Memorial Gallery

This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Sister Winifred Cunniff. We will remember her forever.

Stephen A. Moynahan, Jr., 86, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2022 with his loving wife of 62 years, Elaine Clark Moynahan, at his side.

Born on September 9, 1935 in Springfield, MA to District Attorney Stephen Anthony and Irene Doherty Moynahan, Steve was a big brother to four sisters, each of whom knew him to be as likely to stick up for them as to dunk their braids in inkwells.  After graduating from Georgetown University and Georgetown Law School, he served as law and courtroom clerk to federal judges in Washington, D.C. and Boston.  Much of his career was as the “right hand man” to Judge Arthur Garrity, Jr., and he was deeply reflective and proud of their work to remedy the unconstitutional segregation of Boston public schools in the 1970s and 1980s.

Above all, Steve was unspeakably proud to call Elaine his wife and to be dad to his nine kids.  He identified marrying Elaine as the greatest thing he’d ever done; trying to explain how much he loved her was the one thing to always bring a tear to his eye.  They settled and raised their family of nine in Gloucester where, for many years, the giant family station wagon was known for its license plates - GLOSTA & SEA-AIR.  Sea air was in his lungs, in his blood, and on the bumpers of his family car.  Many years, Steve saved up his vacation and took most of the month of June off to be with “E” and his children.  He wore through white canvas gloves as he spent days hand-turning a front yard garden and planting enough tomatoes to feed BLTs to his endlessly hungry kids, give plenty to neighbors, and let the kids sell the rest in August so they had extra spending money for Bertha’s penny candy shop on Rocky Neck.  

His love of Gloucester compelled him to work to strengthen and protect it.   As both City Council President and Mayor, he worked to protect beaches, coastline, and the economic and cultural engine fueled by the fishing industry.  By retirement age, Steve and Elaine had similarly fallen in love with the Berkshires.   They retired to Williamstown in 2001 and again made a place their own the same way they had done so in Gloucester: by always offering a smile, assurance, compassion, and kindness to anyone they met.  They loved the Williams College campus and chapel, Spring Street, the quick, fierce storms that would rush down the slopes of Mount Greylock and end in sunshine.   

Steve was deeply gratified to hear from his children that he would leave two legacies to this world, both of which have and will continue to spread ripples of positivity through space and time.  The first is kindness.  Steve embodied strength through compassion.  His gift of a warm smile, a nod of acknowledgement, and a patient ear enabled him - and those whom he loved - to weather life’s difficulties and disappointments that befall us all.   His second legacy is an absolute and unwavering commitment to family, demonstrated and taught by quiet, steady example.  Steve would be the first to point out that both legacies were only possible, and were perpetually reaffirmed, through his profound unity with Elaine.  

Steve is survived by his wife, Elaine; his nine children and their spouses: Kathleen Ann and Dan Reed of Essex, MA, Kelly Eileen Moynahan of Santa Rosa, NM, Stephen A. Moynahan III of Marlborough, MA, Katie Elizabeth Moynahan of Albuquerque, NM, Matthew Patrick Moynahan of Gloucester, MA, Brendan James and October Moynahan of Missoula, MT, Seana Marie and Victor Silva of Durham, NH, Maura Theresa and Aaron Heidt of Coeur d’Alene, ID, and Michael John Moynahan of Williamstown, MA; his grandchildren R.J. and Maegan, Ryan and Jaimie, Mikayla, Megan, Stephen IV, Maille, Finn, Elias, River, Isla, and Hugo; his great-grandchildren Cass and Tiger; his sisters Irene Splaine of Los Gatos, CA, Eleanor and Bill Bagley of New Haven, CT, and Rosemary Kristofak of Norwood, MA and many loved nieces and nephews. Predeceased by sister Martha McMahon, niece Mariah McMahon, and brothers-in-law Gerry Kristofak, George McMahon, and Charlie Splaine.  

No services will be held.  A celebration of life for the family will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please work to be kind and patient with the world and good to your family.