MAWL Holds Gala Fundraiser for Sheila McGovern Scholarship

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MAWL Holds Gala Fundraiser for Sheila McGovern Scholarship
By Catherine Sinnott

On November 17th 2004, the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers remembered one of its own, the late Judge Sheila McGovern, with a gala fundraiser for the scholarship named in her honor for deserving law school students. More than 100 guests gathered recently at the home of Judge (ret.) Mary Muse, because, according to Judge Muse, “Sheila would like this in her honor, because Sheila loved to party!”

Judge Muse told guests that she met Judge McGovern when she joined MAWL and Sheila McGovern was president of the organization. Judge McGovern was president of MAWL in 1968-69. Judge Muse, who with her husband Attorney Robert Muse, has eleven children, said that Judge McGovern was very encouraging to her. “She was a great model, a great teacher and great fun,” she said.

Judge Mary Muse most remembered Judge McGovern for her kindness, and for the attitude which she brought to the bench, which was “Let me help you,” a motto she applied to all who came before her. The judiciary was well represented at the event by Judges Beverly Boorstein, Nancy Gould, Elizabeth Dolan, Dorothy Gibson and Christopher Muse. According to organizer Attorney Barbara Senecal, the event netted over $10,000 for the Sheila McGovern Memorial Scholarship, which goes yearly to law students in Massachusetts law schools entering their second or third year of law school.

MAWL, which is currently celebrating its centennial, is the first association of women lawyers established in the United States.