Former City Councilor, One-Time Mayor Paul Barrett Dies at 75

Paul Barrett, a former city councilor in the 1970s and 1980s who also once served as Peabody's mayor for four months, died earlier this week after a lengthy illness. He was 75.

Barrett's time in the corner office was between the administrations of Nicholas Mavroules and Peter Torigian in 1979 -- he served from that January to April as Acting Mayor until Torigian took office.

Barrett's obituary below is courtesy of Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home.

Visiting hours will be held at the funeral home at 82 Lynn St. Thursday from 4-8 p.m. A funeral service will also be held there Friday at 11 a.m. and burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery.


"Paul F. Barrett son of the late Albert and Lillian (Ross) Barrett entered into rest on Tuesday, October 22ndfollowing a lengthy illness. Paul was the husband of his late and beloved wife Priscilla (Burt) Barrett. He leaves five sons and their wives: Steve and Jane of Endwell, NY, Jeffrey and Lisa of Lynnfield, Brian and Amy, Kevin and Beth, and Matthew and Erica, all of Peabody, along with his 17 grandchildren. He also leaves his sister Geraldine Pearson of Peabody, his two brothers and their wives, Robert and Maureen Barrett of Lynnfield, and Charles and Marion of Palm Bay, FL. Additionally, he leaves his sisters in law Cathy Barrett of Lynn and Peggy Barrett of Clearwater, FL, his beloved aunt Magdalene Ross of Saugus, and many nieces and nephews. Paul was predeceased by his brothers Albert, Daniel, and John.

"Mr. Barrett was educated in the Lynn Public Schools and was a 1956 graduate of Lynn Classical High School. He earned a BSE degree from Salem State College and a graduate degree from Boston College.

"For twenty years Paul was an English instructor at Cobbett Junior High School and then at Lynn Classical until his retirement in 1999, culminating 38 years of service. He was a class advisor at Classical for ten years and taught English to foreign-born citizens for ten years.

"Paul served on the Peabody City Council from 1976-1989 as councilor of Ward One and then as Councilor-at-Large. He served as Peabody’s acting mayor between the administrations of Nicholas Mavroules and Peter Torigian. As councilor he served primarily as Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee. Following his council service, he served briefly as a member of Peabody’s Planning Board. His most recent involvement was tending a flower garden at the West Branch Library, as part of the Peabody Beautification Project. The garden serves as a memorial to his wife Priscilla, who received several awards for educational gardens and for whom an annual award is given in her name.

"Paul’s interests included attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, travels with his wife, gardening and amateur cooking. He especially enjoyed his family and following the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.

"His funeral service will be held on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Donations may be made in his name to the Pride in Peabody Adopt an Island Program, C/O Mary Bellevance, Office of the Mayor, 24 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA."