Arthur F. Flaherty of Scituate, Massachusetts died of heart failure early Thursday morning at his ranch in Harrison, Idaho. He was 78.

Arthur will be remembered as a devoted husband, a dedicated father, a successful attorney and businessman, and for wearing his trademark homburg hat and floral ties. Born in Worcester, MA during the great depression, Arthur learned the importance of self-reliance at a young age. He graduated from Worcester Commerce High School and earned money for college and graduate school working as a caddy at the Hyannisport Country Club and Sankaty Head Golf Club in Nantucket. When a prominent oil company executive for whom he caddied offered financial support for law school, he declined the gracious offer so as not to be beholden to anyone for the future.

Upon graduating magna cum laude from College of The Holy Cross in 1954 with a Classics degree, Arthur joined the United States Marine Corps. He served in South Korea as Combat Intelligence Officer for the First Marine Air Wing until his honorable discharge as a First Lieutenant in 1956.

Arthur joined the law firm of Rich, May & Bilodeau after graduating from Harvard Law School in 1959. He was later made partner, eventually becoming the firm's managing partner. During his tenure, the firm's name was changed to Rich, May, Bilodeau & Flaherty. As a corporate attorney, he demonstrated a significant entrepreneurial capability, partnering with his lifelong friend and business associate Roger Williams to acquire numerous Coca-Cola bottling distributorships. In the course of their partnership, Arthur and Roger created the ninth largest Coca-Cola bottling franchise in the country before its highly successful sale. Arthur is remembered by his colleagues for his sharp intellect, prodigious work habits and mentoring many of the firm's new attorneys.

Arthur retired from the practice of law in 1994 but remained actively involved in many business, charitable and family pursuits.

Until his death Arthur Flaherty served, with his son Timothy, as a director of H.L. Bouton Company, Inc., a maker of safety products to protect workers. With his son Michael, he served as a director and member of the executive committee of Pilgrim Skating Arena, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that he founded in 1974 with Jack O'Donoghue, Sr. and Edward G. Taylor. He was particularly proud of the fact that Pilgrim has given out over $930,000 of merit-based scholarships to more than 435 graduating high school students. Pilgrim continues to give out $50,000 of scholarships each year. Arthur was a significant supporter of Sisters of Divine Providence and the Sacred Heart Schools of Kingston, MA. He was also a proud and contributing member to the lay religious Order of the Knights of Malta which was founded in 1048 and is devoted to protecting the Catholic faith and assisting the poor and suffering.

After retiring, Arthur spent an increasing amount of time at his beloved ranch in northern Idaho, a property he built over 35 years from under 100 acres to almost 1,000 acres. Arthur loved the West and the enjoyment horseback riding, boating, hunting and fishing brought to his children and grandchildren.

Arthur's passion was his family. He came from a large family of 10 children and is survived by his sister Ellen Alicandro and brother Walter. While attending Harvard Law School, he met Ann (Nancy) Lang, his wife of 50 years, at a college Coca-Cola dance where he announced that one day he would marry her. They married in 1960 and were blessed with a family of 8 children in the first ten years of their marriage. In addition to his widow, Arthur is survived by his 6 sons and 2 daughters and their 7 spouses, Michael and Sarah of Hingham, MA, Timothy and Karen of Westport, MA, Brian and Kelli of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Shawn and Corinne of Kingston, MA, Mark and Lauren of Norwell, MA, Nancy and Charlie Gustin of Harrison, ID, Heather of Ogden, IA and Dennis and Ann of Cincinnati, OH; and 18 grandchildren.

Visiting hours

Visiting hours will be held at McNamara-Sparrell Funeral Home, 1 Summer St. (across from St. Anthony's Church), Cohasset, MA on Wednesday August 25 from 4-8pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Massachusetts General Hospital. Checks should be made out to MGH Heart Failure Fund and mailed to MGH Heart Failure and Transplantation Center, Attention: Marc J. Semigran, M.D., 55 Fruit Street GRB 800, Boston, MA 02114.

Service Information

The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary of The Nativity, 1 Kent St., Scituate, Harbor, MA at 10am on Thursday August 26.