1936: Leading Massachusetts Politicians Attend Birmingham’s Funeral

The Jan. 17 funeral at Our Lady of Presentation Church in Brighton for Rep. Birmingham was a who’s who of Massachusetts politics, the Brighton Item reported (Jan. 25, 1936, JMC Scrapbook, Vol. 261).

Leading the way was James Michael Curley, a political opponent of Birmingham who had been elected governor in 1934.

The honorary pallbearers were House Speaker Leverett Saltonstall, Reps. Anthony McNulty, James W. Hennigan, Timothy J. McDonough, Bernard Finkelstein, Thomas Dorgan, John B. Wenzler, Bernard P. Casey, Owen Gallagher, Albert F. Bigelow, Michael Jordan, Christian Herter, Leo Landry, Thomas Barry, Frank Kelley, Thomas Goggin, Frank Irwin, Peter J. Fitzgerald, David G. Nagle, and Daniel J. Honan.

Active pallbearers were Reps. Martin Hays of Brighton, Horace T. Cahill, Ernest H. Sparrell, Joseph N. Roach, Thomas P. Dillon, Augustine Airola, Patrick J. Walsh, and Edward J. Kelley.

Ushers were Herbert P. Jones and George Muldoon.

Also in attendance were Lt. Gov. Joseph L. Hurley, Atty. Gen. Paul A. Dever, State Treasurer Charles F. Hurley, State Auditor Thomas H. Buckley, Gov. Councillors Daniel H. Coakley and Frank T. Brooks, Adjt. Gen. William I. Rose, and Maj. Joseph Timilty. Election Commissioner Francis B. McKinney represented Mayor Mansfield at the funeral.

A solemn high mass of requiem was celebrated by pastor, Rev. James J. Murphy, with Rev. Daniel J. Donovan as deacon and Rev. John M. Gibbons as subdeacon.

Rep. Birmingham was buried in Holyhood cemetery in Brookline, where prayers were read by Rev. Donovan.