Obituaries 11-21-2013

Katherine Gleeson

Longtime employee of Spring Air Mattress Co.

Katherine “Kathy” Gleeson of Winthrop, formerly of East Boston, passed away November 15. She was 69 years old.

“Kathy” was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1962 and was employed at Spring Air Mattress Co. in Chelsea for many years.

She was the daughter of the late Frank and Josephine (Cahill ) Gleeson, the loving and devoted mother of Eric Gleeson and his wife, Mary Kay and their children Megan and Caitlin of Beverly and also leaves her loving companion of 26 years, Chuck Santoianni of Winthrop; dear sister of Edward “Buddy “ Gleeson of Winthrop, Mary Thompson of Texas, William Gleeson of East Boston, Joanne Candelora of Revere, Elaine Bates of Boston and the late Frank, Joseph, John, Herbert, Theresa and Thomas Gleeson. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family and friends will honor Kathy’s life by gathering today, Thursday, November 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. in Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach Street, Revere with services in our chapel of the resurrection today at 7:30 p.m. Committal will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. For directions and guest book:www.vazzafunerals.com

Raphael Laura

Winthrop Yacht Club Member

Mrs. Raphel Laura, a longtime Winthrop resident, passed away on November 18. She was 92 years old.

Born in Boston, the loving daughter of the late Gerado Scanzillo and Rose Andreotti, she attended school in Boston and graduated from Jamaica Plain High School. She later worked in the garment business in Boston until the outbreak of World War II at which time she was employed at the Boston Naval Shipyard as a riveter throughout the duration of the war. She was a member of the Winthrop Yacht Club for more than 50 years.

Raphael was the devoted wife of 67 years to Libero Laura of Winthrop. She is survived by two daughters, Barbara and her husband, Jerry Manfra of Saugus and Geri and her husband, Robert Gatchell of Revere and a son, Paul Laura of Winthrop. She was the loving sister of the late Tony, Frank and Frances Scanzillo; the dear grandmother of James and Felicia Nestor of Reading and Paul Nestor of Winthrop and the devoted aunt of Maryellen Scanzillo of Hanover.

Her Funeral will be held from the Joseph R. Frazier Funeral Home, 174 Winthrop St., Winthrop today, Thursday, November 21 at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint John the Evangelist Church in Winthrop at 10 a.m. Interment will be at the Winthrop Town Cemetery (Belle Isle Section.) In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in her memory may be donated to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005

Ronald Noyes

Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel

Ronald W. Noyes, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and a 40 year resident of Bowie, MD, died of leukemia in Annapolis, MD on November 9. He was 79 years old.

He was born to Willard E. and Edna M. (Folck) Noyes in Medford on November 19, 1933 and graduated from Winthrop High School in 1951. He received a BS degree from Boston University in 1955 where he was also a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program. He entered active duty in October of 1955 and completed training as a navigator in November,1956. He received a Masters degree in Computer Science from Texas A&M University in January 1968.

Colonel Noyes was rated as a Master Navigator. He logged over 5,000 flying hours, primarily in the EC-121 aircraft. During the Vietnam conflict he flew over 500 combat hours with the 553rd Reconnaissance Wing while stationed at Korat AB in Thailand.

From August, 1972 until his retirement from the Air Force in May of 1979, Colonel Noyes served as the Assistant Director for Data Systems and Chief, Data Systems Division at the Defense Special Missile & Astronautics Center at Fort Meade Maryland.

His military decorations include the Joint Service Meritorious Service Medal, two awards of the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Combat Readiness Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze campaign stars.

From May of 1979 through August of 1983, he worked as a Supervisory Computer Analyst at the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, DC. From September, 1983 until his second retirement in May, 1993, he was the chief of a computer programming division at the National Security Agency. Colonel Noyes then served for 20 years as a volunteer at the Retiree Activities Office at Andrews AFB. In 1996 he developed an internet webpage for use by military retirees from all of the service branches. He was awarded the USAF Volunteer Excellence Award.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Betty, of Bowie, MD: four children: three daughters, Pamela (Terry) of Frederick, Diane (Bruce) of Laytonsville, Sandra (Matt) of Crofton and a son, Jeffrey (Jeni) of Huntingtown. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Alicia, Becky, Brooke, Elizabeth, Brian, Rachel, Henry, Sam and Eric; and three great-grand children: Alivia, Dalen and Emily. He also leaves a brother, Arnold “Hack” Noyes of Cape Cod and Naples, Florida and a sister, Nancy Parsons of Salem, NH.

Funeral arrangements were by the Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain Hwy. (Rte. 3 South), Bowie, MD. A Funeral Service was held at Community United Methodist Church, Crofton, MD and Military Honors followed at Crownsville Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National MS Society or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Captain Arthur James Fournier
Tugboat Owner; Portland, Maine “Maritime Man of the Year 2001” and Former Winthrop Auxiliary Police Chief

Captain Arthur J. Fournier, Tugboat Co., railroad owner and former Portland Harbor Docking Pilot of South Portland, Maine and Buzzards Bay, MA passed away November 16 after a brief illness. He was 82 years old.

He was born in Somerville on April 28, 1931, the first of four sons to Arthur and Catherine Fournier.
Growing up in Somerville near the banks of the Mystic River formed his life long association and love of the sea. From peddling fish door to door from his bike with a makeshift icebox attached, building lobster traps in his parent’s basement and setting up an office under the family’s stairwell, he was well on his way to bigger and better things – school, unfortunately, was not one of them.

At 15 years of age, Arthur was on a barge headed for Havana, Cuba –that started his years of towing barges up and down the eastern seaboard. In 1948, while working as a deckhand on the Tug D.T. Sheridan, it ran aground in dense fog off Monhegan Island in Maine and the crew was rescued by islanders.

For a few years, when he joined the Marines, there was a short hiatus from the sea.
A true learning experience was working for Mr. Boylen of Boston Sand and Gravel in Boston Ma. moving gravel barges. “It was better than four years at Harvard Business” Arthur always said with Mr. Boylen being his mentor.
For many years in the 1970’s, Arthur operated Pier 50 in Charlestown Ma. and was chief of the auxiliary police in Winthrop right before he he moved to Maine.

1977, came the opportunity to purchase Eastern Me. Towage Co. in Belfast, Me. which he operated for 13 years before selling and then again re-purchasing in 2005. To this day, the company is operated by his sons Captains Douglas and Patrick Fournier.
He moved to Portland, Me. in 1989 to establish Portland Tugboat & Ship
Docking Co. and to become the Senior Docking Pilot. Being a pilot in Portland Harbor was his ultimate job, the passion for his work was so very strong he rarely left the shipping channel. A career mentored by his dad is now held by his oldest son, Brian.
Owning a house on a small Bahama Island, he rarely visited, he had friends, family and business associates to whom he would graciously offer his island home.

Being 2001 Portland Me. Maritime Man of the Year meant a lot to him. His proud association with Bath Iron Works was a big part of his life in The 1980’s.

He always had an outside project – among them providing fireworks barges in the 80’s for Arthur Feidler’s Fourth of July fireworks show on the Charles River in Boston for the Boston Pops, the turning of the USS Constitution in 1987 which he bid for one penny to get the job. “I only wanted to do it once,” Arthur said. It was, indeed, one of his proudest moments to have the care, custody and control of that historic ship in its annual turn around.

The early 80’s brought a fun project of helping bring the NYC 16 Tugboat to Buzzards Bay for friend Howie Shaw’s “Grandma’s” restaurant attraction. The fact that this was a sister boat to the Tugboat used in the filming of the movie Funny Girl (in which Barbara Streisand sang “Don’t Rain On My Parade”) was not lost on Art, being a broadway musical buff.

The last months of his illness was a privilege for the family to care for him at home and share time watching his beloved musicals, the Patriots football games on Sundays and having his dear friend, Jay Cashman from Boston, come up to watch many of the World Series Red Sox games. His trusty tug worker turned personal aide “Mr. Flaco ” was always at his side.

He was predeceased by his beloved son, William Fournier in 1985 and is survived by his loving wife, Beth of South Portland; his sons: Brian and his wife, Julie Fournier of Scarborough, Me., Douglas of Northport Me. and Patrick of South Portland; a daughter, Catherine McClarity of Winthrop and five grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland, Maine today, Thursday, November 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 22 with a reception to follow until 5 p.m. at the Gateway Terminal, 14 Ocean Gate Pier, Portland, Me.
The family wishes to thank VNA Home Health Hospice for their wonderful nurses and support.
In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund will be set up in the name of The Captain Arthur J. Fournier Scholarship Fund, Maine Maritime Academy, C/O Development Office, Pleasant Street, Castine Me. 04420.

Mark DiFlumeri

Ship’s Captain

Mark DiFlumeri of Winthrop, formerly of East Boston, died unexpectedly at home on Saturday, November 16. He was 54 years old.

A ship captain, he was the cherished son of Anthony “DoDo’ DiFlumeri and Marie (Giasullo) Martin and her husband, Albert of Florida; loving brother of Marie Cody and her husband, Richard of Tewksbury; adored nephew of Elli Bowker and her late husband, James of Ipswich, Jamie Giasullo and his wife, Patty of Florida and the late Nicholas Giasullo and his wife, Mary of Winthrop. Vincent DiFlumeri and Josephine Di Flumeri of Winthrop, Aberino DiFlumeri and his wife, Josephine of Saugus and the late Laurie DiFlumeri. He also leaves his cousins Jimmy, John, Jeff, Joanne, Jessica, Tracy, Jim, Scott, Dina, Albert and Lyn.

Mark loved his family, loved the ocean and loved to travel. He was very much loved in return and will be missed by all.

Family and friends honored Mark’s life by gathering in Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, Revere with services in the chapel of the resurrection. Committal was private. For guest book.www.vazzafunerals.com.

Katherine Gleeson

Worked for Spring Air Mattress Co. of Chelsea

Katherine “Kathy” Gleeson of Winthrop, formerly of East Boston, passed away November 15. She was 69 years old.

“Kathy” was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1962 and was employed at Spring Air Mattress Co. in Chelsea for many years.

The daughter of the late Frank and Josephine (Cahill ) Gleeson, she was the loving and devoted mother of Eric Gleeson and his wife, Mary Kay and their children Megan and Caitlin of Beverly and her loving companion of 26 years, Chuck Santoianni of Winthrop; dear sister of Edward “Buddy “ Gleeson of Winthrop, Mary Thompson of Texas, William Gleeson of East Boston, Joanne Candelora of Revere, Elaine Bates of Boston and the late Frank, Joseph, John, Herbert, Theresa and Thomas Gleeson. She also leaves many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family and friends will honor Kathy’s life by gathering today, Thursday, November 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. in Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home,, 262 Beach Street, Revere with services in our chapel of the resurrection Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Committal will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. For directions and guest book.www.vazzafunerals.com

Ethel Finlayson

Past Nobel Grand and Treasurer Emeritus Winthrop Rebekah Lodge 153

Ethel Finlayson, formerly of Winthrop, passed away in Annapolis, Maryland on October 17. She was 98 years old.

Born in Leeds, England on September 23, 1914, the loving daughter of the late Robert and Alice Stead, she came to the United States with her mother to join her father who had emigrated several years earlier to gain employment with the Metropolitan Opera Co. in Boston. (She still has relatives in England with whom she remained in touch.)

The family lived in Boston and summered at Point Shirley in Winthrop. In the late 1920’s, they purchased a home in Point Shirley. They were one of the first of four families to live on Point Shirley year round. Ethel resided at the Point residence from her teens in the 1920’s until she moved in 2006 to Annapolis, MD to live with her grandson, William Scott Finlayson (US Navy retired)

Ethel attended Girls Latin, graduating in 1932. She was a Past Nobel Grand, Treasurer Emeritus and a faithful member of the Margaret Winthrop Rebekah Lodge #153 for 69 years and a teacher for many years at Winthrop’s Country Day School.

In 1942, she married William “Bud” Finalyson of Winthrop who owned and operated an auto body shop in Winthrop Center until 1980.

She was the mother of one son, Scott Finlayson, who passed away in 1993 and is survived by a daughter in law, Cathy Myers of LasCruces, New Mexico; a grandson, William Scott Finlayson and his wife, Sara of Annapolis; two great grandchildren, Ethan Finlayson and Maia Finlayson, both of Annapolis, MD and by two cousins, Dennis and Doreen Armitage of Leeds, England.

Graveside Funeral services will be conducted at the Winthrop Cemetery (Cross Street Section) on Tuesday, November 26 at 12 noon. Following services, the Rebekah Lodge will host a light collation at the Lodge, 196 Winthrop Street, Winthrop. All are invited. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in her memory may be donated to: Hospice of the Chesepeake, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena,, MD 21122-http:/wwwhospice of the chesapeake, org/support donate. Arrangements are entrusted to the Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop.

Joseph Stasio

Proprietor of Stasio Lumber; Active Member of Many Organizations

Joseph A. Stasio of Linden Street, Winthrop passed away at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on November 14 after a prolonged illness. He was 86 years old.

Born in East Boston, he was the beloved son of the late Antoinetta (DeLuca) and Arthur Stasio. A resident of East Boston for many years, he served in the US Army during World War II. After his discharge, he married and moved to Winthrop in 1951. He was the proprietor of Stasio Lumber on Walden St., Winthrop and also had a cabinetry business on Winthrop Street for many years. He was a past corporator for East Boston Savings Bank and a member of the Knight’s of Columbus, Winthrop Rotary, Winthrop Chamber of Commerce, Moose Club, Odd Fellows and the Northeast Lumbermans Association.
He was the devoted husband of Alice P. (O’Sullivan) and the loving father of Alice MacFarland and her husband,, Keith of Wakefield, Joseph A. Stasio and his wife, Jeanne of Lynnfield, Maryanne Albert and her husband, Scott of Bedford, N.H. and Catherine DelVento and her husband, Nicholas of Winthrop.; the dear brother of Anthony Stasio, Arthur Stasio and Anna Boudrow; the grandfather of Timothy, Keith, Bridgit, Joseph, Vanessa, Julie, Greg and Alicia and the great grandfather of Logan, Maeve and Brody.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Ernest P. Caggiano and Son-O’Maley Funeral Home, Winthrop. Interment was in the Belle Isle section of Winthrop Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Jimmy Fund-Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. To sign the online guestbook, go towww.caggianofuneralhome.com orwww.cremationsbycaggianofh.com.

Anthony ‘Tony’ Gregory

Winthrop Police Retiree, Owned Lobster Company

Anthony C. “Tony” Gregory of Beverly, a former long time resident of Winthrop, passed away at home on November 12 after a brief illness. He was 78 years. old.

Born in Winthrop, the beloved son of the late Maria (Selvitella) and Anthony DiGregorio, he served in the US Army in Germany. After his discharge, he went to work as a patrolman for the Winthrop Police Department until his retirement. He also owned Patty Gregory’s Live Lobster Company.

He was the loving father of Kim Gregory of Beverly, Jill Gregorie of Winthrop and Nicole Adamson of Winthrop; the dear brother of Madeline Politano of Woburn and Michael DiGregorio of Revere; the cherished grandfather of Kianna, Sydney and Michael and is also survived by several loving nieces and nephews. He was also the former husband of Patty Gregory.

Services were private.

James ‘Jim’ McNally

Retired Moving Company Manager

James T. “Jim” McNally of Winthrop passed away at the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital on November 19. He was 79 years old.

Jim served in the U. S. Army from 1955 to 1958. Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a manager for Metropolitan Moving and Storage Co. of Cambridge.

The beloved husband of 52 years of Ann Marie (Kiley) McNally, he was born in Somerville, the son of the late Patrick and Mary (McMillan) McNally. He was the devoted father of Steven J. McNally and his companion, Sue Brunelle of Dracut, Kevin J. McNally and his wife, Mary of Lynnfield and Patrick H. McNally and his wife, Sarah of Berkley; adored grandpa of James, Joey, Katie, Grace, Connor, and Andrea; loving great-grandpa of Kylie; dear brother of the late Peggy Dean, Charlotte Mahoney, Richard, Robert and Paul McNally; brother-in-law of Patricia and Saul Sticks of Winthrop, Mary Romiza of Falmouth, Mark Mahoney of Cambridge, and Rosemary McNally-Roderick of Somerville. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

His Funeral will be held from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop on Friday, November 22, at 9 a.m. Followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church-Winthrop at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Cremation following the Mass will be private. Visiting hours will be held at the funeral home today, Thursday only, from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St., Winthrop, MA. 02152. For guestbook and directions, please visit www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Anne Umana

Pianist/Musician and Wife of Late Legislator and Boston Municipal Court Judge Mario Umana

Anne was an accomplished pianist with her own radio program on WMEX called Keys to Pleasure and performed at many fashion shows, restaurants and at the Harvard Club until age 70. She attended N.E. Conservatory of Music.

Anne T. (Nigro) Umana of Orient Heights East Boston died on November 17.

She was the beloved and devoted wife of the late Honorable Judge Mario Umana Boston Municipal Court and MA Senate Majority Leader with whom she shared 58 years of marriage; loving mother of Anne Scigliano and her husband, Ned of Walpole and Jeanne Umana Kilpatrick of Lake Gregory, CA and her late husband Reid; cherished grandmother of Marcus Aurelius Scigliano and his wife, Lauren and Alexander Michael Scigliano; great grandmother of Francesco and dear sister of the late Dr. Michael Nigro, Finetta Craig and Dante Nigro.

Family and friends will honor Anne’s life by gathering Friday, November 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. in Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach Street, Revere and again at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning before leaving in procession to the Sacred Heart Church, 45 Brooks Street, East Boston at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Michael Cemetery, Roslindale. For directions and guest book. www.vazzafunerals.com.

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