Honorees

Attorney John F. Moriarty, Jr. (Jack) was the second born of eleven children to the Honorable John F. Moriarty and Frances (Cronin) Moriarty on July 21, 1953.

Jack graduated from Holyoke High School in 1971 with high honors.  He graduated from Boston College in 1975, majoring in Political Science, summa cum laude and a member of the Omicron Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.  In 1979, he graduated from Boston College Law School, magna cum laude and a member of the Order of the Coif.  He also was a second-year Law Review member. 

Jack has been married to Claire Scott Moriarty for twenty-eight years. He has 3 stepsons, Matthew, Jeffrey and Timothy and has 7 step-grandchildren. 

From 1976-1977 Jack was the City Hall reporter for the Holyoke Transcript-Telegram.  Directly after graduating from law school, Jack was an associate for the law firm of Csaplar & Bok in Boston in their corporate finance department. 

Upon returning home in 1981, he became an associate in the firm of Ducharme, Moriarty, Rainaud & Wilson.  His career evolved over the years with several changes in law firms, from being a partner in Moriarty & Wilson in 1985 to partnering with Jorge Neves in 1995 and with partnering with Marty Dunn in 2005.  Jack has literally been a “Jack” of all trades.  Over the years his practice has included criminal and civil trial practice and legal writing, commercial real estate refinancing, District Court criminal and personal injury work.  Jack is currently in solo practice from his home in West Springfield.  His practice centers in family & probate law with some civil litigation.  Jack also spent two years during the 1980’s as an instructor in Criminal Law at Holyoke Community College. 

Jack is a member of the Holyoke Bar Association, the Hampden County Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association. 

In 2017 Jack became a St. Thomas Moore Society award recipient. 

Jack is a member of the choir and a cantor at the St. Thomas Catholic Church is West Springfield. 

Cornelius J Moriarty, II, the oldest of eleven children,  was born to the Honorable John F Moriarty and Frances (Cronin) Moriarty on February 3, 1951. 
He graduated from Holyoke High School in 1968 then attended Boston College and where upon he graduated with an BS in economics in 1972.  He went on to Suffolk University Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1975. Upon graduation he returned to Holyoke and entered private practice in Holyoke with the firm of Ducharme Moriarty and Wilson which later evolved into the firm of Moriarty and Wilson. 

He and his wife, Geraldine, have been married for fifty two years are the proud parents of four sons, attorney Robert Moriarty (Eileen) of Edgartown, Braden Moriarty (Amanda) of Winchester, Attorney Timothy Moriarty (Elizabeth) of Chilmark and Sean Moriarty (Hanna) of Maine They have eight grandchildren. 

Over the course of his career he has argued before the First Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Judicial Court and the Massachusetts Appeals Court. He has successfully tried many criminal and civil cases to a verdict in just about every county in the Commonwealth. As part of his practice, he accepted many assignments from the Committee for Public Counsel Services for the purpose of defending individuals charged with murder. 

One of his most celebrated cases, was the matter of  the Commonwealth vs. Alfred Gaynor, who was charged with the murder and rapes of four women. He has been a member of the Hampden County Bar Association where he served as a Director, the Hampshire County Bar Association, the Holyoke Bar Association, and the Massachusetts Bar Association. He is also been member of the American Trial Lawyers, the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. 

While in private practice he served as a faculty member in programs presented by the MCLE. In 2006, he was appointed by Governor Mitt Romney as an a Associate Justice of the 
> the Superior Court.He spent the first part of his career in Western Massachusetts and then, after approximately six years, relocated to Southeastern Massachusetts, where he sat in Plymouth, Bristol Barnstable and Dukes Counties. He served in the Education and Criminal Committees of the Superior Court. 

Upon retirement, serves as a member of the Edgartown Affordable Housing Committee and volunteers at the Island Food Pantry, although most of his time is spent driving his grandchildren all over the Island to their baseball, soccer and hockey games. As result of an abysmal record as a T-Ball coach he now limits his role to that of his spectator. 

The Honorable William B. McDonough, retired First Justice of Holyoke District Court

Judge McDonough is a graduate of St. Jerome High School 1957, Providence College 1961, Elms College 1966 and Suffolk University Law School 1970. Prior to the practice of law, he taught English at Holyoke High School and in Kaiserslautern, Germany for the US Department of Defense.

Admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1970, he commenced the practice of Civil, Criminal and Probate Law, associating with Henry O’Connor (1970-1979), Robert Eastwood (1974-1976), and Stephen Rainaud (1978-1979), and then as a sole practitioner (1979-1982).

Judge McDonough’s community activities included services as a corporator at the Holyoke Hospital, and as a member of the Holyoke Arts Council and the Holyoke Public Library board.

His practice included Assistant City Solicitor, Holyoke, 1971-1972, counsel for the Directors of the Holyoke Geriatric Authority 1973-1977 and from 1973-1982 as Special Assistant DA to Matthew J. Ryan, Hampden County District Attorney.

In May, 1982, Governor Edward J. King appointed William B. McDonough Justice to the Holyoke Division of the District Court. In June of 2002, the Massachusetts Judges Conference presented Judge William B. McDonough with the Judicial Excellence Award. In 2009, Judge McDonough retired.

Bill and his wife Ellen are the parents of three children, Bill, Matt and Liz and five grandchildren.

The Honorable Kenneth J. Cote

Judge Kenneth J. Cote, son of Kenneth J. Cote, Sr. of Northampton and Blanca Iris Ortiz was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico in 1945. He attended elementary schools in Arecibo, New York City and Northampton, graduating from Northampton High School in 1963. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967 through 1970, thereafter graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1973 and the University of Puerto Rico Law School in 1976.

Following his admission to the Massachusetts Bar in 1976, he opened a private law practice in Holyoke. In 1978 he accepted a trial attorney position with the EEOC in Dallas, Texas. Faced with a career choice of continuing as a federal government attorney or returning to private practice in Massachusetts, he opted for the latter, returned to Holyoke, and re-opened his private practice. In 1980, Governor Edward King appointed him a Commissioner to the MCAD. Three years later, he once again returned to private practice in the Paper City.

In 1989, Mayor Martin Dunn appointed him Holyoke City Solicitor, a position he held in addition to his private practice. In 1992, Governor William Weld appointed him Palmer District Court First Justice. Nine years later, he opted to go on the circuit and helped clean up several court’s civil trial backlogs. In 2007, District Court Chief Justice Lynda Connolly appointed him First Justice of the Holyoke District Court. In 2007, he assumed the added position of Appellate Division Justice, holding both positions until his retirement in 2009.    

During his judicial career, Judge Cote produced three manuals, “The Ninety Day Guide,” an in-house District Court Department training manual for new judges, and MCLE publications “Trying OUI Cases” and “Civil Jury Trials in the District Court.”

Following his retirement in 2009, Judge Cote and his wife, Elaine, moved to Florida. As a State Supreme Court certified mediator, he performed mediations throughout South Florida for two years. Today, he enjoys golfing and is the Executive Officer of the America’s Boating Club of Martin County, Florida.

Judge Cote wishes to express his sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the many unforgotten Holyoke friends and colleagues who generously offered him guidance and cherished friendship throughout his career. Holyoke will forever be in his heart.

Peter F. Brady, Esquire

Peter Brady grew up in Walpole, Massachusetts. He was the oldest of seven children born to  Thomas and Elizabeth Brady. He was a graduate of Walpole High School class of 1959, Boston College (cum Laude) 1963 and received his law degree in 1967 from  New England School of Law. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1967, and thereafter the United States Supreme Court.

Peter began his legal career at the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut and then entered private practice in Holyoke, Massachusetts 1969 joining the firm Begley & Ferriter. He founded the firm of Chartier, Ogan & Brady where he actively practiced until his retirement in 2019. He served as Holyoke’s City Solicitor from 1985-1988 under Mayor Ernest Proulx.  He is a member of the Hampden County Bar Association for over 50 years; a member and past President of the Holyoke Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association; Massachusetts Trial Lawyers Association and Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Attorney Brady has been an active member of the community. He was an adjunct professor of Constitutional Law at Holyoke Community College and Business Law at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. He was a Board Member of Downey Side,  a Corporator at Holyoke Hospital,  past member of the Geriatric Authority of Holyoke, past member of Board of Directors City Cooperative Bank. He served on the Maple House Foundation from 1973-1991. A past member of the Board of Trustees at Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts and Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts.  He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Holyoke Elks.  In 2010 he was awarded the St. Thomas Moore Medal at the Annual Red Mass.

Attorney Brady is a current member of St. Jerome’s Finance Committee. A former member of Holy Cross Parish Council and past Chairman of Parish Council. He has served as Town Moderator in Montgomery, Massachusetts as well as on the Finance Committee.

He has been an active member of the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade Committee for over 50 years. He served as President in 1984. He has served on almost all the St. Patrick’s Parade Committees. He also served on the Board of Directors and was chairman of the Board. He was honored with the Rohen Award in 1992. In 2003, Attorney Brady was honored to lead the parade down the street of Holyoke as Grand Marshall.

Attorney Brady is married to the former Mary Margaret Sullivan for 56 years and they have five children, Kathy, Molly, Katie, Eileen, and Peter. Molly is married to Albert Martins, Katie is married to John Corcoran, Eileen is married to Jim Leahy and Peter is married to Kelly Fournier. Peter is the proud grandfather to his twelve grandchildren, Elizabeth, Sara, Maggie, Catherine, Addie, Bridget, Brendan, Caroline, Paige, Joey, Peter, III, Christopher and his great grandson Beckham.

Frederick L. Sullivan is a founding partner of Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn, LLC, a management-side labor and employment firm having offices in Springfield, Massachusetts and Manhattan. Under his direction, the Firm has enjoyed a nationwide practice representing profit, governmental and not-for-profit employers in a number of different industries including the gaming industry.  For more than 40 years, Attorney Sullivan has represented employers in vast range of labor and employment matters. 

He has been named for over twenty years to The Best Lawyers in America, having been chosen best in his field of by other lawyers; and repeatedly, he was selected Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year.”  Fred was inducted into the American Management Association’s Management Wall of Fame based on his contributions to management in the field of labor relations.  His professional accomplishments were also recognized by Boston Magazine which, based on a poll of other lawyers, named him as one of Massachusetts’ “Super Lawyers.”  Moreover, he also maintains the highest AV pre-eminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He has been a Contributing Editor of the journal, Personnel; and as a member of the Labor and Employment Section of the Massachusetts Bar Association, he was chosen to serve as a representative to the Section Council.  He authored several books and a number of articles on employment law and labor relations topics, including developing workshops and seminars on negotiations for the American Management Association.

Fred was repeatedly named to the esteemed Irish Legal 100, a network of distinguished and accomplished men and women of Irish descent in the legal profession. This honored recognition is given to 100 lawyers of Irish ancestry by the Irish Voice Newspaper with the Award bestowed in person by Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States at a gathering held at the Ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C.

Numerous management and industry groups have featured him as a speaker, including appearances on several occasions before the American Management Association’s national Annual Human Resource Conference, the Council on Education in Management, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc.  He is admitted to the Bar of Massachusetts and to the Bar of New York State, as well as to the Federal Courts in New England and New York.  He holds a J.D. Degree from Fordham University School of Law.

Attorney Sullivan has been a consistent and dedicated volunteer, serving local non-profit organizations in both unrecognized roles behind the scenes to positions on many charitable and non-profit Boards of Directors.  His commitment to the local community through volunteer and financial support has become a hallmark of the Firm’s culture as all employees strive to emulate his personal character and professional accomplishments.

Fred and his wife, Judy, reside in the home they purchased in 1973 when they relocated from Manhattan joining Fred’s parents and extended family in Holyoke.  He is honored to be recognized by his esteemed peers and colleagues in the Holyoke Bar Association.

Harold Brunault
Brunault, Proulx & McGuiness

Harold Brunault was admitted to the bar in November of 1959. He has been practicing law for 59 years. He is a graduate of Holyoke Junior College, American International College, and Boston College Law School in 1959. He was an Assistant City Solicitor under Mayor Dan Dibble, the City Solicitor under Mayor Ernest Proulx, and an assistant City Solicitor under Mayor Martin Dunn. He is a partner in the law firm Brunault, Proulx & McGuinness.

Harold married his wife Paula in 1958 and they have five children and ten grandchildren.

Attorney Brunault was the Treasurer of the Holyoke Geriatric Authority from 1972-1976, Attorney for the local draft board for five years, a Certified teacher of English to foreign students at Holyoke High School which helped them to achieve citizenship, Past President of the Beavers Club, a Commissioner of the Department of Public Works and is President of Pro-Life of Pioneer Valley, Inc.

Harold has received the St. Thomas More Award and a 50-year Citation from the Holyoke City Council.

Maurice Ferriter, JD
Ferriter & Ferriter, LLC

Maurice Ferriter was born and raised in Western Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Holyoke Junior College, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Western New England University School of Law in 1957. His areas of concentration are estate planning and administration, trusts, corporate law and municipal utility law. During the Korean War, Maurice served in the Army. He then retired to Holyoke and established his law firm. Maurice served as city solicitor for the City of Holyoke in the early 1960s under Mayor Sam Resnic. He also served for several years as Treasurer of the Holyoke Bar Association. He has practiced in Holyoke and Boston for 61 years. He married the former Margaret Hennigan and had four children, three lawyers and a medicate doctor.

Maurice served as president of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, and as director and trustee of numerous business and non-profit corporations, including Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Holyoke Community College.

Maurice was the recipient of the William G. Dwight Award, the Louis Oldershaw Community Service Award, the Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year Award, the Holyoke Community College Outstanding Alumni Award, the Special Service Award for the Municipal Electric Association of Massachusetts, and the Person of the Year Award for the Northeast Public Power Association.

George N. Beauregard
Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll

George N. Beauregard joined Samuel Resnic in the practice in 1951 after receiving his law degree from Boston University, having first served in the United States Marine Corp. from 1943 through 1946. In addition to his significant legal practice, Mr. Beauregard served as Special Justice of the District Court of Holyoke, Massachusetts from 1958 through 1979 and served as a Master in both the Hampden County Superior Court and Hampden County Probate Court. In addition, Mr. Beauregard served on the State Client Security Board by appointment of the Supreme Judicial Court from 1982 through 1988. Mr. Beauregard also served as a Member of the Board of Directors of Hampshire National Bank from 1969 through 1972 and served as a Member of the Board of Directors of Peoples Bank from 1972 through 2000 and was Chairman of the Audit Committee. He served in leadership positions with the United Way, Red Cross, and the Greater Holyoke Boys and Girls Club. He was the recipient of the St. Thomas More Society Award and the Knight Grand Cross, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Mr. Beauregard, although still a significant presence in the office, retired from practice in 2005.

Burton Resnic
Resnic, Beauregard, Waite & Driscoll

Burton S. Resnic (Buddy) joined hist father, Samuel Resnic and George N. Beaurgard as a partner in after graduating Washington University in St. Louis and Harvard Law School (Samuel Resnic, a former Mayor of Holyoke, having “founded” the office in the 1920’s). He concentrates on wills, trusts, estate taxes and the administration of estates, in addition to having an expertise in many aspects of real estate law including commercial transactions, industrial and commercial leases and feneral corporate formation and governance matters. Buddy has contributed often-cited articles on Estate Planning and taxes in the Massachusetts Law Review and has participated in numerous seminars as a presenter on various other topics. He is a former Land Court title examiner. He was elected to the Holyoke Charter Commission, served as a delegate to two national political conventions, served as chairman of the Holyoke Redevelopment Authority, was a director of the former Bank of Boston, and served as a director of Holyoke Hospital where he chaired a major capital campaign and served as legal counsel for more than 25 years. In addition, he has served as an officer or board member on many local and regional charitable organizations.