Prior to assuming that position, Healy initially served as acting city manager from July 1, 1981 to December 14, 1981.
He attended the Catholic Keith Academy in Lowell and earned a bachelor's degree in English from University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1965.
When Sullivan departed Lowell for Cambridge in 1974, Healy served as acting city manager for one month.
[1] State Representative Paul Sheehy was chosen over Healy for the permanent job by the Lowell City Council after 53 ballots.
[7] During the Occupy Wall Street protests, reports criticized the salary of the City Manager as being one of the highest in the State of Massachusetts.