Salem….


Attorney Owen J. Meegan, age 74, husband of Marie (Paradis) Meegan of Salem died early Thursday morning at home.

Born in New York City, NY the son of the late Edward and Rose (Bleha) Meegan, he was graduated from St. Columbkille High School, Brighton in the Class of 1951. After receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Boston College in the Class of 1955 Attorney Meegan earned his Doctorate of Jurisprudence (JD) at the Catholic University of America.


For his 50th Class reunion in 2005, Attorney Meegan described himself as follows: " In Boston College's class of 1955 only a few of us majored in chemistry. We were good friends and always worked to help each other in school and afterwards. My parents, Ed and Rose Meegan, moved from Brighton to Rochester, New York with my sister Carolyn, (BC '65, married to Paul Huard of the same class). Jobs were tough to find in Rochester in 1955. A classmate, Tom Tully, called another classmate, John Tiernan, and told him the U.S. Patent Office was hiring trainee Examiners. John called me, and we applied to the Patent Office. Both of us were hired. Soon after, I was working on a law degree at Catholic University. Eventually I returned to Massachusetts.


Another classmate, John MacDonald, married Patricia Butler. John Tiernan and I attended the wedding where I met Marie Paradis, a cousin of the bride. She was a teacher and a graduate of Anna Maria College. Marie and I began dating, fell in love, and were married in 1965. We were looking to buy a house when Pat and John said they were putting their house on the market, so we bought our first home from them. On major matters, I "get by with a little help from my friends."

Many years later, I have four grown sons, Jeffrey, Daniel, (B.C. '95) Matthew, and Andrew, two daughters-in-law, Kristin, married to Andrew and YuSze, married to Jeff, one granddaughter, Christine and, of course my wonderful wife of 39 years, Marie.

Professionally, I trained for my career in the U.S. Patent Office, followed by ten years with Sylvania. I spent several years working for the federal government and in private practice before working for United Shoe Machinery in Beverly, MA. There, I became General Patent Counsel, which was a great job, running the oldest in-house international patent law department in the nation. When the company folded, I returned to private practice so as not to uproot our four sons at home. I started my own patent law firm in Salem where Marie and I still live. My law firm supported the Meegans and three other professionals for fifteen years. Now we are all retired."



Attorney Meegan was a longtime member of the Salem Rotary Club where he had been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow, and was also active with many organizations including Friends Forever and Boy Scout Troop 83 of Salem.

A former member of the City of Salem Board of Health he held memberships in both the American Intellectual Property Association and the Association of Corporate Patents Counsel.



In addition to his wife now of 43 years he is survived by his children Jeffrey Meegan and his wife YuSze of Mercer Island, WA, Daniel Meegan of Boxford, Matthew Meegan of Brighton and Andrew Meegan and his wife Kristin Mielcarz-Meegan of Salem; a close friend who is more like a son Peter Newcomb and his wife Gail of Topsfield, MA; a sister Carolyn Huard, PhD of Rockville, MD; a sister in law Jane O'Rourke of Denmark, ME; a granddaughter Christine Meegan of Mercer Island, WA and many nieces and nephews.


His funeral will be held on Monday, January 26 at 8:15 A.M. from the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St(cor of North St) Salem to be followed by a funeral Mass at 9:00A.M. in St. Anne Church, 292 Jefferson Ave., Salem. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be Sunday from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. in the funeral home Interment will be private. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Friends Forever 31 Raynes Avenue #10 Portsmouth NH 03801
or St. Joseph's Food Pantry 15 Hawthorme Blvd , Salem , MA , 01970 . For online guest book or additional information please call 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.