Bridgeton, ME

Attorney J. Joseph Gilligan, age 84, of Bridgeton, Maine, formerly of Salem, husband of the late Rosemary D. (Welch) Gilligan died Sunday evening, April 18, 2011 in Hunt Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Danvers.

Born in Salem the son of the late James and Madeline (Currier) Gilligan, he was raised and educated in Salem. Following his graduation from Salem High School, in the Class of 1944 he received his Degree from Suffolk University and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar.

For over 20 years, Mr. Gilligan served as the Essex County Law Librarian while also maintaining his own private law practice until retiring in 1992 and moving to Bridgeton, ME.

An avid, skier, Red Sox fan and golfer, he was a longtime member of Salem Country Club and enjoyed to travel.

Mr. Gilligan is survived by four children and nine grandchildren, Kevin and his wife Christine Gilligan and their children Victoria and Trevor of Marblehead, Salem Police Department Captain Brian Gilligan and his wife Donna and their children Jack and McKenna of Salem, Meghan and her husband Michael Persson and their children Cory, Zachary, and Spencer of Danvers and Joe and his wife Jen Gilligan and their children Mallory, and Jared of Beverly.

He was predeceased by a sister Joan Doda.

His funeral will be held on Thursday at 9:15 AM from the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., (cor of North St.) Salem to be followed by a services at 10:AM in the Immaculate Conception Church, 15 Hawthorne Blvd., Salem. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 8:00PM. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Salem. For online guest book or additional information please call 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.