Thomas H. D. Mahoney
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Donald Mahoney (born November 4, 1913 in Cambridge, Massachusetts
, died April 21, 1997 in Palo Alto, California
) was an American professor and politician.
. In 1945 he joined the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. A professor of history and political science, Mahoney twice served as chairman of the history section.
Mahoney wrote and edited several books, including The United States in World History (co-written with J. B. Rae) and a number of works on the life and thought of philosopher and statesman Edmund Burke
.
Mahoney retired from M.I.T. in 1984. In 1989, at the age of 75, he earned a doctorate degree in public affairs at Harvard University
's John F. Kennedy School of Government
.
From 1964 to 1972 Mahoney was a member of the Cambridge City Council.
From 1971 to 1979, Mahoney served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
, representing the 2nd Middlesex District. In the House, Mahoney was the founding chairman of the ethics committee and was also chairman of the House Energy Committee.
In 1979 he was appointed by Governor
Edward J. King
to serve as Massachusetts' Secretary of Elder Affairs. In 1981, he led the Massachusetts delegation at the White House Conference on Aging
.
He was also a part of many United Nations
agencies, panels, and conferences. At the time of his death he was a member of the executive committee of the United Nations Nongovernmental Organizations Committee.
In 1997, Mahoney addressed the 97th conference Inter-Parliamentary Union in Seoul, South Korea. On his return trip home he suffered a stroke while stopping over in California. He died on April 21, 1997 at the Stanford Medical Center.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, died April 21, 1997 in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
) was an American professor and politician.
Academia
Mahoney graduated from Boston College in 1936 and earned his master's degree and a Ph.D. at George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. In 1945 he joined the faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. A professor of history and political science, Mahoney twice served as chairman of the history section.
Mahoney wrote and edited several books, including The United States in World History (co-written with J. B. Rae) and a number of works on the life and thought of philosopher and statesman Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
.
Mahoney retired from M.I.T. in 1984. In 1989, at the age of 75, he earned a doctorate degree in public affairs at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
.
Politics
In 1948, Mahoney entered politics when he ran for and was elected to the Cambridge, Massachusetts School Committee. He remained on the Committee until 1954 when he decided not to run for re-election.From 1964 to 1972 Mahoney was a member of the Cambridge City Council.
From 1971 to 1979, Mahoney served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
, representing the 2nd Middlesex District. In the House, Mahoney was the founding chairman of the ethics committee and was also chairman of the House Energy Committee.
In 1979 he was appointed by Governor
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
Edward J. King
Edward J. King
Edward Joseph "Ed" King was the 66th Governor of the U.S. state of Massachusetts from 1979 to 1983.Born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Boston College and Bentley College, King played professional football as a guard with the All-America Football Conference Buffalo Bisons from 1948 to...
to serve as Massachusetts' Secretary of Elder Affairs. In 1981, he led the Massachusetts delegation at the White House Conference on Aging
White House Conference on Aging
The White House Conference on Aging is a once-a-decade conference sponsored by the Executive Office of the President of the United States which makes policy recommendations to the president and Congress regarding the aged. The first of its kind,the goals of the conference are to promote the...
.
Later life and death
After his tenure as Elder Affairs Secretary, Mahoney worked as a social gerontologist and was an adviser to the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
He was also a part of many United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
agencies, panels, and conferences. At the time of his death he was a member of the executive committee of the United Nations Nongovernmental Organizations Committee.
In 1997, Mahoney addressed the 97th conference Inter-Parliamentary Union in Seoul, South Korea. On his return trip home he suffered a stroke while stopping over in California. He died on April 21, 1997 at the Stanford Medical Center.