August 28, 2010

Edward F. Saunders Jr., executive director of Massachusetts Catholic Conference, dies at age 60

 

REGIONAL

By Terence Hegarty

SPRINGFIELD – Attorney Edward F. Saunders Jr., executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference (MCC), died at Tufts Medical Center in Boston Aug. 27 after a short illness. He was 60.The MCC serves as the public policy voice for the three Catholic dioceses and the one archdiocese (Boston) in Massachusetts. Saunders, a resident of Quincy and Falmouth Mass., served as director of the organization for the last five years.

The four Massachusetts bishops released a statement Aug. 28 following the news of Saunders’ death. “We are sad at the passing of Edward Saunders,” the statement read. “He had a deep and abiding love for the Church and was proud to be serving the four dioceses of Massachusetts at this important time.

“Ed was an experienced and effective leader who was able to advance the mission of the Church in the public arena. He loved life and was proud to call Massachusetts his home. From the campus of Boston College to the State House, Ed made many lifelong friends. We will miss him. We pray that God grants Ed Eternal life and peace and that He brings comfort to all who mourn his passing.”

Attorney Jack Egan, a lawyer for the Diocese of Springfield and partner in the Springfield law firm of Egan, Flanagan and Cohen, remembered Saunders as an accomplished attorney and a dedicated Catholic.

“Professionally, he was very skilled at bringing people together,” Egan said. “Personally, he was very warm and a lot of fun.” Egan noted that Saunders loved Boston College athletics. He said the only time Saunders was ever grumpy was “when a meeting was scheduled at the same time as a BC football or basketball game.”

Saunders was appointed to head the MCC in July of 2005. Egan, a current member of the MCC board of directors, was on the national search committee that chose Saunders to serve as executive director.

“He had tough shoes to fill because Gerry D’Avolio (previous long time MCC executive director) had done an excellent job,” Egan said. “But, Ed was an easy selection because of his extensive legislative background coupled with a committed record of involvement in the church.”

(Catholic Communications photo from video by Bill Pacocha)

Saunders came to the MCC with a great deal of experience in the public policy and legislative arenas. For 16 years prior to his appointment at MCC, he served as senior vice president and legislative counsel for the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island Credit Union Leagues. He also served as the general counsel and clerk of the Credit Union League of Massachusetts over those years.

For nearly a decade, he was resident counsel for the former Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. He served as an attorney for the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1977. Prior to that, he practiced law in the Greater Boston area.

Saunders, a 1967 graduate of Boston College High School, earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston College in 1971. He was awarded his juris doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1974.

He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar Association in 1975. In 1979, he was admitted to the Federal District Court of Massachusetts, 1^st Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Supreme Court.

“Ed was very good, he was always there to work with legislators,” recalled Egan, noting that Saunders worked particularly vigorously on issues involving the poor. “He had a very positive personality. He could disagree with you vigorously one day and work closely with you the next.”

Egan noted that Saunders was “very astute at reading the political landscape on Beacon Hill and counseling the cardinal and bishops.”

Since 1969, the MCC has served as the official representative of the four bishops of the commonwealth on public policy issues. The MCC also serves as an informational resource for the bishops and all area Catholics. The organization encourages the active participation of Catholics in public debates.

The wake is to be held Monday, Aug. 30 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Chapman Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Milton, Mass. The funeral Mass is scheduled for Aug. 31 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ignatius Church on the campus of Boston College. Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley will celebrate the Mass.

Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Falmouth.