Joseph Francis Mulcahy

Joseph Francis Mulcahy, 97, of Southbury, CT, and formerly of East Greenwich, RI, passed away peacefully on November 25, 2022, at the Danbury, CT Regional Hospice Center with family by his side. 

Born on March 9, 1925 in Norwich, CT, he was the son of William Louis and Mary Agnes Elizabeth Bowen Mulcahy.  He was predeceased by his beloved wife Antoinette Banas Mulcahy of 62 years, his sisters Annamae Enos, Marguerite Leary, Mary Pritchard, Mildred Biondolillo, Dorothy Mulcahy; his brother James Mulcahy; and his son-in-law Steven Ernt.  He is survived by his three sisters Kathleen Kingsley of Norwich, CT; Eileen Donovan of Cheshire, CT; Carolyn Besade of Oakdale, CT; one brother William Mulcahy (Viola) of Uncasville, CT; his sister-in-law Evon Mulcahy of Norwich, CT; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He is survived by his five children and their spouses Kathleen Bhaerman (Elliott) of Potomac, MD; Dr. Patricia Mulcahy-Ernt of Southbury, CT; Michael Mulcahy (Donna) of Cranston, RI; Jane Ochsman Rowny (Michael) of Bethesda, MD; Joseph Mulcahy (Cathy) of Fernandina Beach, FL; including six grandchildren Jonathan Michael Mulcahy Ernt; Dr. Jennifer O’Brien (Daniel); Kelly Ann Fitch (Stephen); Michael Mulcahy, II; Katherine Ochsman; Steven Ochsman (Jillian); and one great grandchild Chloe Rose Ochsman. 

After graduating from Norwich Free Academy, he served from 1943 to 1946 with the United States Navy in the South Pacific during World War II, including serving as an electrician on the USS Blue Ridge. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering.  His professional engineering career started at the Electric Boat Company in Groton, CT.  In 1952, he moved to Rhode Island where he was a resident for sixty-seven years and where he worked as a professional engineer. In 1971, he created his own civil and structural engineering firm, Mulcahy Engineers, in Cranston, RI, and there, for many years as its sole principal, designed buildings and bridges throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  He was instrumental with the design of extensive repairs to the Rhode Island State House and the design of Our Lady of Mercy Church in East Greenwich, RI.  

As an active member in national and local professional engineering societies throughout his lifetime, he served as the National Director (1974-1978) for the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Secretary-Treasurer (1983 & 1992) of the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors Northeast Zone, the President (1972-1973) of the Rhode Island Society of Professional Engineers, and the Rhode Island Chairman (1973-1975) of the Professional Engineers in Private Practice.  For many years, he also served on the Rhode Island Board of Registration for Professional Engineers, the Rhode Island Building Codes Standards Committee, and the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code Board of Appeals and Review.  In 1981, he was named the Engineer of the Year by the Rhode Island Society of Professional Engineers.  In addition to his professional work, Joseph was noted for his sense of humor, quick wit, spontaneous laugh, a deep Catholic faith, devotion to his family, his love for ice cream, and enjoyment of the Rhode Island beaches. 

Visiting hours will be at the Sacred Heart campus of the Roman Catholic Parish of Middlebury and Southbury, 910 Main Street South, Southbury, CT on Thursday, December 1, 2022 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  In Rhode Island, the Visitation will be at the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 142 Centerville Rd., Warwick, RI, on Friday, December 2, 2022, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm and on Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 10:00 am to 10:45 am. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at Our Lady of Mercy, 65 3rd St., East Greenwich, RI, on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at 11:00 am with the internment immediately following at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Greenwich, RI.  A luncheon will follow. Arrangements are by Carpino Funeral Home in Southbury, CT.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association at https://www.heart.org/ or to the National Society of Professional Engineers at https://www.nspe.org/resources/education-foundation for scholarships for engineering students.

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