State Senator Ed Kennedy was honored to participate in the University of Massachusetts-Lowell’s Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2023 on Saturday, May 13. During the ceremony, Senator Kennedy had the privilege of accepting an honorary degree on behalf of the late Judge Cornelius Kiernan.
The late Judge Cornelius Kiernan was a distinguished lawyer, legislator and jurist who dedicated much of his life to his native Lowell. He was a graduate of Lowell High School and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Judge Kiernan attended Boston University and Northeastern University School of Law. He served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for 25 years, where he earned a reputation for devoted service to his constituents.
State Representative Cornelius Kiernan was instrumental in securing funding for the Lowell Connector and a boat ramp on the Merrimack River. He helped to create the Solomon Mental Health Center and he secured more than $4 million in the state budget for the nuclear center at Lowell Technological Institute — a UMass Lowell predecessor.
After leaving the Legislature, Judge Kiernan was appointed to the Lowell District Court, where he was known for his extensive legal knowledge and compassion. Judge Kiernan died in Lowell on Jan. 20, 1996.
