Patrick B. Mulligan

Patrick Bernard Mulligan, Sr.

July 30, 1938 - February 13, 2025

WESTFORD - Patrick Mulligan died February 13th, 2025 at Lowell General Hospital in Lowell, MA from complications due to sepsis. He was 86 years old. He leaves his former wife and life-partner Janice Wojcik, of Westford, MA, daughter Kate Mulligan (John Blossom) of Kamuela, HI, son, Patrick Mulligan, Jr. (Goldie) of Burlington Vermont, and grandchildren Lydian Blossom of Hollywood, CA, Sebastian Fernadez Mulligan of New Haven, CT and Kiley and Avery Mulligan. He is also survived by his sister Patricia Holmes of Westford, MA and many in-laws, nieces and nephews on the Mulligan and Wojcik sides of the family. 

He lost his oldest daughter, The Hon. Maureen Mulligan, in December of 2023, and was also predeceased by his parents, James Patrick Mulligan and Leona Irene (Caron) Mulligan, and seven of his eight siblings, Jane, Francis, Sheila, Jimmy, Eleonora, John, and Ann.

Patrick grew up in Westford, MA, and was living in Westford with Janice when he died. He was an altar boy at St. Catherine’s Church, and graduated with high honors from Westford Academy, class of 1956, and from Cameron School in 1952. At the Academy, he was a prominent player on the basketball court and football field, and as captain, helped lead the football team to a state title, for which he was inducted into the Westford Academy Sports Hall of Fame. After High School, he served in the United States Marine Corps and received an honorable discharge in 1957. He relocated back to Forge Village and married Janice Wojcik of Granitville in May of 1961, and worked at Murray Printing Company

He moved his family of five to Westminster, Vermont in 1970 and was an early adopter of sustainable and organic vegetable gardening, growing one of the most beautiful (and weed free!) gardens in town. He also lived in Leyden, Massachusetts, before returning to Westminster and then moving to Watertown, MA from 2018-2023. During his years in Vermont he worked at The Book Press in Brattleboro, and later the Brattleboro Branch of the US Postal Service. He was a regional representative for the APWU and a strong advocate for the rights of all workers. He retired from the Postal Service in the year 2000 at the age of 62. 

He was a Jeopardy Master (but never tried to get on the show) and a wiz at the daily crossword. He walked 3-5 miles every day of his life without fail until he fell ill about two weeks prior to his death. He also had a daily yoga and strength training practice and was strong and fit well into his 86th year. During his retirement, he visited Ireland, and also made several trips to various parts of the country to visit his children and grandchildren, including memorable long visits to the Big Island of Hawaii, hiking and outdoor adventures in Alaska, California, New Hampshire and Vermont; and urban escapades in Baltimore, Chicago, New York City, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. He loved the beach, and had many memorable snorkeling and sea kayaking expeditions in the warm Hawaiian waters.

Patrick (AKA Dad, Grandad) was admired by his family for his incredible self-discipline, deep intelligence, calm presence, humility and sense of humor. He was respected in the communities in which he lived and worked for how he lived; with grace, integrity, service to others and an unwavering belief in equity, fairness and equality for all.

Relatives and friends are invited to Patrick’s visitation on Wednesday, February 26, from 4 until 7 PM at the Westford Healy Funeral Home, 57 North Main Street, Westford. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday morning, February 27, at 10 AM at Blessed Trinity Parish - St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, 107 North Main Street, Westford. Burial will follow in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Westford. Reception at St. Catherine’s Church in Westford immediately following.