Maurice Saunders

We sadly announce the passing of Maurice "Beamish" Saunders, beloved husband, father and grandfather at 6am on October 25th 2023 in Port Charlotte, Florida at the age of 90 years. Originally from Terenure in Dublin, he spent most of his life living and working in Port Washington, New York and later retiring to Port Charlotte, Florida. He was know by all for his great story telling ability, writing style, wit and incredible sense of humour. Maurice was a very proud Irishman and every aspect of Irish history, language, culture, music, song, story and struggle for independence ran through his very heart and soul - indeed, he was the spirit of Ireland personified. His community and charity work were beyond mention - he even won "Citizen of the Year" in Port Washington, New York (despite the fact that he was not actually a citizen at the time) and Humanitarian of the Year in Long Island's, Inis Fada, Irish America society. He loved golf, GAA, fishing and 10pin bolwing, all of which he excelled at. He was an almost unsurpassed handy man and built, renovated and worked on numerous homes for many family members, friends and others throughout his life. An African proverb says that when an elder dies a library burns to the ground - in his case it is as if the Great Library of Alexandria itself was lost.

Maurice is survived by his beloved wife, Esther, sisters: Helen and Dorothy and their families, sons: Maurice and Diarmaid and granddaughters: Clíodhna and Síofra. We love him, we miss him and he truly embodies the Old Irish saying: Ní bhéith a leithid arís ann - his likes will never be seen again. Grámhór i gconní go brách, until we all meet again in a world much better than this one.

Thank you all for your support, thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. He did not want a formal funeral so there will be a private burial date pending and a Mass will be said in his honour, time and date to be announced. Please family flowers only, and if you feel the need, please give to your local charity, instead as that is what he would have wanted. Thank you, GRMA, God Bless, Beannach Dé oraibh