Helen (Lenox) McGlynn, Medford’s First Lady through the 1960s and 70s, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday evening at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She was 92.
Helen was a lifelong Medford resident whose family resided in Medford since 1841. The daughter of the late Joseph P. and Jane (Brennan) Lenox, Helen was a graduate of St. John’s High School in Cambridge. During World War II, she served with the Naval Inspectional Service and also served as a volunteer at the Deaconess Hospital. In April of 1944, Helen married John “Jack” McGlynn weeks before his deployment to participate in the liberation of Europe.
After Jack’s return from the service, they began their florist business, McGlynn’s Flower Shop, in Medford. As Jack’s political career developed, Helen was by his side campaigning as Jack served in the House of Representatives and as Mayor and City Councillor in Medford. She led local efforts to campaign for President John Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy, as well as Governors Foster Furcolo and Endicott Peabody.
In the heyday of civic involvement, Helen was active in many local organizations. She served as President of the St. James Women’s Guild, Medford Catholic Women’s Club and the Catholic Daughters. She was a founding member of the Merry Wives Club, was a member of the Red Hats, led fundraising efforts for the Visiting Nurses and had the distinction of being selected to christen the Yellow Canary. As First Lady, Helen excelled as being an Ambassador of Good Will at any number of civic and social events. She retired in the mid 80s after 20 years of service in the Admitting Deptartment of the Mass Eye and Ear to aid in the care of her growing family.
The beloved wife of the Honorable John J. “Jack” McGlynn, with whom she shared 69 years of marriage. She was a devoted mother to: Atty. Jack McGlynn Jr. and his wife Atty. Diane of Ipswich, Atty. Dick McGlynn and his wife Paula of Medford, Karen McGlynn Devine of Medford, Mayor Michael J. McGlynn and his wife Sheila of Medford, Bernadette Davis and her husband Jon of Medford and Kevin B McGlynn of New York City. A loving Meeme to grandchildren: Stacey Stone and her husband Donnie, Colleen Moody and her husband Craig, Annie Walsh and her husband Rep. Steve Walsh, Richard, Michael and John McGlynn, Kristina and Jeffrey Devine, Kathleen Brady and her husband Atty. Bill, Jennifer Belanger and her husband Aaron, Amanda McGlynn, Jonathan and Kaitlyn Davis, and to great-grandchildren: Jack, Margaret and Claire Stone, Buckley “Bo” and Traigh Moody, Coley, Myles, Maeve and Brigid Helen Walsh, Cameron and Brennan Belanger and the late CJ Moody. The dear sister of Veronica Cotariu, Joseph Lenox Jr., W. Pauline Davis, Peter Lenox and the late Theresa Keith and Janet Granara. Helen was loved and adored by her many nieces, nephews and brothers and sisters in-law.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, on Saturday and Sunday, 4-7 p.m., and again on Monday morning at 10 followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 118 High St., Medford, at 11 a.m. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.
The McGlynn family wishes to thank Helen’s caregivers: from the Greater Medford Visiting Nurse Association, especially Jean and Trish, and from Intercity Home Care, Lisa, Anestine, Fabiola, Roxanne and Lucy for their dedication and devotion.
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In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Helen's name to the Early Intervention Consortium - CJ Moody Fund c/o Alex Chatfield Minute Man Arc, 1269 Main St., Concord, MA 01742, www.cjmoodyfund.com, or to the Granara-Skerry Trust for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 20 Butler St., Medford, MA 02155, www.pancure.org.
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