Eugene Joseph McGillicuddy of Medford, formerly of Brookline, passed peacefully at his home on January 14, 2021 at the age of 81. Gene was born to the late Mary Helen (Hall) and Gerald Patrick McGillicuddy and raised in Whiskey Point, Brookline. He graduated from St. Mary of the Assumption High School in Brookline, and then went on to attend the Cambridge School of Radio and TV Broadcasting. Once he realized that his love of sports wasn’t going to pay the bills, he attended Bentley College, where he received his accounting degree. He met the love of his life Maureen in 1962 while working at HJ Dowd in Cambridge, and they were married in 1966.
Gene loved all sports, but especially Boston sports. He went through many ups and downs over the years with his beloved Red Sox, sitting on the front porch and listening to the games broadcast over the radio. He instilled his love of sports into the next generation and impacted kids both on and off the field through coaching. He coached basketball at St. Joseph’s Saturday CYO league, and was the longtime Coach of Foodmaster in the West Medford/Hillside Little League. In his younger days he was an avid bowler, and later the proud recipient of the “highest average” green satin jacket in the Sacred Heart bowling league. He ultimately put his broadcasting experience to work, providing color commentary for many years at Medford Mustangs football games. More recently, he enjoyed cheering on his grandchildren from the sidelines at various school and sporting events.
Gene also loved all things Irish, and served for many years as the President of the North Shore Irish Association. The soundtrack every weekend at the McGillicuddy household was the “Irish Hour”, which, to his children, seemed to go on for much longer than an hour. He was very active in the Medford community, volunteering his time to various local boards and political campaigns. He was a longtime faithful parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and more recently, Saint Raphael.
In addition to his wife of 54 years, Maureen (McGlynn) McGillicuddy, Gene is survived by his children: Sean McGillicuddy and his wife Linda Cotter of Milton, Kerrin Connelly of Roswell, GA, Tara Byrne and her husband John of Reading, and Kathleen McGillicuddy and her husband Keith Cunniffe of Burlington. He was affectionately known as “GP” to his eight grandchildren: Patrick, Brennan, Caitlin, Catherine, Thomas, Deirdre, James, and Francis. He was the brother of Mary Curley and her husband Peter of Plymouth. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford on Thursday, January 21st from 4 - 7 PM and again on Friday morning at 10 for a procession to St. Raphael Church, 512 High St., Medford, for a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11 AM. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Social distancing will be observed. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Gene’s memory to: Massachusetts General Hospital, Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114 / giving.massgeneral.org; or Franciscan Children’s, Attn: Advancement Department, 30 Warren St., Brighton, MA 02135 / franciscanchildrens.org/giving.