The Honorable Kathleen Ryan Dacey

a retired federal judge, died at Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Monday April 5, 2010. She was 89 years old. Born in Boston, she was a graduate of Mission High School (1937), Emmanuel College (1941), Simmons School of Library Science (1942), Northeastern University Law School (1935) and Boston University Masters in Law (1947). She was the first woman law clerk for the Justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Elected in 1949 to the Boston School Committee, she became the first woman chairman in 1950. Mrs. Ryan Dacey was an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County before entering private practice for 25 years. In 1975 she was appointed Chief of the Civil Bureau for the Office of the Attorney General. United States President James Carter appointed her as an Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration in 1977. Judge Ryan Dacey sat in both Michigan and Massachusetts until her retirement in 1998. She was member of the Mass. Bar Assn., Boston Bar Assn., American Trial Lawyers Assn., National Assn. of Women Judges, National Assn. of Women Lawyers, Mass. Assn. of Women Lawyers and Mass. Academy of Trial Attorneys. Judge Ryan Dacey had honorary degrees from Suffolk University and Emmanuel College. She was a resident of Milton for 46 years, summered in Harwich and wintered in Pompano Beach, FL. Beloved wife of the late William A. Dacey. Loving mother of Hon. Mary Dacey White and her husband John C. of Milton. Grandmother of Meaghan D. White, Kathryn C. White and Patrick W. C. White, all of Milton. Sister of the late John F. Ryan, Rita M. Cushing and Paul J. Ryan. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Elizabeth Church, Reedsdale Road at Randolph Avenue, Milton, Monday April 12 at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, MILTON, Sunday 2-8 PM. Interment Milton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Kathleen’s memory may be made to Mission Church, 1545 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02120 or University of Notre Dame, Kathleen Ryan Dacey Law Fellowship, c/o George Duke, 92 Portsmouth Avenue, Suite 13, Exeter, NH 03833, made payable to University of Notre Dame.