Johnson, Arthur L - Johnson Arthur L in Jamaica Plain, MA

Carol H Leary added information

The daughter of Raymond and Helen Giblin Connolly, Helene Connolly Leary died on Sunday morning, 27th July 2014, at the age of 92. She was born on 26th February 1922, in a raging blizzard which caused the doctor to use his carriage & team of horses as cars were useless that night. Helene attended the Bowditch School, Girls Latin and was graduated from Jamaica Plain High School. She continued her studies at Emmanuel College, a member of the class of 1943.

In 1966, after fifteen years in Great Neck, NY, Helene and her husband, Bob Leary, returned to Boston, their home town. Helene was a quiet home maker for one year. After that and inexorably, she was drawn into issues affecting the Jamaica Plain community and greater Boston neighborhoods. Following in her mother's foot steps, Helene became a member of The Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club, where she served as treasurer. She then discovered like minded people with a similar vision and, together with Ron Hafer of The JP Community Leadership Center and the notorious JP Expressway Committee, became a member of the founding board of The Ecumenical Social Action Committee (ESAC). She chaired The Massachusetts Mental Health Area Board for years and worked to establish meaningful preventive programs such as outreach to young, at-risk people of Jamaica Plain. Helene really hit her stride, though, when she became a staff member of Urban Edge, Inc., which was the natural next step from ESAC.

Hafer says, 'I was so very sad to hear about the passing of Helene. Her life was a tribute of a volunteer concern for all people, especially the people of Jamaica Plain. Some 45 years ago, her 'activist concern' helped many of us who worked through organizations like the CLC and the JP Xway Committee, push the government to reconsider continuing the destruction of the center of our community in order to build a super highway. Since then, her life has been one of concern for people of all races and cultures who needed help through nonprofit community organizations usch as ESAC and Urban Edge, which still continue their work to this day. Through all of this, Helene continue to be a strong but straightforward, activist voice. I think many of us will continue to hear and use.'

"Helene, was one of a troika of strong women; along with Eleanor McDonough of Moss Hill and Alice Hennessy of West Roxbury, she mentored and inspired young political and community activists over the past 60 years. A Democratic party activist, Helene strongly believed in public policy based on principles. There is no more poignant example than her steadfast opposition to the death penalty, even after the murder of her son, John, at the hands of a sexual predator," said Tom O'Malley, Senior vice president, AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust.

"Helene had outsized influence on the founding of Urban Edge, the growth of the Ward 19 Democratic Committee and of course, her true love, the ESAC Elderly Home Repair Program. Helene was a mentor who taught me how to live gracefully - win or lose any particular issue," continued O'Malley, who moved to JP in 1972 and developed professionally under Helene's tutelage.

Helene leaves her younger sister, Carol Connolly Anderson of Contoocook NH, her son, Robert J. III, daughters Carol Connolly Leary and Patricia Leary-Gomez, all residents of Jamaica Plain. Deceased in 1974 and 1976 are her beloved husband, Robert J. Leary, Jr. and son, John Richard Leary, to whom she was devoted. Helene also leaves her cherished grandchildren of whom she was very proud: Colin, Cate, AJ, Nick & Miranda, as well as her great-granddaughter, Leilanny.

Helene's funeral will be from The Brady & Fallon Funeral Home at 10 Tower Street, Jamaica Plain and parking is across from their front door. The funeral home is off Washington Street, across from Forest Hills Station, JP.