Ms. Maureen Phelan, 68, of Salem and formerly of Lynn, died peacefully Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House after a valiant struggle with a long illness. She is survived by her father, Dr. John V. (Jack) Phelan, Jr., and by her three brothers and their spouses: John V. Phelan III and his wife, Mary of Swampscott; Mark M. Phelan and his wife, Robin of Boxford; and Matthew C. Phelan and his wife, Erolynn of Swampscott. In addition, she is survived by eleven nieces and nephews, John IV, Erinn, Michael, Tiffany, Patrick, Catherine, Aileen, Caroline and Michaela Phelan, Kimberly (Phelan) Nothnagel, and Helene (Phelan) Larsen; grand nieces and nephews, Susanna and Charley Nothnagel, and John V and Stella Phelan and numerous cousins and extended family in Greater Boston.
Maureen was born August 8, 1950 in Lynn, the daughter of Jack and the late Eleanor (McHugo) Phelan. She attended Lynn schools and graduated from Saint Mary’s High in 1968 and graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in Anthropology in 1974 and Vermont Law School in 1977. While at law school Maureen was awarded best brief and best team presentation in the Moot Court competition and was named to the Moot Court Advisory Board as well as the Board of Trustees of Vermont Law School. She was also a founding member of the school’s chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and was instrumental in the creation of the Women’s Law Group.
Maureen became an accomplished criminal appellate lawyer. As an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Colorado she argued numerous high-profile major felony cases before state and federal courts, including before the US Supreme Court. In Colorado v. Spring, the United States Supreme Court agreed with Maureen’s argument and overturned both the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court resulting in a clarification of Miranda rights. In 1990 she was invited to join the Attorney General’s office of the newly formed Federated States of Micronesia. Maureen was instrumental in drafting new policies and regulations for the nascent country and was chief legal counsel for President Bailey Olter and the Micronesian delegation to the RIO-92 Earth Summit, the largest group of world leaders ever assembled. As a result of the delegation’s success at the Summit, Maureen was chosen to head the FSM Presidential Task Force on Environment and was a lead member of the Framework Convention on Climate Change at the United Nations. She finished her career at the US Virgin Islands Department of Justice in St Thomas as the chief criminal appeals attorney arguing hundreds of cases before the Virgin Islands District Court and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Maureen was an adventurous world traveler throughout her lifetime. Her wanderlust caused her to lead a somewhat nomadic existence. She studied in Japan and Paris and finally used her Anthropology degree in an archeological dig in the south of Spain. She even helped levitate the Pentagon. Among the places she called home were Hawaii, California, Vermont, Maine, Colorado, Washington DC, Micronesia, St Thomas USVI and Paris. Maureen created and nurtured strong bonds in her travels which lasted all her days. She enjoyed reading and writing, and was an ardent correspondent with her many friends. As evidence of her indefatigable cheery spirit, when she received confirmation that she had from weeks to months to live, her immediate response was to invite all her nieces on an ocean cruise to Bermuda. Her warm laugh and loving soul was loved by many, not just her family. She is irreplaceable. She will be greatly missed.
A wake will be held from the CUFFE-MCGINN FUNERAL HOME, 157 Maple St. LYNN on Friday, September 21 from 4:00PM through 8:00PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. A celebration of Maureen’s life will be held at the Gannon Country Club at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Puppies Behind Bars, 263 West 38th Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10018, or via website listed below:
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