Hugh B. Mulvaney Jr.
1929 – 2026
Hugh B. Mulvaney Jr., age 96, passed away at his home in Chalfont, Pennsylvania on June 5, 2026. A loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, the eldest son of the late Hugh B. Mulvaney Sr. and Sara Mulvaney. He was predeceased by his brother, John D. Mulvaney and his wife of 51 years, Danielle Waldinger Mulvaney.
After graduating from Plainfield High School in 1947, Hugh joined the Courier News as part of the advertising staff. He entered the United States Army in 1951 and went on to serve for 25 years, retiring in 1976 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He was a graduate of the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and the Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky. His military career included a tour of duty in Korea (1952) as a platoon leader and instructor with the 40th Infantry Division, two tours in Vietnam (1964 and 1968) as a staff advisor to the Vietnamese Army Infantry School and as a Troop Advisor with the Vietnamese Armored Cavalry Squadron, duty with the Allied Staff in Berlin (1961) as a French interpreter-translator, service as Commanding Officer of the student company at the Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey and service as an Olympic coordinator at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. He holds the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge.
It was during his posting with the Allied Staff in Berlin that Hugh met and married Danielle Waldinger, who was then serving in the French Army as part of the top-level advisory group overseeing the US, French, and British sectors of the city. Together they made their home on several US Army bases in the United States and Germany while raising their six daughters.
Hugh was an avid reader and writer with a love of languages — he was fluent in French, German, and Spanish. He appeared as a contestant on two television game shows, Who, What or Where (1971) and Jeopardy! (1992).
Following his military retirement, Hugh worked as a technical writer for several telecommunications companies, including Bellcore and AT&T. In his later years he enjoyed traveling with Danielle and continued writing, contributing to local newspapers as a stringer covering community events.
He is survived by his six daughters: Nadine Mulvaney of Dresher, PA; Catherine Piatak of Abington, PA; Corinne Mulvaney-Terchek (Robert) of Lansdale, PA; Patricia Sukovich (David) of Ringoes, NJ; Sylvie Mulvaney of Abington, PA; and Valerie Schultz (Edward) of Starkville, MS; eleven grandchildren: Christopher, Catherine, Lauren, and Danielle (Haskins) Sukovich; Robert and Nicholas Terchek; Patrick Mulvaney and Emilie (Thompson) Piatak; Jackson, Daniel, and Emma (Ballenger) Schultz; and four great-grandchildren: Sam, Mallory, Max and Kira. He is also survived by niece Maureen Mulvaney of Boonton, NJ and nephew Kevin Mulvaney of Basking Ridge, NJ.
Relatives and friends are invited at attend Hugh’s Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 19, 2026, at St. Maria Goretti Roman Catholic Church, 1601 Derstine Rd., Hatfield, PA 19440, where the family will receive friends, in Church prior to Mass beginning at 10:30 AM. Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.