at the Daniels School 5th grade class in Malden and taught mathematics at Lincoln Junior High School in Malden from 1956 thru 1959. He was a partner with his brother Donald in The Law Firm of McAuliffe & McAuliffe Attorney's at Law on Main Street in Wakefield from 1965 thru 2000. He retired in 2000.
Phil was a former Selectman for the Town of Wakefield, former Chairman of the Civil Defense Committee of Wakefield, former Chairman of Water Safety for the Town of Wakefield, former School Committeeman for the Town of Wakefield on the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District Committee from 1969 thru 1989 and had the school pool facility dedicated in his name, former Wakefield Youth Hockey coach from 1950 thru 1960, former Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Wakefield Chapter of the American Red Cross and Wakefield Chapter of the American Red Cross from 1948 thru 1966. Phil was a member of The Wakefield American Legion Post # 63.
Phil received several awards during his lifetime including the "Silver Medal" from The Massachusetts Humane Society, "A Tribute" from The West Side Social Club of Wakefield and a "Certificate of Merit" from the American National Red Cross for saving a man from drowning after falling through the ice on Mystic Lake in Arlington, Massachusetts on January 1, 1948.
Phil also enjoyed duck hunting, skiing in New Hampshire and vacationing in New Hampshire and Cape Cod.
Phil is the beloved husband of 51 years to the late Miriam R. (Sullivan) McAuliffe who passed away on August 22, 2010. He is the devoted father of Philip L. McAuliffe III and his wife Karen of Wakefield and Lisa A. McAuliffe of Melrose. He is the loving Pa to Philip L. McAuliffe IV, Casey J. McAuliffe, Alexander J. McAuliffe and James D. McAuliffe. He is the beloved brother of Rosemary McAuliffe of Rockland and the late Atty. Donald T. McAuliffe. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Philip's Funeral on Saturday, December 4, 2010, at 9 a.m. from The Carr Funeral Home, 1159 Main Street, Wakefield/Melrose line, followed by his Funeral Mass in St. Joseph's Church, 173 Albion Street, Wakefield, at 10 a.m. Interment at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Stoneham. Visiting hours will be on Friday, December 3, 2010, from 5 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Philip's name to The New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans, 17 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108.