Dublin Core
Title
Alice L. Mullin (1912-2005) and Leo F. Mullin (1910-1993) Biographies
Description
Alice Louise Fearns Mullin:
Alice Lousie Fearns was born on September 27, 1912, in the home in which she grew up, at 7 Haynes Street, Maynard, MA. She was the daughter of Bertha Amelda Wall, a high school mathematics teacher from Marlboro; and Frank S. Fearns, a Maynard native and pharmacist, who owned Fearns Pharmacy which later became Manning Pharmacy. Alice had two siblings: a brother, Edward Fearns, and a sister, Frances Fearns.
Alice was elected Class Vice President and graduated from Maynard High in 1930. She attended Boston University School of Liberal Arts and graduated in 1934. She began teaching English at Maynard High in 1935 and in 1940 took time off to get married to the Maynard High Principal, Leo Mullin. Alice and Leo had eight children: Edward (B. 1942), Leo (B. 1943), John (B. 1945), Joe (B. 1947), Walter (B. 1948), Peter (B. 1950), Mary (B. 1951), and Bill (B. 1953). In 1966, she returned, teaching English, and Latin, at MHS until 1972.
Like her husband Leo, Alice somehow found time to become an elected official in Maynard’s Town Government and served on the Maynard Public Library Board of Trustees from 1978-1981. After retiring as a Trustee, she was appointed as Chair of the Maynard Library’s Fundraising Committee in 2000 in advance of the securing financing to build the new Maynard Public Library in the former Roosevelt Elementary School on Nason Street.
Alice died at the age of 92, on August 15, 2005, at home in the room in which she was born.
Leo Francis Mullin:
Leo F. Mullin was born on July 3, 1910, in the home personally built by his father, James Mullin at 199 Main Street in Maynard. Kate and Jim had five children: Walter (B. 1902), Alice (B. 1904), Mildred (B. 1907), Leo (B. 1910), and James Maley (B. 1915).
Leo graduated from Maynard High School in 1928 and Fordham University in 1933. After graduation, he began teaching English at Maynard High. He also began working toward his master’s degree in education, nights at Boston College. He also joined the Maynard Drama Society, and began acting, singing, and dancing in plays and musicals. Leo completed his master's in 1940, and eventually moved up from teaching to become Assistant Principal of MHS from 1941-1943, and then Principal from 1943-1945. He became Auditor for the State of Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation from 1946-1974. He also successfully ran for Maynard Selectman from 1949-1954. He was a member of the building committee for the Memorial Gym on Summer Street which opened in 1955.
In the 1960s, Leo became more active in Maynard civic and charitable organizations. He often served as Chair or President at times, of the following:
- The Maynard PTA
- The Maynard Band Parents
- The Maynard Booster Club
- He personally decided to create and organize the Maynard Community Chest
- He became a Board Member of the Maynard Co-op
- He joined the Maynard Council on Aging and assisted in its “Meals on Wheels” program
- While continuing to support the Maynard Drama Society, he intermittently continued acting in plays
- He became a Member of the Maynard Centennial Committee, and personally organized its All-Class Reunion Dinner at the Maynard Elks.
After 1972, Leo and Alice both had a more than well-deserved, 100% retirement, and they had 19 grandchildren’s names and birthdays to remember, and to visit; and 8 children and their spouses to visit; and their final years, in Maynard, were completely relaxing, peaceful, and fulfilling.
Leo passed away in 1993.
Photos:
1. Alice and Leo ca 1990
2. Alice - MHS Glee Club 1929
3. Alice - MHS Band 1929
4. Alice - MHS Senior Portrait 1930
5. Leo - MHS Screech Owl Staff 1928
6. Leo - MHS Screech Owl Staff 1928
7. Board of Selectman at Middlesex County National Bank Celebration 1952 (l-r) Leo Mullin, chairman, Joseph P. Dineen, and William Bain
8. Leo - Co-Op Board of Directors 1966
9. Leo - Maynard Council on Aging 1977
10. Mullin Family 1967: (l-r)
Back: Leo Jr., Alice, Leo Sr., John, Ed
Front: Walter, Joe, Bill, Peter, Mary
Alice Lousie Fearns was born on September 27, 1912, in the home in which she grew up, at 7 Haynes Street, Maynard, MA. She was the daughter of Bertha Amelda Wall, a high school mathematics teacher from Marlboro; and Frank S. Fearns, a Maynard native and pharmacist, who owned Fearns Pharmacy which later became Manning Pharmacy. Alice had two siblings: a brother, Edward Fearns, and a sister, Frances Fearns.
Alice was elected Class Vice President and graduated from Maynard High in 1930. She attended Boston University School of Liberal Arts and graduated in 1934. She began teaching English at Maynard High in 1935 and in 1940 took time off to get married to the Maynard High Principal, Leo Mullin. Alice and Leo had eight children: Edward (B. 1942), Leo (B. 1943), John (B. 1945), Joe (B. 1947), Walter (B. 1948), Peter (B. 1950), Mary (B. 1951), and Bill (B. 1953). In 1966, she returned, teaching English, and Latin, at MHS until 1972.
Like her husband Leo, Alice somehow found time to become an elected official in Maynard’s Town Government and served on the Maynard Public Library Board of Trustees from 1978-1981. After retiring as a Trustee, she was appointed as Chair of the Maynard Library’s Fundraising Committee in 2000 in advance of the securing financing to build the new Maynard Public Library in the former Roosevelt Elementary School on Nason Street.
Alice died at the age of 92, on August 15, 2005, at home in the room in which she was born.
Leo Francis Mullin:
Leo F. Mullin was born on July 3, 1910, in the home personally built by his father, James Mullin at 199 Main Street in Maynard. Kate and Jim had five children: Walter (B. 1902), Alice (B. 1904), Mildred (B. 1907), Leo (B. 1910), and James Maley (B. 1915).
Leo graduated from Maynard High School in 1928 and Fordham University in 1933. After graduation, he began teaching English at Maynard High. He also began working toward his master’s degree in education, nights at Boston College. He also joined the Maynard Drama Society, and began acting, singing, and dancing in plays and musicals. Leo completed his master's in 1940, and eventually moved up from teaching to become Assistant Principal of MHS from 1941-1943, and then Principal from 1943-1945. He became Auditor for the State of Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxation from 1946-1974. He also successfully ran for Maynard Selectman from 1949-1954. He was a member of the building committee for the Memorial Gym on Summer Street which opened in 1955.
In the 1960s, Leo became more active in Maynard civic and charitable organizations. He often served as Chair or President at times, of the following:
- The Maynard PTA
- The Maynard Band Parents
- The Maynard Booster Club
- He personally decided to create and organize the Maynard Community Chest
- He became a Board Member of the Maynard Co-op
- He joined the Maynard Council on Aging and assisted in its “Meals on Wheels” program
- While continuing to support the Maynard Drama Society, he intermittently continued acting in plays
- He became a Member of the Maynard Centennial Committee, and personally organized its All-Class Reunion Dinner at the Maynard Elks.
After 1972, Leo and Alice both had a more than well-deserved, 100% retirement, and they had 19 grandchildren’s names and birthdays to remember, and to visit; and 8 children and their spouses to visit; and their final years, in Maynard, were completely relaxing, peaceful, and fulfilling.
Leo passed away in 1993.
Photos:
1. Alice and Leo ca 1990
2. Alice - MHS Glee Club 1929
3. Alice - MHS Band 1929
4. Alice - MHS Senior Portrait 1930
5. Leo - MHS Screech Owl Staff 1928
6. Leo - MHS Screech Owl Staff 1928
7. Board of Selectman at Middlesex County National Bank Celebration 1952 (l-r) Leo Mullin, chairman, Joseph P. Dineen, and William Bain
8. Leo - Co-Op Board of Directors 1966
9. Leo - Maynard Council on Aging 1977
10. Mullin Family 1967: (l-r)
Back: Leo Jr., Alice, Leo Sr., John, Ed
Front: Walter, Joe, Bill, Peter, Mary
Date
1910-1993
1912-2005
1912-2005
Contributor
This narrative (edited) was written by Tom Sheridan and Joe Mullin.
Identifier
1999.1181
1999.1254
1999.1723
1999.1739
2010.36
2022.257
2024.188
2024.191
2024.192
2024.193
1999.1254
1999.1723
1999.1739
2010.36
2022.257
2024.188
2024.191
2024.192
2024.193
Format
2 color photo copies 4 x 5.5 in, 2 B&W photo copies 4 x 6 in, 2 B&W photo copies 4 x 5 in, 1 B&W photo copy 3 x 4.25 in, 1 sepia tone photo copy 4 x 5.25 in, 1 sepia tone photo copy 3.75 x 6 in, 1 sepia tone photo copy 3.25 x 3.25 in
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Storage
PB76
SU18-7
SU18-7