1950 - 2024
Visitation
June 14, 20244-8pm
Dolan Funeral Home
Funeral
June 15, 20249am
St. John the Evangelist Church, 115 Middlesex St. N. Chelmsford, MA
Mary K. Ryan Esq., 74 of Needham and Wellfleet, MA formerly of Newton, MA died early Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at North Hill Needham in Needham, MA after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Boston, MA, she was the daughter of the late John and Mary (McGovern) Ryan.
Mary grew up in South Boston, a place always dear to her heart, and attended Catholic grade school there and high school at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Brighton. A history major at Tufts University, Mary also spent much time and energy there with people involved in theater and stagecraft. After a couple of years of fringe theater jobs in Boston, and working at a Dunkin Donuts downtown, she decided law school was a better option.
She graduated magna cum laude in 1977 from Boston College Law School, where she was selected a member of the Order of the Coif for academic achievement. After graduation, Mary served as law clerk and then chief law clerk to the justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court and as law clerk to the Honorable Ruth I. Abrams, former associate justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts.
Mary proceeded to Nutter McClennan & Fish and made that her career. Her practice included substantial trial and appellate cases in the state and federal courts, particularly in environmental litigation, as well as administrative hearings and proceedings. In retirement, she was senior of Counsel in the firm’s Litigation Department and a member of the Development, Land Use and Permitting practice group.
Mary was considered an expert in federal and state hazardous waste litigation, including Superfund cases and related insurance and land use issues. She was one of the lead trial lawyers for AVX Corporation in the New Bedford Harbor PCB litigation and lead counsel in several related matters.
Mary loved to read, particularly murder mysteries, and would watch just about any show on television in which the actors spoke with British accents. She was passionately devoted to Harry Potter and many evenings at her Cape Cod house would end with her bringing out one or another of the old Harry Potter videotapes and offering to share the treasure.
Mary lived in Newton for decades, but Cape Cod always had a special appeal. She eventually bought land and designed her own home in Wellfleet. She loved to swim, particularly in the kettle ponds on the outer Cape, and, until recent years, was an active hiker, kayaker and sometime cyclist. She enjoyed gardening in Wellfleet and seeking out pieces of depression glassware.
Mary was a trailblazer for women in the Boston legal community and as a Partner at Nutter, she was a mentor to many young women lawyers. Among other accomplishments, she was later elected president of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts.
Throughout her professional life, Mary was dedicated to the notion that the law should be available and work for everyone. She worked hard for people who did not have the mental or physical ability to access the law and the courts. In recent years, she spent considerable time and effort trying to assist migrants seeking sanctuary in this country, particularly minors sent across the southern border on their own. She was active for many years on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration and co-chaired the association’s Working Group on Unaccompanied Minor Immigrants. Mary recently completed terms serving on the American Bar Association’s Board of Governors and as a member of the American Bar Association House of Delegates.
Among her leadership roles, Mary was a past president of the Boston Bar Association. She also served for many years on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Access to Justice Commission. She was a board member of the Real Estate Bar Association of Massachusetts and the founding co-chair of its Environmental Committee.|
Over the course of her career, Mary received numerous accolades for her professional accomplishments, including the American Bar Association’s John H. Pickering Award of Achievement, the Boston Bar Association’s Thurgood Marshall Award, the Pinnacle award of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the St. Thomas More Award from Boston College Law School.
Mary is survived by her four brothers and their wives, John and Maryanne Ryan of Westford, MA, Thomas and Katherine Ryan of Scituate, MA, Robert and Dianne Ryan of Exeter, NH, and Joseph Ryan and Jeanne Miyasaka of Phoenix, AZ, four nieces Theresa Colen, Patrice Dolan, Jennifer Ryan and Elizabeth Roller, and two nephews, Jason and Colin Ryan as well as several great nieces and nephews and many friends.
She was the aunt of the late John Ryan who died March 14, 2019.
Mary’s visiting hours will be Fri., June 14, 2024 from 4 to 8pm. Funeral Sat., June 15, 2024 at 8am from the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME, 106 MIDDLESEX STREET, N. CHELMSFORD, MA followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9am at St. John the Evangelist Church, 115 Middlesex St., N. Chelmsford, MA. Burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Boston, MA. Donations may be made in her memory to the Boston Bar Foundation, the official charity of the Boston Bar Association, whose aim is to promote justice by facilitating access to legal counsel for indigent individuals and underserved communities Donations can be mailed to 16 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com
Cathleen Threadgold
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Mary Kay was always a very welcome visitor in Eastham , at the neighborhood beach where Maryanne and Jack had a summer home,,taking a dip ,then working the beach like a mayor , we always looked forward to her visits , she was respectful, funny, smart, interesting and always interested in you . Marykay was a giant in her field and a gem on the street . Well loved by all.
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Liz Cremens
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Mary will be missed not only by family and friends but also the legal community and the many clients she represented, When Mary saw a need she responded with action. I worked with her on the establishment of the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association in the early 1980’s. There was a need for an association of women lawyers to deal with issues such as domestic violence, equal pay, equal rights amendment. Mary worked tirelessly for the Women’s Bar Association as she did for so many other causes throughout her life. May she rest in peace.
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Lorraine Butler
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She is now resting in peace
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Margaret Kilkelly Ryan
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To Mary’s family:
You must be heartbroken and devastated at the loss of your precious sister, aunt & great aunt. I only got to know Mary in recent years but was always aware of what a wonderful addition she was to the Ryan family. Her allegiance to family was certainly noteworthy. My sincere condolences. Rest in peace dear Mary and may “God hold you in the palm of his hand”.
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Joseph L Raia
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Mary’s leadership and influence will be missed by her friends and colleagues at the American Bar Association. During her a recent tenure on the Board of Governors, she served as liaison to the International Law Section, where her diligent advocacy, diplomatic engagement, and thoughtful analysis, was greatly valued.
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Frank Callahan
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I knew Mary K from grammar school at St. Augustine’s in Southie. I haven’t seen her in over 60 years and i was saddened to see her obituary in today’s Boston Globe. However, I was not surprised to see what she had accomplished during her lifetime. Even as a grammar school kid she had an insight into life that many of us would take years (some decades) to understand. She was an exceptional individual at St. A’s and that never changed as she grew into a woman and attorney!
Please accept my condolences.
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Carol Kenner
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Mary was an extraordinary woman with such energy and passion. We met when several young women lawyers came together to form the Women’s Bar Association. Our goal was twofold- to advance the interests of women generally and to promote the professional standing of women lawyers (then a distinct minority). Mary was a founding member. She brought along friends from her clerkships and from Nutter McClennen and urged them to pitch in with her. She had a keen sense of social justice. It motivated her to seek out ways to level the playing field for all. Yet she was never one of those stern faced “reformers”. She loved to laugh. She loved people. She supported other women with generosity and kindness. Like most Irish from Southie, she loved politics. My sympathy to Mary’s family and colleagues. I will miss her greatly.
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John Gushue
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My sincere condolences to Mary’s family, friends and colleagues. I am sad to hear of her passing. She was an early shining star in environmental law, and always friendly, courteous, respectful and informative to those of us who entered the arena a little later. She probably didn’t know she was a role model for so many.
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Arthur Mabbett
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Mary was a colleague on the Environmental Business Council of New England, Inc. She was a warm, friendly, and “can do” individual and a most valued member of the Board. She made a very positive mark on all those she met. Yes, she was someone to emulate. Our sympathy and prayers are with her family. May her memory be eternal. God bless.
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