A Life Story

Joseph Eugene Mahany, age 87, died on June 3, 2026, at home surrounded by his family. Joe was born in Savannah in 1938 to Hugh G. “Flapper” Mahany (Frogtown area Savannah) and Freda Matthews Mahany (Black Creek, GA) and grew up in the Warren Square and Eastside sections of town. Joe had a great life with a remarkable memory of the many places and characters and events that made Savannah and the Islands unique and hilarious in the old days. When you live to 87, you outlive most of your friends and family, but Joe recounted their stories often and they bring a smile to our faces all the time. In these stories, they continue to live in our hearts. Joe was a failed alligator hunter, electrician’s apprentice, paper plant worker, dock worker, bricklayer, telephone lineman, banker, teacher, school counselor, school principal, government auditor, county politician, slowest race car driver on the planet, accountant, cattle rancher, Irish racehorse owner….and we might be missing a few. In all of these, he brought his own unique way and found great humor in every one of them. He is survived by Joan – his wife of 63 years; his sister; two sons and daughter-in-law; four grandchildren, and a few old friends who are grateful for his long life and the many, many laughs he leaves behind. He has our vote for greatest life ever lived….but of course, we are very biased. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist or Benedictine Military School.