George W. McLaughlin

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George W. McLaughlin, 79, of Cumberland, a former Seekonk, Massachusetts, Superintendent and longtime Warwick, RI educator, died on January 25, 2015. As an educator in the Warwick schools for many years, Mr. McLaughlin served as a teacher of English and Social Studies, Department Head, Assistant Principal at Gorton Junior High School, Principal of Lockwood Junior High School and Director of Secondary Education. In 1988 he was appointed Superintendent of the Seekonk, MA schools system, a position he held until his retirement in 1993 after 35 years in public education.

After his retirement, Mr. McLaughlin continued in education as a consultant in several New England communities. He served as evaluator for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, evaluating high schools in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Mr. McLaughlin was a graduate of La Salle Academy, Providence College, and Eastern Connecticut State University. Upon graduation from Providence College he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He served as an instructor in the Officer’s Department of the former US Army Signal Corps, Fort Monmouth, NJ. After serving two years at Fort Monmouth, he returned to civilian life but continued in the active Army Reserve serving with the former 993 Signal Company, LL; the HQ, & HQ, Det, of the former 325th Signal Battalion; and the 443rd Civil Affairs Company. He left the Army Reserve with the rank of Captain.

He served on the boards of the Warwick Museum, (past president); the Friends of the Warwick Public Library, (past president), former member of the Cataract Fire Company Scholarship committee, former Vice Chairman of the Board of the former Anchor Federal Credit Union, and past Chairman of the St. Rose of Lima School Board. Mr. McLaughlin was the General Chairman of the Sts. Rose and Clement 2004 Capital Campaign raising more than 2.2 million dollars in pledges and contributions, the largest amount raised by any parish in the diocese at that time.

He was the husband of the Dorothy A. (McMahon). They had been married for 56 years. Born in Providence, the son of the late George A. and Agnes M. (Ganley) McLaughlin he had lived in Warwick for 42 years before moving to Cumberland in 2004.

Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Kevin M. McLaughlin of South Carolina, Brian P. McLaughlin and his wife, Teresa, of Windham, New Hampshire, and a daughter, Kathleen A. Hibbert, and her husband, David, of Attleboro, MA. He was the loving grandfather of Declan McLaughlin, Dr. Aevan McLaughlin Stainfield, Siobhan McLaughlin, Martin Seamus McLaughlin, Brianna Hibbert, and Sean McLaughlin.

His funeral was held on Monday, February 2, from the Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home, 1328 Warwick Avenue, Spring Green, Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Kevin’s Parish, 333 Sandy Lane, Warwick. Burial with military honors was in the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, Exeter.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Rose of Lima School, Warwick, La Salle Academy, Providence, or Home and Hospice Care of RI, would be appreciated. www.barrettandcotter.com