Barbara Hope Riley Fleury was born on October 4, 1927 in the City of Pawtucket to the late Margaret Cecelia McSally (1900-1938) and the late Patrick Joseph Riley (1900-1985). Barbara was the first of the four children born to Margaret and Patrick. She lived her life in Pawtucket, but enjoyed multiple travel experiences, both domestic and foreign, throughout her life.
During the summer of 1938, at the age of 10, Barbara and her siblings, the late Joan, Jim and his twin, Bill, suffered the loss of their mother. In July of 1949, Barbara married Richard “Dick” Fleury in St. Leo’s Church, Pawtucket. The couple was blessed with 4 children: Cynthia, Richard, Timothy and Nancy.
Judith A. Mulliganwas born on July 17th in 1938 to Margaret Ernestine Riley (1910-1989) and Walter Francis Xavier Mulligan (1906-1957). Judy, born in Pawtucket, lived in the area all of her life. She was the first born of the four Mulligan children, with her siblings being Martha, Paula and Kevin Francis Xavier.
In her early twenties, Judy married David T. Moore and had two children, Susan Moore and Kathryn Moore McBride.
Emerson is a pretty sharp lookin’ little guy, especially in his “Dropkick Murphys” tee shirt.
This young Dropkick Murphys fan’s Mom and Dad are Karen Serpa Fleury and Timothy Fleury. On Emerson’s paternal side, his grandparents are Richard “Rick” and Darleen Fleury; great-grandparents were the late Richard B. Fleury (1928-1992) and Barbara (Riley) Fleury (1927-2015), and his great great-grandfather was Patrick J. Riley (1900-1985).
This past July 17th, Emerson celebrated his 4th birthday. Although today is a couple of months later, a 4th birthday is a very important event in one’s life and it should be recognized. So today we belatedly acknowledge Emerson’s birthday.
Emerson, we all hope you had a great birthday party and wish you the best 4th year ever!
Jordan, great grandson of Margaret Riley Mulligan (1910-1989) and grandson of Judy Mulligan Moore (1938-1962) had a birthday this week on Wednesday the 22nd.
Here is a video of Jordan Boogie-woogie’n at Providence College in his freshman year. Jordan is now in his junior year.
Jordan’s parents, Kathy and Bob McBride, are rightly proud of their accounting major, music minor Friar.
Paul C. Riley was born on this date to the late Helen Frances Manning (1921-1994) and the late William Leo Riley (1912-1985). His paternal grandparents were the late Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955) and Marguetta E. Greenhalgh (1876-1962).
Paul grew up in Pawtucket, where the family home was located. A graduate of St. Raphael’s and Providence College, Paul has always forged his own path in life. A hard and dedicated worker, he has spent the last 30 years or more in, or should I say, “on” the roofing industry.
So, in honor of Paul’s birthday, we send out to him some of the lyrics that Carol King wrote and the Drifters made famous:
Up on the Roof
“On the roof’s the only place I know Where you just have to wish to make it so Let’s go up on the roof (Up on the roof)
At night, the stars put on a show for free And, darling, you can share it all with me I keep-a tellin’ you
Right smack dab in the middle of town I found a paradise that’s trouble-proof (Up on the roof) And if this world starts getting you down There’s room enough for two up on the roof (Up on the roof)”
It is Caroline Ricci’s birthday today. Daughter to Maryanne (Daley) Ricci and Robert Ricci, Caroline was born in La Jolla, CA. That’s a long way from Caroline’s maternal grandparents, the late Joan (Riley) Daley (1929-2019) and the late Frederick (Nick) Daley (1927-1991).
As we wrote in last year’s post,* “Although growing up a Southern California girl, CC, as she is known, has plenty of Pawtucket and Little Rhody running through her veins. Aunts, uncles, and cousins galore are scattered throughout her East Coast family tree. Her dad is a Pawtucket guy and her paternal grandfather, Robert L. Ricci holds a commanding position with the Rhode Island State Senate.”
After graduating from Marist College, Caroline began work in San Francisco. After a while though, it was Colorado that appealed to her, and off she went and that’s where she roams today. Presently, CC has a quite an online business called OldNewZz. She resells vintage and thrifted clothing on Instagram. Caroline started this business when she was in college. She contemplated that if she was able to do something she loved, while educating people about more sustainable ways to shop, then it would be a win win. When Caroline was at Marist, she would do pop up shops on campus. Now she just sells directly on Instagram!
Catherine Marie Fleury, daughter of Nancy [Fleury] Orlando and Anthony F. Orlando was born on this day in Providence, Rhode Island. ‘Cat” is the granddaughter of the late Barbara [Riley] Fleury (1927-2015) and the late Richard ‘Dick’ Fleury (1928-1992).
Cat grew up in Bristol, graduated from the University of Rhode Island and has recently been pursuing graduate studies.
Timothy M. Fleury, son of Richard (Rick) and Darleen [Fisher] Fleury, was born on this date in Providence, and grew up in Bristol, Rhode Island.
Grandson of the late Richard B. Fleury (1928-1992) and the late Barbara [Riley] Fleury (1927-2015), Tim is married to Karen [Serpa] Fleury and the couple have been blessed with two boys.
Andrew McNaught, son of Tammie [Daley] McNaught and Peter McNaught, was born on this date. A grandson of the late Joan [Riley] Daley (1929-2019) and Frederick ‘Nick’ Daley (1927-1991), Andrew has earned degrees from the University of Rhode Island and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Presently, Andrew holds a very important position with National Grid. When a storm rolls in and the power goes out, Andrew jumps into action directing the electricity restoration crews. Be nice to Andrew, he determines when your coffee maker comes to life.
Jacob Richard Ferreira is celebrating his birthday today. Jacob is the son of Staci Fleury and Michael Ferreira. Jacob’s grandparents (on the Riley side) are Darleen and Richard (Rick) Fleury. Sure is nice to have a birthday in June – sunny skies and the end of school just around the corner.
Jacob’s mom tells me that he is really into karate and has recently earned his yellow belt. Congratulations, Jacob!
Looking good, Jacob
When I asked Jacob’s Mom for a couple of pictures of him, she told me that almost all from the past year showed Jacob in his face mask. I imagine that’s the case for most parents – just another legacy from 2020. Here though is one of Jacob and his brother Zachary that shows the boys mask-less.
Jacob on the right and Zachary on the left. Looks like brothers can be good buddies
Happy Birthday, Jacob! Keep on working toward that orange belt.
It is with tongue in cheek that we recognize Sean Fleury‘s* birthday today. The son of Karen Ann Matteson and Timothy Patrick Fleury, and the grandson the late Richard B. Fleury (1928-1992) and the late Barbara Hope Riley (1927-2015), he has had to overcome a lot, and finally he’s making some progress.
It’s been a tough-row-to-hoe since his glory days in high school. Sean had to overcome the stigma of being accepted into one of the best engineering schools, and then finding himself thriving in that rarified academic atmosphere. What a burden! Then there was the added “inconvenience” of being a BMOC and playing NCAA Division I soccer during his four years in college. To live those campus days must have called upon all of Sean’s internal strength!
Sean’s post collegiate career has been filled with one hurdle after another. Imagine having to work along side some of the most accomplished engineers and scientists at a world class company like Boston Scientific. The poor kid just couldn’t get a break. Before he knew it, he was off to Minneapolis finding himself in the center of “Midwestern Nice.” How dare this company transfer Sean to a land of smiles, courtesy and good beer. How would he survive this constant flow of adversity? As Ms Gaynor sang: “Only the strong survive,” and Sean certainly did, he kept pushing through the limits of his trials and tribulations.
But the pressures of the world kept closing in upon him. Out of the blue, Sean found himself faced with something few men can handle – a wonderful woman who more than met his match. She was Intelligent, personable, and athletic – Mollie Knake.
He never had a chance.
Sean didn’t have a chance, but his luck sure changed.
Just when All American Minneapolis was about to come unglued, the newly married couple were transferred to Costa Rica, where the winter doesn’t exist and the sun shines continuously. What a way to “quarantine” yourself.
This is not Sean’s normal Costa Rican attire
Sean’s normal attire
We wish the birthday boy welI, and may he continue to thank Mollie for his new found blessings.
Theodore Francis Murzycki, oldest son of Elizabeth Mulligan and Nicholas Murzycki was born on this day in Worcester, MA. His maternal grandparents are Gail (Benoit) Mulligan and Kevin Francis Xavier Mulligan. Teddy shares the same birthday as his cousin Susan Moore (see today’s earlier post), and both are blessed with those great Mulligan genes inherited from the late Margaret Ernestine Riley (1910-1989) and the late Walter Frances Xavier Mulligan (1906-1957).
Teddy had quite a week leading up to today’s birthday. The word is out that Teddy has himself a brand new big-boy bed courtesy of Mom and Dad and Grandma Gail and Grandpa Kevin. At the end of the week, Teddy and brother Ben, spent a great day at the Mystic Aquarium getting to know all the inhabitants. I heard the beluga whales were especially happy to see Teddy and his brother.
Happy Birthday, Teddy! I’m sure you are going to sleep well tonight in your new bed.
Susan Marie Moore ,daughter of the late Judith A. Mulligan (1938-1962) and David Moore, has a birthday today. Susan’s grandmother was the late Margaret Ernestine Riley (1910-1989) and her grandfather was the late Walter Frances Xavier Mulligan (1906-1957).
After a career as a special education teacher and administrator, Susan is now a real estate agent in South County, Rhode Island with Coldwell Banker Coastal Homes.
With a personal mantra of always being engaged in her surroundings and community, Susan is involved with and has volunteered her time with the Rhode Island Special Olympics, dog adoption programs and pet assisted therapy programs. Susan even has one of the cutest dogs around…aptly named, “Riley.”
Happy Birthday, Susan, Hope you find time in this crazy real estate surge to enjoy South County!
As Nancy enjoys today’s beautiful birthday weather, it is almost an exact replica of the day she was born. Back then, in a year not to be mentioned, the high temperature was 64 and the skies were sunny and cloudless. Probably songs by Connie Francis and The Everly Brothers were playing on the car radio when her dad, Richard “Dick” Fleury (1928-1992) was rushing to the hospital. Now, at the same time, Nancy’s mom, Barbara Riley Fleury (1927-2015), couldn’t have cared less about who was singing or what they were singing about – Barbara had other things on her mind. Back home in Pawtucket, the newborn Nancy had three siblings, Cindy, Rick and Tim, who were most likely plotting to keep their perceived “most important status” preeminent in the family hierarchy. Wonder how that worked out for them?
Happy Birthday, Nance! There’s no drive to Boston today, so enjoy the day and time with Tony, son Nick and daughter Catherine.
Patrick J. Riley was born on this day in Pawtucket in 1900.
Patsy, as his sisters called him, would have been 121 today. A second generation American, PJ witnessed many changes. As a young man, he experienced the common sight of horse and buggies on the streets of Pawtucket. Later he saw man walk on the moon. Patsy survived his own attack of the Spanish Flu and lived through the Great Depression, WWI, and WWII. He had five children and lost two wives and a son. Patrick Joseph was blessed with a personality that allowed all he met to feel important and relaxed. He had a mountain of patience, he had to, he was my dad.
19 Pond Street 