Gossips has learned that Eileen Halloran died on Sunday, June 23.
Halloran will be remembered by many for her regular brisk walks around Hudson. When she was city treasurer, she walked back and forth to work, between her home on Bayley Boulevard and City Hall. During her years as alderman and after, her walks became more wide ranging, taking her down to the river. Along the way, she would often stop on Green Street and on Warren Street to chat with constituents and friends. Once, while walking my dog, I met up with her just after she had climbed the Second Street stairs from Cross Street to Allen Street. She acknowledged she had climbed the stairs to challenge herself; I marveled she had done it without breaking a sweat or breathing heavily from the exertion.
Halloran served Hudson conscientiously and with integrity and compassion. She was unafraid to stand by what she believed was right and best for Hudson, even when that drew the ire of other aldermen. In 2019, after a particularly rancorous Council meeting, Halloran declared her intention not to run for reelection. But her sense of duty prevailed, and she decided to run again after all.
Eileen Halloran's obituary, with information about visitation and services, can be found here.
A strong and principled public servant, and a nice lady, too. Definitely a loss for Hudson. Condolences to her family.
ReplyDeleteThis is sad news. I thought she was a lovely lady and appreciated all the work she did as treasurer and alderman - she passed our store almost everyday and it was always a delight to chat with her. Condolences to her family and friends.
ReplyDeleteThis comment was submitted by email from Susan Troy:
ReplyDeleteEileen represented the “better angels” of public service in Hudson.
To her core, Eileen was not just a cheerleader for Hudson, she was a protector of Hudson, always working diligently and without fanfare. Accessible to anyone and everyone.
Eileen didn’t spend time thinking about how she could manipulate the Council while she was City Treasurer, or as a seated Member, to her benefit; she didn’t spend time scheming about how to make things work for her personal enrichment, two, three, five years down the road. Eileen spent her time carrying out her duties competently, and working collaboratively, to solve the problems in front of her.
Her end goal was always a better Hudson for everyone. . . not a better Hudson for herself.
There are more honest, definitely “more Hudson” ways to say this, but Eileen would want me to be polite, insist that I be polite, so here goes: Eileen wasn’t on every elected male officeholder’s Christmas card list, nor was she on every male department head’s Christmas card list. (Up close and personal observations, in real time, too many times.) But that was because Eileen was smart and savvy, educated and professional, ethical, honorable. Tough. There was no bullying Eileen.
Finally, Eileen was far more gracious about, far more patient with, and far more forgiving of ignorance and stupidity, bad manners and ugly behavior, and egotistical nonsense, in (and out of) the civic arena, than I could ever hope to be.
Eileen Howe Halloran was the best of Hudson.
I didn't know of her involvement with the town but I know she was super nice - I saw her almost every day while walking my pooch and we had arunning gag that she was a rainmaker because many times when I saw her it was raining, So sorry about her passing.
ReplyDeleteEileen was a very pleasant woman who was upbeat and carried a smile. We have had some enjoyable conversations over the years as we passed by one another on the street. She will be truly missed.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of Eileen Halloran.
ReplyDeleteWe met over a shared concern for our city, and our streets.
I was often more enthusiasm than discipline.
She was always patient with me, and encouraging.
II felt like I had really made it, when I started we began to greet each other from across the street on our walks. It was always a highlight.
(It was also nice to feel like I wasn’t the only one walking around all the time.)
I agree with what has been said.
She was the best of Hudson.
A lovely woman ...
ReplyDelete