Michael F. Mullaley

Michael F. Mullaley of Hingham died at Mass General Hospital on January 12, 2024, surrounded by his wife and daughters. He was 65 years old.

Michael was born and raised in Dallas, TX, to the late Robert and Josephine (Fiala) Mullaley. After graduating from Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas, he earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Rice University. He relocated to Massachusetts to work at the MITRE Corp., where he designed microwave paths connecting US military installations in Europe and helped set up an early IP-routed network, a precursor to the Internet.

He was especially proud of his position at Dynamics Research Corp., where he was the technical representative for the Air Force in negotiations with NATO. His program’s objective was to contain Soviet forces with only conventional – not nuclear – weapons should the Warsaw Pact invade Central Europe, specifically ensuring that NATO bases would be ready for US Air Force planes in this scenario. He considered himself a Cold Warrior and rejoiced when the Berlin Wall fell.

Michael earned an MBA from Northeastern and spent the rest of his career as a high-tech marketing officer in the private sector – at Motorola, Stratus Computer, Ciena, and Symmetric Computing.

Michael was actively involved in the Hingham community. He coached Youth Soccer, served on Hingham’s Cable TV Advisory Committee, was a member of the Hingham Democratic Town Committee (serving as treasurer and chair), served as treasurer of Katie McBrine’s State Senate campaign, and was a member of the Friends of Wompatuck.

Michael was also active in environmental protection efforts: he pressed Hingham to take a stand against the toxic Weymouth Compressor Station; he organized a meeting between community leaders and their legislators to push for improvement in air quality in the Fore River Basin; he highlighted the need for Hingham to make an accelerated transition to renewable energy through his campaign for Light Board; and as a member of the MA Sierra Club, he worked to elect candidates who were committed to environmental protection.

As an avid sailor and member of the Hingham Yacht Club, Michael raced his Rhodes 19 for decades and enjoyed day-sailing with his family. His other great interest was travel, especially in Europe. He loved to experience other cultures and especially sample their cuisine.

Michael was devoted to his family and especially proud of his daughters, who adored him. He was the source of much of the family fun and an unequalled trip planner and tour guide. He leaves his wife of 38 years, Meg Mullaley (of Hingham); his daughter and son-in-law Katie and Zach Olander and his grandson Henry Michael Olander (of Scituate); his daughter and son-in-law Rebecca Mullaley and Kevin Gens (of Scituate); his sister Maureen Mullaley (of Woodbury, MN); his sister and brother-in-law Kathleen and Christopher Corcoran (of Strafford, NH); his sister and brother-in-law Mary and Henry Hodges (of Carson City, NV); his brother and sister-in-law Daniel and Jeri-Ann Mullaley (of Dallas, TX); his sister and brother-in-law Susan and Andrew Walcott (of Riverside, CA); and many nephews and nieces and grand- nephews and nieces.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Thursday 4-8 PM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), HINGHAM. A Funeral Mass will be Friday in St. Paul’s Church, Hingham at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org) or the Cancer Research Institute (www.cancerresearch.org).