The Corliss’s of Lawrence, Massachusetts
Ita McCarthy worked as a maid for wealthy families in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts – including one of the two founders of Cherry and Webb, Touraine (aka CWT) woman’s clothing stores. She met laborer James Corliss and they were married on June 29, 1924. They were both a few weeks shy of their 35th birthdays.
The Corliss’s had two son’s James and then John Michael (born November 30, 1927). During World War II, James enlisted in the army. John enlisted toward the end of the war and ended up being stationed at Nuremberg, Germany. On leave over Christmas, he visited two of his Aunts – Mrs. Bridget Condon and Mrs. Lena O’Neil and at least one of his Uncle’s in Limerick.
In February 1947, James Sr. died at age 57. With the death of their father, one of the two brothers could be discharged. John returned home and James became a career military man, reaching the rank of full Colonel before retiring.
On May 5, 1955, 27-year old John Corliss married 21-year old Rosemary Kennedy. A little over a year later on September 8, 1956, John Michael, Jr. was born. After several years John and Rosemary separated and in 1963 they divorced. Rosemary married Philip M. Walsh and had three more children: Kerry Ann, Kathleen Elaine and Joseph Timothy. John (aka, Jack) married Marguerite Conway and fathered two additional children: Deborah Marie and Denise Patricia.
Rosemary had a long banking and bookkeeping career, including position at the Arlington Trust Company, Derry Bank & Trust and Sanders Associates. In 1982, at age 48 Rosemary died of Lung Cancer and Emphysema.
John Sr. worked for Bay State Gas Company for over 35 years before retiring. Jack’s passion was politics –something he learned from his father. He was a friend and key ally of then County Councilman Paul Tsongas, helping him get elected to first Congress and then the United States Senate. He served as Paul’s congressional aide and was good friends with Governor and Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis. He was also a friend of Senator John Kerry. The long-time Chair of the Lawrence Democratic City Committee, 1989 he was named Democrat of the Year by the Greater Lawrence Democratic Party. When the city of Lawrence changed its form of government, he became the first City Councilman to represent his neighborhood. He served as Vice President and President of the Lawrence City Council, before retirement. In 1997 at the age of 70, he died of colon cancer.
The Corliss’s had two son’s James and then John Michael (born November 30, 1927). During World War II, James enlisted in the army. John enlisted toward the end of the war and ended up being stationed at Nuremberg, Germany. On leave over Christmas, he visited two of his Aunts – Mrs. Bridget Condon and Mrs. Lena O’Neil and at least one of his Uncle’s in Limerick.
In February 1947, James Sr. died at age 57. With the death of their father, one of the two brothers could be discharged. John returned home and James became a career military man, reaching the rank of full Colonel before retiring.
On May 5, 1955, 27-year old John Corliss married 21-year old Rosemary Kennedy. A little over a year later on September 8, 1956, John Michael, Jr. was born. After several years John and Rosemary separated and in 1963 they divorced. Rosemary married Philip M. Walsh and had three more children: Kerry Ann, Kathleen Elaine and Joseph Timothy. John (aka, Jack) married Marguerite Conway and fathered two additional children: Deborah Marie and Denise Patricia.
Rosemary had a long banking and bookkeeping career, including position at the Arlington Trust Company, Derry Bank & Trust and Sanders Associates. In 1982, at age 48 Rosemary died of Lung Cancer and Emphysema.
John Sr. worked for Bay State Gas Company for over 35 years before retiring. Jack’s passion was politics –something he learned from his father. He was a friend and key ally of then County Councilman Paul Tsongas, helping him get elected to first Congress and then the United States Senate. He served as Paul’s congressional aide and was good friends with Governor and Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis. He was also a friend of Senator John Kerry. The long-time Chair of the Lawrence Democratic City Committee, 1989 he was named Democrat of the Year by the Greater Lawrence Democratic Party. When the city of Lawrence changed its form of government, he became the first City Councilman to represent his neighborhood. He served as Vice President and President of the Lawrence City Council, before retirement. In 1997 at the age of 70, he died of colon cancer.
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