Boston fire chaplain retires after 60 years, honored by community

After 60 years of offering help to members of the neighborhood, firefighters and civilians alike, Rev. Daniel J. Mahoney is stepping down as Boston Hearth Division chaplain. 

92-year-old Mahoney was honored with a Mass of Thanksgiving Sunday afternoon. He’s been with the division since 1964, in keeping with The Boston Globe. 

Throughout that point Mahoney rescued sacred scrolls from a burning temple, acted because the “non secular guardian” of the division in keeping with Boston Hearth Commissioner John Dempsey, and fought antisemitism. He was acknowledged for that effort by the Anti-Defamation League in 2006. 

“Everyone seems to be awestruck by the period of time Father Dan has given to the Hearth Division,” Dempsey mentioned.

Mahoney additionally served as pastor of St. Francis de Gross sales Church. 

Earlier than his time with the Boston Hearth Division started, Mahoney confirmed excessive braveness within the face of hazard. 

In 1959 Mahoney was witnessed saving a younger man from a home hearth. That witness would later be a Massachusetts State Police Trooper. 

In August 1982 Mahoney confirmed his deep dedication once more when he risked his personal life throughout a hearth at Temple Tifereth Israel in Everett. The Boston Globe reported Mahoney was one of some folks, together with one other hearth chaplain, who selected to go contained in the constructing in an try to search out and rescue a number of sacred scrolls. 

Through the course of, whereas they succeeded in passing just a few by means of the window, the roof collapsed leaving Mahoney to crawl out of the construction. 

Mahoney’s affect throughout generations of native firefighters was not misplaced on Dempsey.

“He’s a pal to lots of the blokes. He’s one in all us,” mentioned Dempsey.