Patricia Trainor O'Malley

HAVERHILL - Patricia Trainor O’Malley passed away in her sleep early Saturday morning, November 23 at her home in North Andover.

Pat was born in Haverhill, February 12, 1937 to Peter and Marie (Donovan) Trainor. She grew up on Vernon Street in Bradford.

Pat graduated from Merrimack College, where she also made many life-long friends, and sang in the Chorale. Music was always integral to Pat’s life, and after college she continued to sing with the Merrimack Alumni Chorale and the Valley Singers.

While doing graduate study at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., she met Jim O’Malley from Boston. They were married in Sacred Heart Church, Bradford, in June 1960. They soon moved to the Ward Hill section of Haverhill and raised three children, Kathleen, Terrence, and Patricia.

Pat continued her graduate studies at Boston College and started teaching at Rivier College, Northern Essex Community College, and Merrimack College. Completing her PhD. In 1975, she joined the faculty at Bradford College. She taught a variety of history courses at Bradford until it closed in 2000.

Pat was a well-loved member of the faculty. When two of her children entered Bradford, many students started to refer to her as “Dr. Mom.”

Pat wrote many books on local history. She was also a member of, and worked for, Bay State Historical League and American Association for State and Local History.

She published “So Far From Home, Letters …” in 2021, a collection of letters with her annotations. The physical letters are now in the Burns Library at Boston College.

Pat is survived by her children, Kathleen, Terrence (Melissa Wagner-O’Malley), Patricia, her granddaughter Claire O’Malley, her brother John Trainor of Florida, and her sister in-law Maureen Trainor. She was predeceased by her husband, parents, and brothers Kevin Trainor, Brendan Trainor, and Daniel Trainor. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 29, in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 S. Main Street, Haverhill from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Catholic Funeral Rites will be offered graveside in St. James Cemetery, Haverhill at 12:30 PM. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com

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