B. Joseph Tully Print E-mail

B. Joseph Tully

 
Loving Father, Brother and Papa
 
 B. Joseph Tully, 88, a former Massachusetts State Senator and Lowell City Manager, died peacefully on Sunday, November 1, 2015, at Lowell General Hospital. He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years Annette (Chouinard) Tully on April 16, 2009.
 Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on January 4, 1927 to the late Bernard and the late Ellen (Adams) Tully, he attended the Lowell Public Schools before graduating from Keith Academy in the class of 1944. 
 After high school he then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving in Panama during WWII until his honorable discharge in November 1946.
 Joe graduated from Boston University in 1951 at the top of his class, earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration in three years time.
 Shortly thereafter he started his own business, Tully Associates, representing manufacturing agents including the D-Con Company.  He had a successful business career before entering politics in 1965, when he was elected to the Dracut Board of Selectmen.
 In 1971 Joe was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in the 1st Middlesex District where he served as Chairman of The House Ways and Means Committee.
 From 1979 to 1987 he served as Lowell City Manager. During his tenure he was instrumental in the revitalization of Lowell; his sensitivity to the needs of business served as a major catalyst to Lowell’s renaissance. His accomplishments as City Manager were many, but most outstanding of those were his work in bringing a first class Hilton Hotel and the Wang Corporate Education Center into the heart of downtown. He formed close working relationships between the private and public sectors in the city and along with Senator Paul Tsongas helped create the Lowell Plan.
 During his tenure as City Manager Joe was invited to appear on the Today Show, after Lowell was ranked number one in the country in building permits. He also worked to stabiliz the  real estate tax rate and to provide solid city services. He had a great deal of respect for City employees and the work that they did in the City that he loved.
 In his free time he cherished his days in Seabrook Beach with his family, especially his two grandchildren.
 Joe was a Past President of the Dracut Men’s Club and a former Dracut Youth Baseballl Coach. A life member of Long Meadow Golf Club, he also was a member of the Lowell Lodge of Elks.
 He is survived by two daughters and a son; Sharon Tully of Dracut, Joseph R. Tully of Dracut, and Jo-Ann (Tully) Keegan and her husband John of Lowell.  He leaves his two beloved grandchildren, James Tully Keegan and Kristina Ann Keegan, who were the greatest joy of his life from the moment they were born.  He is also survived by his brother Francis Tully of Chelmsford  and his son Stephen Tully and his daughter Ellen (Tully) Nutter, and his sister in law Elizabeth (Barrett) Tully and her son Andrew Tully; and   many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.  
  In addition to his wife, Mr. Tully was predeceased by his youngest son Philip, his brother Richard Tully, and many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. 
 The family would like to thank the staff at D’Youville Senior Care Center West Wing for the kind compassionate care given to their father. 
 Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. at Fletcher from 4 to 7 P.M. Thursday. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass to be celebrated Friday morning at ST. MARGUERITE D’YOUVILLE CHURCH in Dracut at 10 o’clock. Burial will follow at the Oakland Cemetery in Dracut. E-condolences/directions at odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Salvation Army, 150 Appleton St., Lowell, MA 01852. Arrangements by Funeral Directors James F. O’Donnell, Jr. and John W. Crane (978 or 866) 458-8768.
Condolences (9)
  • David Thompson
    Thank you Mr. Tully for those wonderful years when you spent lots of hours coaching our Red Sox teams. I will never forget them ! And a special thanks for you and your wife, Ann, for opening up your home to a crazy neighborhood kid. RIP sznIh
  • Marian Quinlan Walsh  - Thank You Joe
    Through a mutual friend in 1992 Joe intervened on my behalf and because of his kindness I continued employment with the City of Lowell and after that I moved over to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts employment. Joe only knew me through the mutual friend but he saw unfairness and intervened on my behalf. I have always been grateful to both of them for helping me. Thank you Joe for everything you did for the City of Lowell. ~ Marian Quinlan Walsh, Apopka, Florida - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/lowellsun/b-joseph-tully-condolences/176347709?&eid=sp_gbapprove#sthash.9vTFN3fO.dpuf
  • Jim Moran  - Condolences
    Joe, just heard of your dad's passing. please accept my heartfelt condolences. Your dad was a dear friend of my father and he was a great help to my family on so many occasions. My prayers are with you and your family
  • Gil and Marilyn Campbell
    Dear Joann and family, Gil and I are so sorry to hear about your dad's passing. Gil has so many fond memories of him. He certainly did a lot for his community. He will be truly missed. We are in Florida and will not be able to make the services but you are in our thoughts and prayers. Our deepest sympathy, Gil and Marilyn
  • Peggy harvey and her son joey  - UntilL we meet again
    You are a very special man with great compassion and love for people.ii say you are because you will always be with us because I know that if you could you would never leave .joe you will never leave us your spirit is surely present as I am writing this to you and saying that you are ok now and that you are with the ones that need you now we will let you Go but we will see you again until we meet again my love
  • Karen and Jack Green
    Jo-Ann, John and Family, we would like to express our sincere condolences to you on the passing of your father and grandfather. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. aTUiQ
  • Irv Loucraft  - It was a pleasure to know you and to be a part of
    To Joey, Jo-Ann, Sharon, John, Jim and Krissy, and all Mr. T's family. My heartfelt condolences, I will always remember our days at Seabrook and how he made us all feel like part of the family. More importantly how he helped out my mother after my dad passed away. He was a great man and will be sorely missed by all. All our prayers are with you all. Irv, Karen, and family
  • Ron Giordano  - Gone but Never Forgotten
    Joe Thank You for all that you have done for many people here in the City of Lowell, Thank you for being such a great friend. May you Rest in Peace my friend. My prayers and love go out to your family.
  • Mike Hayden  - Rest in Peace
    Joe you touched many lives in the Greater Lowell Area , helping many along the way. You were one of a kind. Rest in peace my friend
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