Obituary of Royce A. Mulholland

Royce Anthony Mulholland died at home on March 3, leaving a loving legacy in the communities he deeply touched in New York City and beyond. He was 56. Royce had a big heart and an incandescent smile that he employed generously in Douglas Manor, a neighborhood where he was raised, resided and loved dearly. Whether he was raising money for the new dock project or officiating at the annual July 4th track and field games for local kids, Royce was proud of his friends and the community that they had built together. His desire to make the world a better place was not limited to his hometown. He was a passionate advocate for affordable housing. His company, The Mulholland Group, developed, managed and was lauded for creating modern, multi-family housing in upstate New York as well as in Texas and Virginia. Royce, a childhood friend of former Governor Mario Cuomo's daughter Maria, worked on his 1982 Campaign for Governor. He was a natural politician, serving as class president at St. Francis Preparatory School, and he relished the challenge of going to work for a candidate who was then 24 points behind Ed Koch in the polls. He worked tirelessly for the manager of the campaign, the current New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. After Royce’s graduation from Ohio Wesleyan, he went to work for Governor Cuomo. It was there he first learned of his love for housing and helping those less fortunate that showed him the direction that shaped the balance of his life's work. Royce was a passionate man with big appetites. He thought he had the coaching acumen to bring Notre Dame Football another national title. His ardor for politics could sometimes lead to noisy arguments but when they were over everyone was a bit more knowledgeable. Royce was a longtime supporter of Providence House – Brooklyn, a non- profit shelter run by the Sisters of St. Joseph to help transition women who are homeless and recently released from prison back into society. He was a loving husband and father who embodied and believed deeply that “the value of a man is not measured by what he does for himself to make his life easier, but measured by what he does for others to make their lives easier.” He is survived by his wife Lauretta; daughters, Noelle, Shannon, Annie and Blair; and his son Royce Jr. He is survived by his mother Dorothy Mulholland, brothers’ Sean and Josh; and sister Raissa Petracca. Uncle Royce will be missed by the more than 40 nieces and nephews on the Mulholland and Kennedy sides. In repose at the Fairchild Funeral Chapel, 1570 Northern Blvd., Manhasset on Tuesday from 2-9pm. Funeral Mass , Wednesday, 10:45am at St Anastasia R.C. Church, Douglaston. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Providence House – Brooklyn,www.providencehouse.org. the New York Athletic Club’s Athletes Fund,www.nyac.org