Roland Burney Mahoney, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend to so many, peacefully passed away at home on March 1, 2019, two days shy of his 78th birthday, following multiple complications resulting from a fall.  A truly gentle man, his passing leaves a giant chasm in so many hearts, but the memories of love, laughter and joy he brought to everyone while here will hopefully and eventually soothe the pain.  He leaves behind his wife of nearly 58 years, Sandra Rogers Mahoney; son Roland B "Buddy" Mahoney, Jr,; daughter Laurie Barre and her husband Matt; daughter Claire Neal and her husband John; grandchildren Ashlee Vice and her husband Ricky, Madison Barre and her fiancee CJ Kidd; Alex Neal and Chandler Barre; great-grandchildren Ryker and Brody Vice; sisters-in-law Jenell Griffith and Judy Mahoney; nephews Thomas J Mahoney III (Molly) and Tim Mahoney (Karen); nieces Kathleen Mahoney-Taylor (Michael) and Megan Mahoney O'Neil (Kevin); cousins Hugh Coleman (Angela), Jeanne Trapani (Luigi), and Alicia, Victoria and Kassie Harvey; lifelong friend Denny Chandler and many other dear friends and extended family members.  He was preceded in death by his daughter Debbie Mahoney; his grandson Michael Douglas; his brother Thomas J Mahoney Jr; his parents Ruth and Thomas J Mahoney and his aunt and uncle Lucille and HE Coleman Jr.

Roland was born in Savannah, GA on March 3, 1941.  Known by his family and friends as "Bubba" or "RB", he loved being on or in the Wilmington River boating, skiing and fishing.  He loved racing hot rods as a teenager and always enjoyed watching a good race.  He attended Blessed Sacrament School and was a 1960 graduate of Benedictine Military School.  He enlisted in the US Naval Reserves in May 1958.  He was called to active naval duty in August 1961.  He served aboard the USS McDonough and the USS Everglades as a shipfitter third class and was part of the fleet serving during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  He was released from active duty in May 1964 and was always proud of his time in the service.

Before leaving for active duty, he married his childhood sweetheart, Sandra Rogers, in 1961.
In January 1962, they welcomed their first child, Roland Jr., who they called Buddy.  In August 1963 they welcomed their daughter Debbie; in September 1964 a second daughter Laurie was born and, in June 1967, third daughter Claire completed their family.  The Mahoney family settled on Wilmington Island on the same property which Roland spent his childhood, and that is where they stayed for over 40 years.  Many joyous moments were spent under the sprawling oak and pine trees, watching the sun rise and set over the Wilmington River.  A master skier, Roland would love to show his prowess on one ski - never falling off!  When it was time to stop, he'd signal the driver to swing by the house, he'd release the rope, coast right up to his home dock and step right out of the water!  He loved his river!  When his grandchildren came along, he spent many happy hours taking them out on his river, fishing and crabbing and just being Papa!

He worked for 40 years as a shipping clerk for ILA 1475, retiring in 2003.  He received the ILA 1475 Man of the Year Award in 2007.  In his spare time, he was a lifelong member of the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee and many of Savannah's Irish organizations.  He was past president of both the Irish Heritage Society (1994-95) and the Sinn Fein Society (2009-2010).  He walked in the parade for decades and helped actually lead the parade as a Marshall's Aide on three occasions under Grand Marshalls Jimmy Stafford, Thomas J Mahoney Jr, and Hugh Coleman.  St Patrick's Day will be a lot less festive now with the absence of this smiling Irishman!

Roland put his love for family and friends above all else.  A quiet and sentimental man at home, he would usually sit quietly during family gatherings just basking in the happiness of simply having his family together.  We will so miss his quiet grace but giant heart, his gentle touch but strong embrace, his loving looks and his soft blue eyes which seemed to always have a little tear when he had to tell one of us goodbye.  Now that the time has come for us to have to really say goodbye, the tears won't stop and the hearts will never heal.  But his legacy of love surrounds us all and will carry us onward until we see him again.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 10:00 AM at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1003 E Victory Drive / Savannah GA / 31405.  Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, and in the spirit of love that Roland spread to everyone throughout his life, his family would be honored to have donations made in his name to people's favorite charity of choice.