John H. Mulholland

It is with great sadness that the family of John H. Mulholland, known to all except his doctors as “Bert,” announces his passing in Fort Myers, Fla. on June 13, 2018.

Bert was born in Saginaw, Mich. on Feb. 20, 1935, and attended high school in Danville, Ill., where he was on the swim team and editor of the student newspaper. He attended the University of Illinois, where he studied mechanical engineering and business, and was an active member of ΔΚE fraternity, graduating in 1957.

He received his Juris Doctorate in 1961 from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and practiced patent law in Cleveland, Ohio for 20 years, before moving to Connecticut, where he worked as in-house patent counsel for Champion Paper and then for ABB. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1972. During his years in the Cleveland area, he was president of the Westlake Kiwanis Club, on the Westlake school board and Westlake Methodist Church board, and a season ticket holder for the Browns.

Upon retirement, Bert and his wife, Sue, extended their summer cottage on Island View Lane in Greenport, L.I., N.Y. to provide a comfortable home with space for all the family to visit, though they spent many of the winters in Fort Myers. Bert indulged in his lifelong interests in boating, fishing and golf, and was an avid fan of the New York Mets. He was a member of the Peconic Bay Power Squadron for many years and of Cedars Men’s Golf Club. In addition, Bert founded the Salmon Creek Trout Fishing Club in 1967 and attended the annual camping extravaganza for 48 consecutive years.

Bert leaves behind his beloved wife of 60 years, Susan, (née Horn), two daughters: Patti Murray-Smith of Canterbury, England, (Rob) and Cathy Richard of Southport, N.C.; one son, Jeff, of Manhattan, N.Y. (Sharon); six cherished grandchildren; two adorable great-grandchildren; his sister, Jaclyn Krapf of Danville, Ill., and three nephews.

A short service of remembrance will be held at the family’s beach property in Greenport on Saturday, July 28, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Peter Kelly of First Presbyterian Church of Southold.

Donations in his memory may be made to the excellent and caring work of Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908.