McGlynn's Portrait Has a Right to be Hanging Somewhere: Perhaps Riker's Island or Leavenworth Prison, the Mayor who Ruined Public Access TV

 

By Sofia Saric, Globe Correspondent  https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=1902ebd7-da54-4dca-871b-bc5f692b9809&appid=1165

Nearly four-years after he retired as the state’s longest-serving mayor, Michael J. McGlynn returned to Medford City Hall Wednesday evening for the unveiling of his official portrait.

Community members filled Alden Memorial Chambers to celebrate McGlynn’s nearly three decades as mayor in a ceremony filled with music, memories, and family pride.

Mayor Stephanie M. Burke called McGlynn the “grandest mayor, the greatest statesman, and a gentleman,’’ during a ceremony attended by more than100 family and friends.

In 1988, McGlynn became the city’s first popularly elected mayor. Prior to that, the title was largely ceremonial, bestowed on the councilor who received the most votes in a city election. Among them was his father, the late John J. McGlynn, who served in the ’50s and ’60s.

His son was elected 14 straight times, serving for 28 years.

“Fittingly, this is the 28th picture that will be hung,’’ Burke said of the photo.

McGlynn said, he “could not be more excited’’ that his official photograph will hang on the same wall outside the chamber as those of his father and a cousin, Marilyn Catino Porreca.