William Donovan
GE Retiree
William J. Donovan of Winthrop passed away at the Sawtelle Hospice House in Reading on January 3. He was 89 years old.
Mr. Donovan served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Prior to his retirement, he was employed by General Electric in the shipping and warehouse department.
He was the beloved husband of the late Louise (Heanue) Donovan; devoted father of William Donovan and his wife, Janet of Georgetown, Michael Donovan and his wife, Carol of Revere, Paul Donovan and his wife, Phyllis of Hull, James Donovan of Winthrop, Richard Donovan and his wife, Linda of Topsfield, Patrick Donovan of Winthrop and Thomas Donovan and his wife, Andrea of Derry, NH. Born in Boston, he was the cherished son of the late William Donovan and Theresa (Hoey) Vincent; dear brother of Phyllis Glazier of Saugus and the late Inez
Green, Helen Murray, Betty Robinson, Nancy Curran and Pauline Vincent. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
His funeral will be held from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop on Friday, January 6, 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. Burial will follow in Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section). Visiting hours will be held at the funeral home today, Thursday, only between 4 and 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers,donations in his memory can be made to the Winthrop PACE Center, 26 Sturgis St.,Winthrop, MA 02152. For guestbook, please visit:   www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
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Paul Clayton
Long time Winthrop Building Dept. Clerk
Paul E. Clayton of Read Street, Winthrop passed away suddenly at home on December 19. He was 65 years old.
Born in Winthrop, the beloved son of the late Frances T (Hartford) and Percy E. Clayton, he was a lifelong resident of Winthrop and worked as a clerk for the Winthrop Building Department for many years.
He was the cherished grandson of the late Helen E. Hartford, dear friend of Chief Paul Flanagan, WFD and the step dad to Jake and Ruffles. He is also survived by many loving cousins and friends.
Family and friends are cordially invited to attend the graveside service in the Cross Street section of Winthrop Cemetery today, Thursday, January 5 at 10 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Angell Memorial Hospital at www.mspca.org.
To sign the online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop.
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Nicoletta Spinazzola
Of East Boston, formerly of Italy
Nicoletta (Sacco) Spinazzola of East Boston, formerly of Italy, passed away peacefully on December 30.
The beloved wife of the late Benedetto Spinazzola, she was the devoted mother of Toni Spinazzola and his wife, Olga of Winthrop, Nicola Spinazzola and his wife, Deborah of Winthrop, Felice Spinazzola and his wife, Vincenza of East Boston, and Maria Spinazzola-De Girolamo and her husband, Giuseppe of Reading; dear sister of Domenico Sacco of Revere and the late Ciriaco Sacco; cherished grandmother of Benedetto, Nicoletta, Antonella, Maria, Teresa, Nicole, Anthony, Michael, Jonathan, Antonio, Benedetto, Assunta, Luigi, and Stefania and adored great-grandmother of Gaetano, Gianluca, Macareo and Avianna.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga Street, (Orient Heights) East Boston. Nicoletta was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, donations in Nicoletta’s memory may be made to The Italian Home for Children, 1125 Centre Street, Boston, MA 02130-3495. For more information, visit: www.ruggieromh.com.
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Leo ‘Sonny’ Rabinovitz
Successful businessman and social activist
Leo ‘Sonny’ Rabinovitz died in his Winthrop home on December 26.
Born and raised in Roxbury, Leo was a graduate of Boston Latin and Boston University. He served in the US Army during World War II and kept his Army issued ski poles in use for many years afterward.
A self-made and successful business man, Leo grew Help Wanted Advertising into a thriving boutique agency.
In addition to his sharp mind for business, Leo was passionate about politics, and shaping the world through participation in societal dialogue. Leo was an unrelenting champion for the many causes he deemed worthy. From fundraising for Governor Dukakis, to speaking out against the Vietnam War, to his generous support of the National Yiddish Book Center, Leo gave enthusiastically. Through words and actions, Leo taught his children and grandchildren to have respect for all people, to work to make the world a better place, and to never, ever refuse dessert.
Leo loved his family and was happiest at the center of a full house. He relished the opportunity to invite others to share in a meal or an outing. A true patriarch, Leo brought people together, and in doing so, built a family network that lives on.
Leo is survived by his children: David Rabinovitz, Debby Rabinovitz, and Dodi Perkins; their spouses Jordene Hale, Chris Pringle, and Peter Perkins; and grandchildren: Sophia Rabinovitz, Chana Rose Rabinovitz, Mati Pringle Rabinovitz, and Kyla Perkins. Leo was the brother of Harriet Ginsberg and the late Sireen Reinstein.
Services were held at Temple B’nai Israel, Revere on December 29. Interment was in the New Jewish Deedholders Cemetery in Everett. In lieu of flowers, donations in Leo’s memory may be made to the Yiddish Book Center of Amherst, MA, 1021 West St., Amherst, MA 01002. Arrangements were by the Brezniak-Rodman Funeral Directors – brezniakrodman.com.