TEWKSBURY: Paul Francis O’Loughlin, age 73, a resident of Tewksbury for over 40 years and a retired educator for the Lowell Public Schools, died Friday, October 22, 2004 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington from complications of cancer and diabetes.
He was the husband of Mary E. (Greaney) O’Loughlin with whom he celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on June 14th.
Born in Lowell on May 15, 1931, he was the son of the late Julia (McPhee) O’Loughlin and Francis P. O’Loughlin who was a former captain of the Lowell Fire Department.
Mr. O’Loughlin was raised in Lowell and was a communicant of the former Sacred Heart Parish.
He attended the Sacred Heart Grammar School and graduated from the former Keith Academy in 1949.
Following graduation, he attended Lowell State Teachers College (now U.Mass-Lowell), where he received his bachelors and masters degree in teaching and music. In addition, he later attended Boston College, where he received a master’s degree in education.
Mr. O’Loughlin served in the Korean War in the U.S. Army. He was awarded several decorations including the Korean Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars, the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Mr. O’Loughlin was honorably discharged from active duty on July 17, 1954 having earned the rank of sergeant.
Prior to his retirement in 1992, he was employed as an educator for the City of Lowell at the Butler, Moody and Bartlett schools.
Mr. O’Loughlin was elected as the first president of the Lowell Teacher’s Union and in 1965 he helped organize the first teacher’s work stoppage in Massachusetts history. Mr. O’Loughlin previously worked as an assistant professor in the Urban Teaching Masters Program at Boston College and taught for the City of Lawrence in the Migrant Education Program.
He was a member of several professional and civic organizations including the National Teacher’s Corps, the Winchester Knights of Columbus and was a past commander of the Tewksbury V.F.W. Post # 8164.
Mr. O’Loughlin enjoyed traveling to Ireland and Europe, maintaining his 300 year old home which reportedly was utilized during the Civil War by the under ground rail road and where he later housed over 25 foreign exchange students over a period of 30 years and sharing his time with his grandson.
Mr. O’Loughlin will best be remembered as a progressive educator whose passion took him around the world or to the doorstep of his nearest neighbor who needed the gift and power of an education.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by 2 sons; Sean F. O’Loughlin and his wife Mary Frances (Grant) of Winchester and Desmond J. O’Loughlin of Tewksbury; 1 grandson; Francis P. O’Loughlin of Winchester; 1 sister; Elinor M. McAuliffe of Tewksbury; also many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours Sunday 2-5 p.m. and Monday 5-8 p.m. at the FARMER & DEE FUNERAL HOME, 16 LEE ST., TEWKSBURY. Funeral Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. from the funeral home. Funeral Mass Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at St. Williams Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Interment at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Lowell. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Oblate Novitiate, 486 Chandler St., Tewksbury, MA 01876 are suggested.