Library honors two outstanding Maldonians

  On Friday, March 31, the Trustees of the Malden Public Library dedicated two new study/meeting rooms to longtime Library Trustees: Dr. George Holland, Jr. and Joseph F. Lawless III. The new spaces were made possible through a grant from the Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation. Dr. Holland passed away in 2016 and Mr. Lawless passed away in 2020. Some special guests in attendance at the dedication ceremony – Congresswoman Katherine Clark, Mayor Gary Christenson, State Representative Steven Ultrino, Lenny Iovino, C. Hank Kezer, Laura Hodgin – along with members of the Trustees of the Malden Public Library. Joe Lawless’ widow, Fran Lawless, attended via Zoom.

  Dr. George Holland, Jr. was a Trustee of the Library from 1985 to 2016. Born in Malden, Dr. Holland graduated from Malden High School in 1955. He continued his education at Boston College on a four-year Presidential Scholarship with a B.S. in Physics and a M.S. in Physics. He then went to Yale University, where he worked in the Nuclear Structure Laboratory and at the same time completed his doctoral degree from Yale University in Nuclear Physics. After graduating from Yale, he returned to Malden, where he taught math, and he was appointed the Director of Math from 1973 to 1976. He then became the Assistant Superintendent of Schools from 1976 to 1984, and then he became the Superintendent of Schools from 1984 to 2000 in the city that he loved. Dr. Holland was an active supporter for education and played a major role in expanding the library with the building of the library’s 1996 Park Street addition. Always a library advocate, he took part in the Library’s Triple Threat Trivia Fundraiser – as the event’s Challenge Master.

  Joseph F. Lawless III was a Trustee of the Library from 1996 to 2020. A lifelong resident of Malden, Lawless was a graduate of Malden Catholic High School. He graduated from Boston College, receiving his undergraduate degree and his master’s in political science. For many years he taught political science as an invited professor at Boston College and Suffolk University. Joseph lived his life serving others. He was the past Deputy Mayor serving under Malden Mayor James Conway, a former Deputy Director of the Malden Housing Authority, a board member at the Immigrant Learning Center and a board member at Mystic Valley Elder Services. A lover of all things political, Joe served for more than 20 years on the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee and as Chair of the Malden Democratic City Committee as well.

  The two meeting rooms, each accommodating up to three people, can be reserved online or by calling the Malden Public Library. Users must have an active library card and be in good standing and a resident of Malden. For more information contact the Malden Public Library at 781-324-0218 or visithttps://maldenpubliclibrary.org/services/meeting-rooms/