Former Alderman at Large and City Solicitor is remembered

On March 10, 2010, in Latest News, by The News Staff

(pictured left to right)Mike Capuano, Gene Brune and Paul Haley

By Julia Fairclough

His
friends remember when Paul Haley would give out ice cream to children
and seniors on the fourth of July, or play the piano for city
functions; another side to the former Somerville Alderman and City
Solicitor who fought fiercely for his causes, and who died following a
battle with lung cancer on February 27.

That was back in the
days when the Aldermen honored a tradition of presenting ice cream to
children and seniors in their wards during the popular summer holiday.

"I
have warm feelings in my heart for him, and some wonderful memories,"
said childhood friend and Alderman at Large Jack Connolly, who grew up
in Somerville with Haley. "Paul had a great way of softening a
situation, so everyone around him felt comfortable…He was quite a
political figure here in Somerville, and certainly had an impact on the
city."

Haley, a Somerville native, died at the age of 60 in
Hillsboro, NH, where he had relocated (and served as Selectman until
2009) in the mid 1980s.

Haley was elected Alderman-at-large in
Somerville in 1972, and served until 1976. His father, Paul M., was
also an Alderman in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1979, Haley ran against
incumbent mayor Thomas August, as well as Michael Capuano and Gene
Brune.

Brune said the mayoral race against August came at a time
when Somerville residents were ready to vote in a new face at City
Hall. Brune, Capuano and Haley had agreed that they would endorse
whichever of the three was nominated in the primary. After Brune won
the race, he invited Haley to be City Solicitor.

Haley deftly
handled the role and helped Brune through some challenging times in the
early 1980s, including the worst chemical spill in the city's history
and Proposition 2 ¬Ω, Brune said. Education and public safety weighed
heavily on peoples' minds back then, and Haley also assisted with those
causes. And he did so with an affable personality and warm touch.

"He had this ability to make people laugh, and was a real charmer," Brune said.

Frank
Mancini, who served as Ward 3 Alderman when Haley was Alderman at
Large, said that Haley was tenacious when it came to following up on a
cause.

"He always got the ball over the finish line," said
Mancini, who has since moved to Swampscott and is the president and CEO
of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents. "Whatever issue
was important to him, he never let go until it was resolved."

Haley
was born June 2, 1949, in Somerville. Connolly and Haley attended St.
Cement's High School in Medford together. Haley was two years older,
and graduated in the class of 1969.

"He was the funniest and
smartest guy, even back then he was compassionate and bright," Connolly
said, adding that Haley was class officer in 1967. When Haley attended
Boston University, he was president of the student government, Connolly
said. Haley went on to earn his law degree from the New England School
of law. He was in private practice and later specialized in criminal
law.

Haley joined the state bicentennial committee in 1975, and
was one of the speakers. He delivered a brilliant speech about the
civil war history-of which Somerville is rich-that was rich with facts,
Connolly recalled.

Haley was also a great piano player, who was "as quick with his fingers as he was with his words," Connolly said.

Though
Haley's memory is ingrained in Connolly's heart, he also has a
permanent memory of his longtime friend. At one point, Haley owned a
home as investment property and convinced Connolly that purchasing real
estate would be a wise investment. So in 1974 Haley sold Connolly (when
he was the tender age of 23) a home he owned, which Connolly lives in
to this day.