Martin J. “Marty” Haddigan Jr., 70, of Milton and Falmouth, died after a battle with cancer diagnosed this past May.
A modest, humble and good man, he never expected praise or self-recognition but received it in his 20s, as the captain and ferocious fastball pitcher for Milton’s softball league team, The Shamrocks.
He gained the admiration and respect from the various professionals he worked with and the numerous people he helped throughout his career. As a congressional aide to Rep. Brian Donnelly for 14 years, he resolved countless problems and complaints from constituents in the district. Later on as an administrative assistant for Norfolk County district attorneys William Delahunt and Jeffrey Locke, Mr. Haddigan assisted local police prosecutors and assistant district attorneys on judicial cases and served as the liaison to other officers, departments and agencies regarding various court cases.
He also worked evenings at Quincy Hospital as a substance-abuse counselor for many years. His supervisor at the time, Lynn Menconi, clinical nurse specialist and director of psychiatric services said, “Marty helped so many people and gained the respect of his patients and professionals alike because of his vast knowledge and experience in substance abuse and his ability to comfort and calm his patients.”
Known affectionately as the “Mayor of Lucerne Ave.” in Falmouth, Mr. Haddigan was always willing to help people in the neighborhood and to chat with his many friends and acquaintances on his daily four- to five-mile walk through Falmouth Heights. He loved to stop along the way to watch the ferries and yachts enter and leave the harbor. He also enjoyed looking at the various flowers and gardens along the way. He faithfully nurtured his own beautiful gardens and flowering plants which will blossom brightly each year to remind all who knew and loved him of his special talents and the beauty of his soul.
He attended Massachusetts Bay Community College and Burdette College. He was an officer and member of the board of the Faxon Recovery Center in Quincy for many years; a Milton warrant committee and town meeting member; and a member of the Milton Elks.
He is survived by Jane Gallahue, his companion of 21 years; his sister, Nancy Murray and her husband, Gerald; and his nephews and nieces, Kevin Haddigan and his wife, Britt, of Charleston, S.C., Patrick Haddigan and his wife, Kristin, of Marshfield, Kerry Young and her husband, Shane, of Weymouth, Kristin Nichol and her husband, Chris, of Quincy, Shawn Haddigan, of Marshfield, Michael Murray and his wife, Trish, Daniel Murray and his wife, Jen, of Hingham; and several grandnephews and grandnieces.
He was the brother of the late John F. Haddigan.
A funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Agatha Church on Oct. 1. Burial was in Milton Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.
Funeral arrangements were by the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home.