Attorney Maurice F. Downey passed away on November 5, 2012 at his home in Mattapoisett after a brief illness. Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Attorney William S. and Marie A. (Jackson) Downey, he lived in New Bedford and Mattapoisett all of his life. He was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church in Mattapoisett and a former communicant of St. Lawrence Martyr Church in New Bedford.
Attorney Downey practiced law in the New Bedford area for over 50 years. He was a graduate of Holy Family High School, class of 1947, Boston College, class of 1951, where he was the yearbook editor and Harvard Law School, class of 1954. He was a former member of the New Bedford, Massachusetts and American Bar Associations.
Attorney Downey was a veteran of the United States Army. He served as City Solicitor for the City of New Bedford, and was a Trustee of the New Bedford Free Public Library, Chairman of the New Bedford Redevelopment Authority, a founding member of WHALE, Director of the Merchants National Bank of New Bedford, a Corporator, Trustee and Senior Vice President of New Bedford Institution for Savings and a former member of the Wamsutta Club.
Mr. Downey founded the Monsignor McKeon Debate Society at Holy Family High School, where he was debate coach for many years. He was a Master Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the past President and Treasurer of the Serra Club of New Bedford and longtime Clerk of Bishop Stang High School.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Anne M. (Harrington) Downey; six children, William S. “Bill” Downey and his wife Elaine and children, Daniel and Bridget of Franklin, Margaret “Meg” Hulsebosch and her husband Dan and children, Ali and Stefan, Paul C. Downey and his wife Donna and children, Justin, Connor, Owen and Mikala, Attorney Matthew J. Downey and his wife Dee and children, Katherine and Caroline, and Attorney Gregory M. Downey and his wife Jeanne and children, Aidan, Kathleen, Liam and Julia, all of Mattapoisett, and Maura Hon and her husband Charlie and children, Madeline, Molly, Margaret and Charles of Manhasset, NY; two sisters, Mary L. Downey of Dartmouth, and Anne Downey Saunders, M.D. of Fairhaven; and many nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late William S. Downey, Jr., M.D.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 9th at 10 AM at St. Lawrence Martyr Church. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, November 8th from 3-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Route 6), Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated at the St. Vincent dePaul Food Pantry’s of St. Anthony’s Church, 22 Barstow St., Mattapoisett, MA 02739 or St. Lawrence Martyr Church, 110 Summer St., New Bedford, MA 02740.