Katherine Clark: “Today I rise to honor my constituent, friend, and mentor, Joe Lawless. Joe loved his home city of Malden, Massachusetts…”

“Today I rise to honor my constituent, friend, and mentor, Joe Lawless. Joe loved his home city of Malden, Massachusetts, and his city loved him. He was a longtime supporter of the Irish American Club and of The Immigrant Learning Center. He served Malden on the Library Board of Trustees, the Housing Authority, and as deputy mayor. But Joe's legacy of generosity is best described by what he did behind the scenes. I remember Joe, while suffering from debilitating back pain, purchasing gallons of ice cream with all the fixings to serve sundaes for seniors. And catching a ride with Joe only to find the back seat of his car and the entire trunk filled with food to distribute to neighbors in need. Joe was a natural teacher. While I was never fortunate enough to sit in his classrooms at Boston College or Suffolk University, he taught me so much. He was the rare friend who made everyone whose lives he touched feel seen and appreciated, and we will all strive to live the wisdom and lessons in friendship, integrity, and service he gave us. Thank you, my friend. Rest in peace and love. ____________________”