The Moakley Courthouse is part of Boston's Irish Heritage Trail, an exploration of landmarks in Boston and its neighborhoods that help illustrate the distinguished history of the Boston Irish.
Born in South Boston on April 27, 1927 to parents Joe and Mary Moakley, he grew up in an Irish-Italian blue-collar household. At age 15, Moakley altered his birth certificate to enlist in the U.S. Navy and served as a Seabee in the Pacific theater during World War II. In 1957, Joe married the love of his life, Evelyn Duffy of Cambridge.
After the war, Joe chose to enter politics and between 1953 and 1972 he served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, the Massachusetts Senate and Boston City Council. In 1973, he became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and served until his death in 2001. He was Chairman of the Committee on Rules in the 101st Congress through the 103rdCongress (1989-1995).
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Renowned for his devotion to his constituents and to working class men and women, Congressman Moakley helped get hundreds of millions in federal funding for Boston projects such as the Big Dig, the Ted Williams Tunnel and the Boston Harbor Cleanup. Moakley was also an advocate of The Freedom Trail and the city's historical character.
In 1989 he became known internationally for his incisive response to the murder by military bandits of six Jesuits, their housekeeper and daughter, in El Salvador. Thanks to his relentless investigation, the murderers were brought to trial and convicted.
He is also proud of his Irish roots. "The Moakleys are from County Cork. My paternal grandmother was a Connolly from County Galway," he said. On March 17, 1999, he issued a proclamation that went into the Congressional Record, praising the new Irish Famine Memorial in downtown Boston and described “the story of the Irish succeeding in the United States... is a parable of becoming American.” In 2000, the Irish Immigration Center of Boston presented Congressman Moakley with its annual Solas Award, a homage to his work on immigration issues.
The John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse was an example of Moakleys leadership and influence. Siting the facility at Fan Pier in the 1990s when it was a stretch of parking lots and disregarded open space, Moakley once quipped the area "was like the Sahara Desert - everybody knew where it was, but nobody wanted to go there." He also predicted that the courthouse would be "a catalyst for what will be the hottest part of the City of Boston." The Seaport District today is one of Boston's most vibrant neighborhoods.
Born in South Boston on April 27, 1927 to parents Joe and Mary Moakley, he grew up in an Irish-Italian blue-collar household. At age 15, Moakley altered his birth certificate to enlist in the U.S. Navy and served as a Seabee in the Pacific theater during World War II. In 1957, Joe married the love of his life, Evelyn Duffy of Cambridge.
After the war, Joe chose to enter politics and between 1953 and 1972 he served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, the Massachusetts Senate and Boston City Council. In 1973, he became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and served until his death in 2001. He was Chairman of the Committee on Rules in the 101st Congress through the 103rdCongress (1989-1995).
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Photo Courtesy of U.S. House of Representatives
In 1989 he became known internationally for his incisive response to the murder by military bandits of six Jesuits, their housekeeper and daughter, in El Salvador. Thanks to his relentless investigation, the murderers were brought to trial and convicted.
He is also proud of his Irish roots. "The Moakleys are from County Cork. My paternal grandmother was a Connolly from County Galway," he said. On March 17, 1999, he issued a proclamation that went into the Congressional Record, praising the new Irish Famine Memorial in downtown Boston and described “the story of the Irish succeeding in the United States... is a parable of becoming American.” In 2000, the Irish Immigration Center of Boston presented Congressman Moakley with its annual Solas Award, a homage to his work on immigration issues.
Courtesy of GSA
In a White House Rose Garden reception on March 13, 2001, President George W. Bush signed into law a bill naming the new courthouse in Congressman Moakley’s honor.
Moakley died at age 74 on May 28, 2001 of leukemia. He is buried at Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree with his wife and his brothers and other family members.
Boston Globe columnist Martin Nolan wrote about Moakley, “He knew the difference between right and wrong and did not need pollsters and spin doctors to help him decide. He represented only the best qualities of his South Boston boyhood. He was fiercely loyal, a "bread-and-butter Democrat" who respected other people's views.”
Other Moakley Tributes
The Evelyn Moakey Bridge going from Boston to South Boston was named in 1996 for Congressman Moakley's wife Evelyn nee Duffy. Connecting the city's downtown to the Seaport District, the bridge's sight lines offer amazing views of the Boston skyline and Boston Harbor.
The John W. McCormack Graduate School at UMass-Boston established the John Joseph Moakley Chair in Peace and Reconciliation to address the tragic crisis of divided societies around the world, by reinforcing a commitment to nonviolent methods among all participants in the reconciliation process. Irish scholar Padraig O'Malley is the Chair.
Moakley died at age 74 on May 28, 2001 of leukemia. He is buried at Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree with his wife and his brothers and other family members.
Boston Globe columnist Martin Nolan wrote about Moakley, “He knew the difference between right and wrong and did not need pollsters and spin doctors to help him decide. He represented only the best qualities of his South Boston boyhood. He was fiercely loyal, a "bread-and-butter Democrat" who respected other people's views.”
Other Moakley Tributes
The Evelyn Moakey Bridge going from Boston to South Boston was named in 1996 for Congressman Moakley's wife Evelyn nee Duffy. Connecting the city's downtown to the Seaport District, the bridge's sight lines offer amazing views of the Boston skyline and Boston Harbor.
The John W. McCormack Graduate School at UMass-Boston established the John Joseph Moakley Chair in Peace and Reconciliation to address the tragic crisis of divided societies around the world, by reinforcing a commitment to nonviolent methods among all participants in the reconciliation process. Irish scholar Padraig O'Malley is the Chair.
The Moakley Center for Public Management at Suffolk University continues Joe Moakley’s legacy of educating the public service work force by providing affordable and accessible graduate level certificate programs to thousands of state, local officials, and nonprofit leaders across Massachusetts. To date, more than 2,000 students have graduated from our certificate programs.
The Moakley Archive & Institute was established in 2001 to support Suffolk University's academic mission and operational needs through reference assistance, classroom instruction, records management, and public programming.
Moakley Park, photo courtesy of Boston Parks and Recreation DepartmentIn 2016, the Moakley Courthouse and Harborpark received the 10 Year Award from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for standing the test of time.
Learn more about Boston's illustrious Irish history and achievements by visiting IrishHeritageTrail.com.
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