Obituaries 03-14-2019

Franklin William Sawyer

Decorated ‘Atomic Veteran’ of World War II

Franklin William Sawyer, a lifelong resident of Winthrop, died on Thursday evening, March 7. He was 94 years old.

The husband of Elizabeth A. (Trites), the couple met while working at Suburban Gas and Electric and had been married for 63 years as of last August.

Born Oct. 20, 1924 in Winthrop, the son of the late Gertrude Viola (Hill) and George Harold Sawyer, Frank graduated from Boston Trade School where he was captain of their Fife and Drum Corp. After graduation, in 1943, he volunteered and was inducted in the US Army serving with the 41st Infantry Division, 186 Infantry Regiment, Company E throughout the Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon with Bronze Service Arrowhead, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with One Bronze Service Star. His Company was one of the first units brought onto Hiroshima in 1945, identifying Frank as an “Atomic Veteran,” thus being awarded that medal of distinction in time for his 90th birthday in 2014. Frank enjoyed sharing history of his military time and continued to be a contributor to The Jungleer, the newsletter for the 41st Infantry.

Upon returning at the end of World War II and being trained prior to the war as a cabinetmaker, Frank began working for the J. M. Came Company in Boston. He made and repaired pool tables and constructed parts for bowling lanes. When that company went out of business, he worked as a salesman for Suburban Gas and Electric, then was promoted to a Field Representative for Mystic Valley Gas Company, where he was quickly made the Assistant Merchandise Manager. In 1968, he was transferred to North Shore Gas Company in Beverly, becoming their Merchandise Manager. When Boston Gas purchased the gas division of New England Power, his position changed to the Supervisor of Heating Engineers, retiring in February of 1990. He also had been a licensed Real Estate Broker.

Frank served the Town of Winthrop on their Advisory Board from 1973 – 1977.

He was a lifelong member of the First Church of Winthrop-United Methodist, serving as a Lay Leader and Lay Preacher from 1973 – 1977.

While spending summers in Center Ossipee, N.H., he attended the Riverside United Methodist Church in Porter, Maine.​

Among Frank’s hobbies were oil painting, woodworking, and photography. He made two Queen Ann style chairs for his church’s ushers several years ago.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Kathleen E. Kligge of New Hampshire, Diane G. Videtto and her husband, John and Nancy A. Doucette and her husband, Michael, all of Massachusetts; his grandchildren, Stephanie A. and Kenneth E. Kligge, Jennifer T. (Videtto) Bell and her husband, Christopher, Joseph W. Videtto, Nicole E. and Michael T. (Max) Doucette, Jr. and a great-grandson, Riley J. Bell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Ellsworth H. Sawyer, and his son-in-law, Steven A. Kligge.

A Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, March 13, at 11 a.m. at the First Church of Winthrop- United Methodist, Metcalf Square, 217 Winthrop St., Winthrop, MA. Burial followed at the Winthrop Cemetery-Belle Isle Section. Donations in his memory can be made to the First Church of Winthrop-United Methodist. Funeral arrangements were from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home 210 Winthrop St. Winthrop, Mass. For guestbook, please visit:             www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Oldemiro ‘Jose’ Pereira

Winthrop Housing Authority retiree

Oldermiro “Jose” Pereira of Atlantic St., Winthrop passed away at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on March 7. He was 71 years old.

Born in Cape Verde, the beloved son of the late Felize (Berta) and Arlindo Pereira, he was a resident of Winthrop for over 55 years and was employed as a mechanic for the Winthrop Housing Authority prior to his retirement in 2011.

He was the devoted husband of Maria (DoCanto) and the loving father of Nelson Pereira, Steven Pereira and Christine Campos, all of Winthrop; the dear brother of Arlinda Pina of Dorchester, Miguel Pereira of Randolph, Ofelia Santanna of Brazil, Jorge Pereira of Portugal, Euclidio “Peter” Pereira of New Bedford and Maria Emilia Fernandez of Cape Verde and the cherished grandfather of Sabrina, Priscilla, Nicholas, Haven, Tegan and Jace. 

His funeral was conducted from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop on Tuesday, March 12, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church. Rev. Peter Graziano celebrated the mass and offered prayers at the interment in the Belle Isle section of Winthrop Cemetery. To sign the online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

Marie Pauletti

Of Winthrop, previously of Somerville

Marie T. Pauletti of Triton Ave., Winthrop passed away at the Melrose Wakefield Hospital on March 7. She was 71 years old.

Born in Boston, she was the beloved daughter of the late Theresa (Rosetti) and Frank Volpe. A resident of Winthrop for over 27 years she previously lived in Somerville.

She was the devoted wife of Albert A. Pauletti and the loving mother of Jennifer Gullotti and her husband, Andrew of Winthrop and the cherished grandmother of Marissa.

Services were private. To sign the online guestbook go to: www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral home, Winthrop.

Florence Testa

Filene’s Department Store retiree

Florence N. Testa of Winthrop passed away on March 8. She was 84 years old.

Florence enjoyed listening to music, playing cards, movies and traveling. Prior to her retirement, she was employed by Filene’s Department Store working in the clerical office.

Born in Winthrop, the daughter of the late Eugene and Florence (Amerena) Testa, she was the dear sister of Jean T. Testa of Winthrop and is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Don Orione Nursing Home and the Season’s Hospice Agency for all the care and support they have given Florence over the last few years.

Visiting hours will be held in the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop on Saturday, March 16, beginning at 10:30 a.m. A Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home following the visitation at 11:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will follow in Winthrop Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, 355 Lexington Ave. 15th Floor, New York, NY 55105-2897.

For guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Robert Driscoll, Sr.

Active in the Winthrop Community

Robert L. Driscoll, Sr. of Seal Harbor Rd., Winthrop passed away at the Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston on March 7. He was 89 years old.

Born in Taunton, the beloved son of the late Anna (McNiff) and William J. Driscoll, he was a lifetime resident of Winthrop.

He joined the Army at an early age and after his honorable discharge he went on to work as a Pharmacy representative for Smith-Kline-French. He was also a founding member of the Winthrop Airport Hazards Committee, a member of the Winthrop Planning Board, the Holy Name Society, a Boy Scout Leader and a weekly collector at St. John the Evangelist Church.

He was the devoted husband of Clara (Magee) and the loving father of Kathleen Driscoll, Robert L. Driscoll, Jr. and his wife, Kathleen, Nancy E. Rodes and her husband Richard, all of Winthrop, Timothy Driscoll of Cambridge and Michael Driscoll and his wife, Suzanne of Burlington; dear brother of the late Mary Bachini, William Driscoll, Ann O’Reilly and Edward Driscoll and cherished grandfather of Kenneth, Robert, III, Matthew, Christopher and Andrew. 

His funeral was conducted from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop on Wednesday, March 13, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church. Rev. Charles Bourke celebrated the mass and offered prayers at the interment with military honors in the Belle Isle section of Winthrop Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or go to www.stjude.org. To sign the online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

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