The Concord Monitor (New Hampshire)
GILFORD, N.H. — Chief Michael D. Mooney, 63, of Morrill Street, died Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia.
Chief Mooney was born Aug. 10, 1944, in Laconia, the son of Ronald and Beatrice (Thompson) Mooney. He was raised in Belmont and graduated from Belmont High School in 1964.
Chief Mooney served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1964 to 1967, serving as a military police machine gunner on a helicopter and was also a dog handler.
Chief Mooney resided in Belmont and later moved to Gilford, where he lived for the past 26 years. In 1961, he was a call fighter for the town of Belmont and then went on to work for the Laconia Fire Department in 1968. In 1971, he became a firefighter for the town of Gilford. He was named lieutenant in 1973 and proceeded up the ranks to captain in 1976. In 1979 he became fire chief. He retired in September 2005, after 26 years as chief.
Chief Mooney was past president and member of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs, past president and member of the New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs, a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, a member and past president of the Lakes Region Mutual Aid, chairman of the New Hampshire Board of Fire Control for 15 years, and forest fire warden for 26 years.
Chief Mooney was awarded a Medal of Valor from the Manchester Union Leader and the International Association of Firefighters Local 1153 for the lifesaving rescue of a woman in the McIntyre Block Fire of 1969.
Chief Mooney was grand marshal of the 2005 Gilford Old Home Day Parade. He was a member and past president of the Belknap County Sportsmen’s Association, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Laconia Post No. 1670 and the American Legion Wilkins-Smith Post No. 1.
Chief Mooney enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching the Red Sox and the Patriots, and gardening.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Jennifer Mooney of Gilford; two grandchildren, Jacob and Emily Mooney, both of Gilford; four brothers, Mark Mooney and his wife, Ruth, of Belmont, Allan Mooney and his wife, Margaret, of South Carolina, Tom Mooney and his wife, Barbara, Mooney of Florida and Peter Mooney and his wife, Suzie, of Massachusetts; three sisters, Nellie Grant of Tilton, Colleen Amsden and her husband, Roger, of Gilford, Kathleen Ordway and her husband, Wyman, of Andover; his companion, Marie Swain, of Laconia; and several nieces and nephews.
Chief Mooney was predeceased by his parents; and by two sisters, Linda Cofske and Joanne Mooney.
Calling hours will be held tomorrow from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 30 Church St., Laconia, by the Rev. Gary Kosmowski, pastor of the church.
Burial with military honors will follow at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Route 3, Boscawen.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Gilford Fireman’s Relief Association, 39 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford 03249; Community Health & Hospice Inc., 780 N. Main St., Laconia 03246; or to the charity of one’s choice.
Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home in Laconia is in charge of the arrangements. For more information, log on to wilkinsonbeane.com.
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