Obituaries 06-16-2016

Robert Harrison

Retired Winthrop School Attendance Supervisor who believed in the power of education and the value of every student

Robert M. (Bob) Harrison of Winthrop passed away peacefully in the arms of his beloved and devoted wife, Alice M. (Hoar), on Sunday, May 22 at Health Park Hope House Hospice, Ft. Myers, FL, of multiple complications following major vascular surgery in January. He was 89 years old.

Bob struggled valiantly to recover and return to Winthrop in time for his granddaughterm Moriah’s college graduation, before multiple complications and infections led him to elect comfort care in the hospice on May 19. His final days were spent quietly attended by Alice and Nancy, who were with him in his final moments, and in the love of all of his children and grandchildren, who were with him in spirit.

Bob was born on April 27, 1927 in Everett, the second and last surviving of three children of William A. and Ruth A. (Munnis) Harrison of Everett. Bob graduated from Everett High School in 1945, served in the United States Coast Guard before following in the footsteps of his grandfather, and attending the New England Barber College, graduating in 1947. He married in 1949 and opened Harrison’s Barber Shop in Winthrop Center, 12 Bartlett Rd., in 1955 after moving the young Harrison family to Winthrop in 1954. In 1968, Bob assumed the role of Supervisor of Attendance for the Winthrop Public Schools, a position he occupied until his retirement in 1993.

Bob was known as a consummate storyteller and conversationalist as well as for his incisive wit and humor – characteristics he retained until the end. Bob passionately believed in the power of education and the intrinsic value of every student. He saw his role as truant officer as one of advocacy for the students of Winthrop.

Bob was a founding member of Dollars for Scholars and a Town Meeting member. He was a longtime member of the St. John the Evangelist Holy Name Society and served a term as president in the mid-1960s.

He is survived by his children: Paul R. and his wife, Judy of Bangor, ME, and Chicago, IL; Patricia E. of Winthrop; Barbara M. of Winthrop; and Nancy R. and her husband, Frank Goldblatt of Winthrop; grandchildren: Geoffrey T. Harrison of Bangor, ME, and Chicago, IL, Caitlin Medb Harrison of Medford,  Padraic A. Harrison of Bangor, ME, and Moriah E. Goldblatt of Winthrop; and nieces Gayle (Harrison) Forst of Stuart, FL, and Susan (Harrison) Bailey of Lansdale, PA.

Family and friends are cordially invited to attend the visitation from the Ernest P. Caggiano and Son-O’Maley Funeral Home, Winthrop on Sunday, June 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be conducted from the funeral home on Monday, June 20 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St., Winthrop at 10 a.m. Committal private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to Tufts Medical Center, Herb Levine, MD, Foundation, 800 Washington Street, Box 231, Boston, MA 02111, or Health Park Hope Hospice, 9470 Health Park Circle, Fort Myers, Florida 33908. For directions or to sign the online guestbook go to: www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

William Corcoran

GE retiree and avid golfer

William T. “Bill” Corcoran of Winthrop passed away on June 8. He was 66 years old.

Prior to his recent retirement; Bill was an employee of General Electric of Lynn and Everett where he worked as a machinist for 41 years. He was an avid golfer and was a member of the General Electric Golf League.

He was the beloved husband of Kathleen A. (Coleman) Corcoran; devoted father of Molly A. Corcoran Barboza and her husband, David of Winthrop and Matt W. Corcoran and his girlfriend, Dianna Lui of Melrose; adored grandfather of ZsaZsa Corcoran Barboza.  Born in Lynn, he was the cherished son of the late Michael B. and Dorothy M. (Kane) Corcoran; dear brother of Priscilla Corcoran-Oates of Lynn, Michael B. Corcoran Jr. of Lynn, Lawrence E. Corcoran of Lynn, Margaret J. Wilson of Franklin NH, and the late Richard J. Corcoran; brother-in-law of Carolyn Corcoran of Rowley, Mary A. Coleman of Winthrop, Diane F. and William Fitzpatrick of Lynnfield, Michael F. and Jacqueline Coleman of N. Andover. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts.

Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. Cremation was private. For guestbook, please visit www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Andrew Simon

Grandson of Noble Prize winner; active at Cottage Park Yacht Club

Andrew A. Simon of Winthrop passed away peacefully at home with his family on June 8 after a courageous battle with cancer, just two weeks shy of his 50th birthday.

Andrew was fortunate to retire at the age of 40, which allowed him to spend a lot of time with his son through his early childhood and into his teenage years. He was an outdoor sport enthusiast and enjoyed many activities including skippering his speedboat, riding his motorcycle, and various snow and water sports. Andrew was an active member of the Cottage Park Yacht Club in Winthrop.

He was the beloved husband of Gail Karagianis and the devoted father of Andreas Simon of Winthrop. Born in Denver, CO, the cherished son of Lesley Noftsker and her husband, Russell of Billerica and Peter Simon and his wife, Marsha Smith of Pittsburgh, PA, he was the dear brother of Peter Simon of Haverhill; loving grandson of the late Herbert Simon, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1978, and his late wife Dorothea Simon and the late Howard and Elizabeth Hampton. He was the Godfather to Lindsey and Erica. Andrew will also be missed by his “companion” Golden Retriever named Daedalus. He is also survived by his step-sister Atsuko Belding, cousins, aunts and uncles.

A Funeral Service was held in St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Lynn and interment followed in Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section). Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. Donations in his memory can be made to the Viking Pride Foundation P.O. Box 37, Winthrop, MA 02152 or to St George Greek Orthodox Church 54 South Common St. Lynn, MA 01902. For guestbook, please visit www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
To view video memorial, go to http://e-mp.biz/Kirby21/Simon.html.

Michael Quatrella

State Street Bank employee and band drummer

Michael C. Quatrella of Pleasant Street, Winthrop passed away suddenly at the Salem Hospital on June 11. He was 54 years old.

Born in Mount Clair, New Jersey, the beloved son of Carol (Pilkington) and the late Michael Quatrella, he was a resident of Winthrop for the past 10 years and was employed as an analyst for State Street Bank. He was an avid drummer, playing in bands such as, Philip’s Space and The Foot.

He was the devoted husband of Casandra (Lyons) and the dear brother of Joseph Quatrella and his wife, Susan of New Jersey, Lucy Quatrella of Washington, D.C. and Lisa DaVino and her husband, Carmine of New Jersey.

Family and friends are cordially invited to attend the visitation from the Ernest P. Caggiano and Son-O’Maley Funeral Home on Friday, June 17 from 9 to 11 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St., Winthrop at 11:30 a.m. Committal will be private.  For directions or to sign the online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com

Samuel Zichella

Lived in Winthrop, Revere and East Boston

Samuel J. Zichella of Maverick St., East Boston passed away at home on June 13 after a brief illness. He was 81 years old.

Born in East Boston, he was the beloved son of the late Rose (Naso) and Amedeo Zichella. A resident of Winthrop, Revere and East Boston, he worked for Eastern Airlines for many years as well as Schrafft’s Candy and the Shattuck Hospital. He was a very simple man who enjoyed flea markets, yard sales and antiques.

He was the loving father of Rosalind Coleman and her husband, Stephen of Marblehead, Jeannine Zichella of Revere, Mark Zichella and his wife, Elizabeth of East Boston and Matthew Zichella and his wife, Carol of Winthrop; dear brother of Beverly Carbone of Medford, Rosemarie Zichella of East Boston and the late Mary Powers; cherished grandfather and great grandfather of Colin and his wife, Casey, Christina and her fiancé, Jake, Hayley, Christopher, Samuel, Carly, Benjamin, McKenzie and Declan.  The former husband of Alberta (DeDeo) of Winthrop, he is also survived by nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family and friends are cordially invited to attend the visitation from the Ernest P. Caggiano and Son-O’Maley Funeral Home today, Thursday, June 16, from 9 to 11 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in the Most Holy Redeemer Church, 72 Maverick St., East Boston at 11:30 a.m. Interment to follow the mass will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. For directions or to sign the online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

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