Mary Doherty
New London — New London native Mary A. Doherty passed from this life Jan. 3, 2024. She spent over a century in the city, and died shortly before her 102nd birthday at home where she lived for 70 years. She was born Jan. 27, 1922, Mary Ann Moran to her parents Irene (Sheridan) Moran and Matthias Moran. She was married for 40 years to Robert A Doherty, also a New London native, who predeceased her in 1988.
Mary attended The Williams Memorial Institute and then graduated from Connecticut College. In the mid-1940s during World War II, she worked in the army’s procurement office on Fishers Island, and then later in Hartford.
She met and married Robert Doherty in 1947, as he was completing his accounting degrees and helped him to create Doherty & Company, later to become Doherty, Beals, and Banks accounting firm in New London. In addition to raising six children, Mary worked with the accounting firm and also innovated and ran a computerized billing service, Central Billing Company, which she managed for over 30 years.
Mary was very active in community and nonprofit organizations. She volunteered and often chaired volunteer groups, from Girl Scout leader to chairperson of the Catholic Charities organization chapters for many years. Among her achievements, she was one of the original incorporators and a board member of the Pequot Community Foundation. She served on and chaired many financial boards, including the New London/Shoreline Visiting Nurses Association, the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Public Library of New London, the New London Soup Kitchen, and St. Joseph’s Church in New London.
Mary has been the wise and ever-present matriarch of the Doherty family, leaving at her passing six children: Barbara Doherty, Ann (and David) McGonigle, Stephen (and Eileen) Doherty, Mark (and Rhonda) Doherty, Kathleen Doherty and Peter (and Andrea) Doherty. She also leaves seven grandchildren: Ryan (and Katherine) McGonigle, Owen (and Grace) McGonigle, Keith (and Ellie) McGonigle, Brenna (and Tim) Abreu, Micah (and Amanda) Evans, Michael (and Rachael) Doherty, and Anna Doherty; and seven great-grandchildren: Molly, Danny, Matty, Claire, Morgan, Eddie and Mary.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate and professional health care providers who assisted Mary while she remained at home. Many thanks to Jana, Donna, Laura, Eileen, Fran, Mary and Sara.
A Mass of Christian Burial for her will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at St. Joseph’s Church, New London. There will be no calling hours, and burial will be privately held. To honor her service, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to New London Community Meal Center or the Public Library of New London. Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Avenue, New London is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www. neilanfuneralhome.com.