Gail (Benoit) Mulligan, who is married to Kevin FX Mulligan, has a birthday today. We hope Gail is relaxing and enjoying the day, because through the years she has been immersed in several careers . Gail, mother of twins, has been a teacher and an administrator in the Pawtucket School Department. She is now a retiree and part-time baby sitter for her two grandsons. Hopefully, later on today, Kevin will be cooking up her favorite meal to be served along with a glass of Gail’s favorite wine.
Here is an article from the Pawtucket Evening Times that was published on Valentine’s Day back in 1984. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out that Kevin had arranged for this story to be in the paper on February 14th in lieu flowers and chocolates!
Kathryn (Kathy) Moore was born on this date to the late Judith (Judy) A. Mulligan (1938-1962) and David Moore. Her late grandmother, a real sweetheart, was Margaret (Riley) Mulligan (1910-1989).
Kathy* and her husband, Robert McBride, were married in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Imagine, not being married in Pawtucket! 19pondstreet had a nice birthday shoutout last month for their son Jordan,** who is continuing his studies at Providence College.
The photo below really reflects Kathy’s ever pleasant personality, great smile and wonderful outlook on life.
Happy Birthday, Kathy, keep those positive vibes flowing.
Bennett Stephen Murzyckiwas born a year ago to Elizabeth Mulligan and Nicholas Murzycki (of Worcester’s Murzyckis). His maternal grandparents are Gail (Benoit) Mulligan and Kevin Francis Xavier Mulligan.
Ben is very fortunate to not only have great parents, but also a big brother named Teddy. Big brother Teddy makes sure that Ben learns all the secrets that little boys use to make their parents smile and give them cupcakes.
Here is big brother Teddy holding his new brother, Ben.
Rita (Coleman) Riley, wife of Francis C. Riley (1915-2004) and mother to Stephen F. Riley, was born in Pawtucket on this day in 1917. Her parents, Martin F. Colemen and Mary Anne Kenney, both emigrated from Ireland, making Rita a “1st Generation American.”
Recently, Rita’s Pawtucket High School graduation picture was published and it is included here.
Rita Patricia Coleman in 1935
Here is another photo which shows Rita with her husband Francis along with her various brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Top row left to right – Patrick J. Riley, William F. Mulligan, William L. Riley, Francis C. Riley, Walter F. X. Mulligan; Bottom row – Kathleen (Riley) Mulligan , Margaret (Bartley) Riley, Helen (Manning) Riley, Rita (Coleman) Riley, Margaret (Riley) Mulligan
Jordan McBride was born on this day in Doylestown, Pennsylvania to Kathryn (Moore) McBride and Robert McBride. Jordan’s maternal grandmother was the late Judith (Mulligan) Moore (1938-1962) and his great grandmother was the late Margaret (Riley) Mulligan (1910-1989).
After living a few years in Pennsylvania, the McBrides “found their way” back to the Northern Rhode Island/Attleboro, MA area, where Jordan spent his formative years. His elementary and middle schooling was at Mercymount Country Day School in Cumberland. Now, wouldn’t you know, it being Rhode Island, the adage of “I know a guy” enters Jordan’s life. Low and behold, his principal at Mercymount was his great aunt, Sister Martha Mulligan!
Jordan enrolled in Bishop Feehan for his high school years, and it seems his choice was an excellent one. Thriving at Feehan, Jordan excelled in academics and athletics. He was Class President in both his sophomore and senior years, a member of the Student Council for all four years, a member of the National Honor Society, and a leader in the Jazz Band. His high school baseball career paralleled his classroom success. While a member of the varsity baseball team, Jordan made All Conference. The Sun Chronicle newspaper named him to their All Star team, and Bishop Feehan named him Offensive Player of the Year. I guess Jordan did quite well!
Oh, did I mention Jordan can play piano – wait to you see the attached video!
Happy Birthday, Jordan, keep swinging for the fences.
Here are a couple of pics and a short video clip. (Wait for video to download, should take about 10 seconds.)
Jordan making another “connection”Jordan with his dad Robert and mom Kathy
Oh, Jordan can play some piano! This is from a solo at the Providence College Jazz Fest last year.
SisterMartha Mulligan, RSM (Religious Sister of Mercy) has a birthday today. Sister was born in Pawtucket, and grew up in the neighborhood near Memorial Hospital.
Martha’s parents, Walter F. X. Mulligan (1906-1957) and Margaret E. (Riley) Mulligan (1910-1989) had four children. Martha was their second born, with Judy being the first, and Paula and Kevin following along.
Martha entered the Sisters of Mercy Novitiate in Cumberland back in 1957. Today she is still devoting herself to the spiritual needs of others, while being part of the Ministry at Bishop Feehan High School.
Wishing Sister Martha the best of birthdays, and, as always, a nice cup of tea!
Athrow back photo of then Sister Walter Marie…and now as we know Martha!
It was just about 10:15 am 50 years ago today on June 20, 1970 that Paula Marie Mulligan and John Steven Kostycz were united in the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony.
St Joseph’s Church on Walcott Street in Pawtucket had a pretty good turnout to see the Mulligan girl marry this John fellow from the Mid-West. The sky was clear. The temperature was a nice 66 degrees and the humidity was quite low. They said it was a perfect day for the perfect bride! The Mulligans, the Rileys, friends and even those Kostyczs from Chicago were there. I wasn’t there (finishing up at college in Wisconsin), but I bet Walter was.
Here are some photos from from Paula and John’s special day.
On the steps of St Joseph’s – how many faces do you recognize?Doing the “walk around” at the reception at the Lord Fox in Foxboro, MA
Let’s all lift an appropriate libation to Paula and John on this occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
The 10:15 am temperature this morning in Florida, where the Kostyczs now live, is 87 degrees with a humidity reading of 70%. Just goes to show that John and Paula can still bring the heat!
Special thanks to Paula’s niece, Susan Moore and to Kevin FX Mulligan for the heads up and the pictures.
Several weeks ago, 19pondstreet completed a year of posting the birthdays of its past and present family members. Hopefully, you have enjoyed reading these vignettes. I think it’s nice to re-acquaint with relatives both near and far, especially when it can be done in true Riley fashion, by not having to engage with anyone face-to-face.
If you know of someone’s birthday that is missing, please, let me know. Then, that special day will be posted on his/her appropriate upcoming date.
When this site initially launched, there was some trepidation concerning posting references to family members under the age of 16. But given the prevalent use of social media, that anxiousness now seems a bit pointless, so it is time to make amends.
During the last 6 months, we have had two new additions to the 6th generation of the Riley family tree. As best as I can determine, we now have 6 members of the 6th generation. They should be acknowledged and celebrated! So let’s begin:
Born on this Date – June 7th
Theodore Francis Murzycki was born on this date in Worcester, Massachusetts way back in 2017 to Elizabeth (Mulligan) Murzycki and Nicholas Murzycki. Teddy, as he is best known, has Gail (Benoit) Mulligan and Kevin Francis Xavier Mulligan as grandparents. Besides being a big brother, a toy truck foreman and possessor of a great smile, Teddy shares his birthday with his aunt Susan and his great-great grandfather, Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955).
Susan Marie Moore is the daughter of Judith A. Mulligan (1938-1962) and David Moore. Susan’s grandmother was the late Margaret Ernestine Riley and her grandfather was the late Walter Frances Xavier Mulligan.
Susan was a special education teacher, and later a special education administrator. She is now a real estate agent in South County, Rhode Island.
Happy Birthday, Susan, and here’s to many successful open houses!
Paula Mulligan Kostycz was born on this date in the City of Pawtucket to the late Margaret Ernestine Riley (1910-1989) and the late Walter Francis Xavier Mulligan (1906-1957).
Paula grew up in and went to elementary school in Pawtucket, and later graduated from St. Mary’s Academy – Bay View in Riverside, East Providence, RI.
Here’s a couple of pics of Paula from the Bay View Yearbook
Paula is the youngest of the three Mulligan girls. His sisters are Judy (1938-1962), and Martha. She has one brother, Kevin. Their father Walter died at the age of 51 and their mother Margaret passed back in 1989.
The story I have been told is that while working for the “telephone company” and on a vacation in Florida, Paula “met somebody”. That somebody was a teacher from Chicago, John Kostycz. A couple of years later, on June 20, 1970, Paula and John were married in St. Joseph’s Church on Walcott Street in Pawtucket.
After moving to Chicago, Paula worked with that new telephone company, A T & T, from which she eventually retired. Paula and John have been living in Florida for quite some time, enjoying the sunshine and the OJ.
Kevin Frances Xavier Mulligan was born on this date to the late Margaret Ernestine Riley (1910-1989) and the late Walter Frances Xavier Mulligan (1906-1957). His maternal grandparents were Marguetta Etta Greenhalgh (1876-1962) and Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955). Kevin’s paternal grandparents were Sarah Ellen Kelly (1868-1937) and Nicholas Mulligan (1869-1954).
A product of Pawtucket, Kevin grew up and played in the shadows of Memorial Hospital. He attended Pawtucket schools and graduated from Tolman High School, where he played sports and amassed more friends and acquaintances than “you could shake a stick at”, which he probably did on several occasions.
Post high school, Kevin graduated from the University of Rhode Island and became one of Pawtucket’s finest, serving in its Fire Department. Kevin also taught in the city’s school department and coached track and field for several high school teams in the Blackstone Valley. Recently, Kevin has been officiating field events at college track meets in New England.
Back in April 1982, Kevin married another Pawtucketite, Gail Benoit at Saint Joseph’s Church on Walcott Street, Pawtucket. The couple was blessed with the birth of twin girls: Elizabeth and Caitlin (see the Dec 8th blog entry).
Kevin is the youngest of the Mulligan siblings. His sisters are: Judy (1938-1962), Martha and Paula. Their father Walter died at the age of 51 and their mother Margaret passed back in 1989.
Today Kevin is enjoying the retirement life and is having various body parts repaired or replaced, while devoting as much time as he can to doting after his two grandchildren.
Margaret Ernestine Riley (1910) was born on this date in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to the late Marguetta E. Greenhalgh (07/27/1876) and the late Patrick Leo Riley (06/07/1875). She was one of eight Riley children and the fifth born female. A smile was ever present on her lovely face. With a hug and a laugh, Margaret greeted all her nieces and nephews. She was a joy to be around.
Margaret married Walter Frances Xavier Mulligan on September 6, 1937 at her long-time parish, St Joseph’s Church on Walcott Street, Pawtucket. A picture from their wedding reception adorns the header of this 19pondstreet website.
The Pawtucket Mulligans had three daughters: Judith, Martha, Paula and one son, Kevin. Unfortunately, Walter passed away on February 4, 1957 at the age of 51. Margaret passed at the age of 78 on September 2, 1989.
Elizabeth and Caitlin Mulligan were born in Providence on this date to Gail E. Benoit and Kevin FX Mulligan. The newborn girls were the first set of twins on the Riley et al family tree since 1931.
Although their early years were spent in Rhode Island, the sisters moved to Massachusetts and graduated from North Attleboro High School. Here are their graduation pictures:
Caitlin and Elizabeth High School pictures
After graduating from college, both have gone on to build great careers: Caitlin as an attorney in Boston and Elizabeth as a Finance Director at a prestigious girls school in Rhode Island.
Elizabeth is married to Ted F. Murzycki and they have two little fellas.
Gail E. (Benoit) Mulligan was born on this date. Raised in Pawtucket, Gail graduated from one of the city’s public high schools, Tolman. After college, she taught in the same system and later became one of its administrators.
Gail branched into the Riley Family Tree in the spring of 1982, when she married Kevin Francis Xavier Mulligan. Gail and Kevin have twin daughters, Elizabeth and Caitlin, and now there are two grandchildren.
19 Pond Street 
