Donald J. Mahony

Donald J. Mahony, 79, of Pittsfield, formerly of Lee, MA and Setauket, NY died Thursday, December 23, at Berkshire Medical Center. He was the husband of Barbara Mahony for over 46 years. They had two daughters and four grandchildren. Born in White Plains, NY on October 2, 1931, son of Michael and Joan Mahony, he graduated from St. John's High School in White Plains. He joined the United States Navy in 1951 where he served on the USS Gatling until 1955. Upon leaving the service, he entered New York University where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. For over 35 years, he worked in Deer Park, NY for Airborne Industrial Laboratories (AIL) managing government contracts for military aeronautical systems such as the radar jamming devices for the B-1 Bomber. During this time, he also served as a loaned executive to the United Way as well as Vice President of the Long Island Industrial Recreation Association. He and his wife, Barbara, retired to the Berkshires where they ran the Parsonage on the Green Bed and Breakfast in Lee. For over a decade, he welcomed people from around the world to the Parsonage and became lifelong friends with several of the guests. While not greeting guests, Don served on the Board of Directors of the Lee Chamber of Commerce and volunteered for the American Red Cross collecting unused baked goods from area supermarkets and delivering them to facilities serving the homeless in Pittsfield. Before he became ill, he also spent each Thursday evening from 10-11 pm sitting vigil in the Oratory Chapel at St Mary's in Lee. He was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Lee, United Church of Christ where he was Vice Moderator of the Church Council and a member of the Pastoral Search Committee. He loved Classical music and spent many a summer night attending concerts at Tanglewood. He enjoyed his grandchildren's visits to the Berkshires, teaching his oldest granddaughter to fish at Laurel Lake and his grandson the basics of golf. He enjoyed spending time with his two youngest granddaughters in Pinehurst. Aside from his family, Don's two other great loves were reading and golf. He was a regular at the Lee Library and would read a book a day. He was a member of the Cranwell Country Club and the Pinehurst Country Club in North Carolina. While living in New York, he spent 20 years teaching golf in his spare time. He particularly loved attending the US Opens in Pinehurst and the unique experience of volunteering at the US Open tournament at Shinnecock Hills. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as camping with his family each summer at various sites along the East Coast of the United States and Canada. He is survived by his wife; daughter Colleen Mahony who resides in Baltimore, MD with her husband, Eric Christensen; daughter Sheila Lambert who resides in Winston-Salem, NC with her husband, Bill Lambert; four grandchildren, Mackenzie Christensen, Sean Christensen, Kylie Lambert and Sienna Lambert; brother, Michael, of Deerfield, IL; sister, Mary Ellen Corbin of Fernandina Beach, FL. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Thomas Mahony. Visiting Hours will be held Friday, January 7, from 2-4 pm and 7-8:30 pm at Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main Street, Lee, MA. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 8, at 11 am at the First Congregational Church of Lee with a Service of Thanksgiving celebrated by Reverend Bill Neil. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at: www.dana-farber.org , by phone at 1-800-525-4669, or by mail to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226, ATTN: Contribution Services.

Visitation Details

Friday, January 7th, 2011 2:00pm - 4:00pm, Kelly Funeral Home

Friday, January 7th, 2011 7:00pm - 8:30pm, Kelly Funeral Home

Service Details

Saturday, January 8th, 2011 11:00am, First Congregational Church of Lee