Michael J. Cummings
10/13/11
Michael J. Cummings, 87, died of complications from Lou Gehrig’s disease Oct. 1.

Originally from Ballygar, County Galway, Ireland, he had lived in Milton for the past 42 years. He was a retired project manager for the Boston Gas Co. and The Flatley Co.

Mr. Cummings never forgot his Irish roots. He worked tirelessly for the needs and concerns of the Irish community, pushing for Irish immigration changes and organizing cultural activities such as ceili dancing, traditional music sessions and ballroom dances.

He was a past president of the Gaelic Athletic Association, a former captain and player of the Boston Galway Gaelic football team, active in the establishment of the Irish Cultural Center in Canton, and a former member of the Milton Historical Society, the Boston Irish Famine Memorial Committee and the board of directors of the Eire Society of Boston. He formerly served as president of the Patrick S. Gilmore Society and Silver Key Award recipient from The Charitable Irish Society.

He is survived by his wife, Noreen M. (McSweeney) Cummings; his children, Eileen M. Stoller and her husband, David, and Michael J. Cummings, all of Milton, Brian J. Cummings and his wife, Sandra, of Acton, and Karen A. Gillis and her husband, Andrew, of Norwood; his grandchildren, Matthew Stoller, Ryan Stoller, Solana Cummings, Miguel Cummings, Elizabeth Cummings, Tynan Cummings, Conor Cummings, Katherine Gillis, Lauren Gillis and Grace Gillis; and his siblings, Mary Finneran and Tom Cummings, both of Milton, Peg Martyn, of Weymouth, Larry Cummings, of Kingston, John Cummings, of Stoughton, and Paddy Kilcommons of Ballygar, County Galway.

He was the brother of the late Matthew Kilcommons.

A funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Agatha Church on Oct. 5. Burial was in Milton Cemetery.

Donations may be made to ALS Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 320 Norwood Park South, 2nd floor, Norwood, MA 02062.

Arrangements were by the Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home.