Alfred Scorzella, Jr.
Bethlehem Steel Retiree
Alfred F. Scorzella, Jr. of Winthrop and Springhill, Florida passed away at the Chelsea Soldier’s Home on August 1. He was 77 years old.
Born in Winthrop, the beloved son of the late Mary Rose (Gonzalez) and Alfred F. Scorzella, Sr., he was a graduate of Winthrop High School and went on to work with his father at Winthrop Engineering. He then joined the United States Navy serving during the Vietnam War. He served two tours before being honorably discharged in 1967. After his discharge, he worked for New England Traffic Signal then went on to work as a pipefitter at Bethlehem Steel.
He was the loving father of Marc Scorzella and his wife, Michelle of Winthrop, the dear brother of Rosemary Butler and her late husband, Ted of Peabody and Richard Scorzella and his wife, Nancy of Waltham; cherished grandfather of Alessandra, Victoria, Grace and Olivia and is also survived by several loving nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are cordially invited to attend his funeral from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, 147 Winthrop St., Winthrop today, Thursday, August 5 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St., Winthrop at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with interment in the Belle Isle section of Winthrop Cemetery.
For directions or to sign the online guestbook, go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.
Eleanor Kathleen Swierk
She Breathed Can-Do Optimism and a Sunny Practicality Into Every Endeavor
Eleanor (Ellie) Kathleen (Blades) Swierk, 84, of Bluffton, South Carolina, died on Tuesday, July 27 at Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville, South Carolina, after a courageous three-year battle with Merkel cell carcinoma. Her husband of 31 years, Edward J. Swierk, was at her side.
She graduated from Revere High School in 1954; received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Boston State College in 1976, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Scholar of the College award; and earned a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology at Boston College in 1980.
Ellie belonged to NOSSCR (National Association of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives) and NADE (National Association of Disability Examiners), for which she served as Boston chapter president in the 1980’s.
Ellie single-handedly raised six children in her beloved hometown of Winthrop, deftly negotiating household responsibilities, coursework that came with college enrollment in 1972, and work as a teacher at Castle Square Daycare Center in Boston, a work-study secretary at Boston State’s Physical Education Department, a camp counselor at Camp Columbus/Columbia in Boxford, and two summer appointments as a U.S. Customs inspector at Logan Airport.
Returning to school for a degree in the early 1970s, at age 36, Ellie reveled in the exhilaration of being a college student at the crest of the women’s liberation movement, darting from class to class on the former Boston State campus in the Boston Fens, so excited about what her best friend, Linda Roberts and she were embarking upon, truly blossoming!
Upon graduation from college, she became a reading specialist in Winthrop Public Schools, a social worker at the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, and a manager at the Mass. Rehabilitation Commission’s Disability Determination Services division, where she he met her second husband, Ed, whom she married in 1989.
Ellie and Ed took their Social Security disability expertise to Hilton Head Island (land of pralines, sweetgrass baskets and Frogmore stew!) that same year, formed “Swierk Associates,†an SSDI claimant consulting practice, and have lived there ever since, weaving a beautiful 30-year tapestry and helping
hundreds upon hundreds of unfortunate souls facing serious illness find support and relief.
Although she transplanted herself to the beautiful South Carolina sea islands, Ellie maintained her fervent love of New England. She adored its beaches, Cape Cod breezes, Swan Boats, Harvard Square, the “Glass Flowers†of Harvard’s Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Boston Red Sox and Jordan Marsh Muffins!
She delighted her children in their youth with road trips to Horseneck Beach and Lincoln Park amusements in Southeastern, Mass., camping and climbing Mount Monadnock, movies, theatre and so much more! She loved her three grandchildren, and she was so excited at the prospect of a great-grandchild, her first, a boy, due on Christmas Day 2021!
She and Ed — her husband, friend and colleague of 40 years — traveled extensively to numerous Social Security disability conferences and sporting events throughout the United States, making scores of personal and professional friends along the way.
She read voraciously, savoring mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction and good old-fashioned beach reads. She also introduced her children to beloved Southern authors Dorothea Benton Frank, Mary Kay Andrews and of course, Pat Conroy, igniting a deep appreciation of South Carolina Lowcountry magic.
The rare and aggressive Merkel cell cancer, coupled with a 20-year struggle with the auto-immune disease polymyositis, didn’t stop Ellie from being in the world as actively as ever. She breathed can-do optimism and a sunny practicality into every endeavor. With walker and wheelchair in her final years, she embraced friends, family and a grand array of activities until her very last breath in this world.
Indeed, in what would turn out to be the final year of her life, birthdays and holidays with family surrounding and enfolding her at home, created cinematic memories she knew would breath forever.
Christmas 2020 at Ellie’s, many dozens of her beloved collectible “carolers†figurines silently serenading us, her home decorated to her exquisite standards, and the bright light in her eyes a beacon of hope and love, will absolutely stay in our hearts forever.
Besides her loving husband, Edward J. Swierk, of Bluffton, SC, Eleanor leaves her four cherished children: her son, Mark T. Pimentel of Bedford, NH; her son, William M. Pimentel and his partner, Michael J. O’Rourke, of Winthrop, her daughter, Virginia M. Flockton and her husband, Ronald T. Flockton, of
Carver, and her daughter, Barbara E. Pimentel and her fiancé, John A. Teixeira, of Winthrop. She also leaves precious grandchildren: Lauren A. Robillard and her husband, Daniel R. Robillard Jr., of Portsmouth, RI, Daniel J. Flockton of Carver and Hannah A. Pimentel of New Hampton, NH and her dear sister, Frances M. Donovan of Fairlawn, OH and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, especially Dr. Marilyn Schimenti, Phyllis Beane and Elaine “Honey†Dillon. She was predeceased by her parents: Frank W. Blades and Helen F. (Gross) Blades; her son, John E. Pimentel; her daughter, Joanne K. (Pimentel) Garlock; her sister Virginia M. (Blades) Simonalle and her first husband, Leon L. Pimentel.
A visitation and service for relatives and friends in South Carolina was held on Wednesday, August 4 at Sauls Funeral Home in Bluffton, South Carolina
www.saulsfh.com/
Her funeral will be held at the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop on Saturday, August 14 at 8:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Michael the Archangel Parish (formerly St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church), Winthrop at10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will be in the Cross Street section of Winthrop Cemetery. For guestbook, visit www.mauricekirbyfh.com
In lieu of flowers, donations in Eleanor’s name can be made to Merkel cell carcinoma research at the University of Washington Foundation, Box 359505, Seattle, WA 98195. Gifts can be made online at https://merkelcell.org/join-the-fight/donate/ or by check payable to “UW Foundation / MCC Researchâ€
Eugene Keenan
Retired Mass. State Trooper
Eugene E. Keenan, 88, of Byfield, formerly of Winthrop, passed away on July 30.
The beloved husband of Margery A. (Driver) Keenan, he was born in East Boston, the cherished son of the late Edward A. Sr. and Mary J. (Vargus) Keenan.
Eugene was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the Korean War from 1954 to 1956.
He was a member of the 101st Airborne Division known as the “Screaming Eagles.†Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a MDC Police Officer and after the merger with the Massachusetts State Police in 1996, he retired as a Massachusetts State Trooper. He was a life member of the Woburn Sportsman’s Association and also served as a Eucharistic Minister at Immaculate Conception Church in Newburyport.
He was the devoted father of Lauren Eremian of Florida, Linda Nowlan and her husband, Gerard of Boxford, Kathleen Guckert and her husband, Bruce of Billerica, Margery Beckwith, Eugene Keenan Jr. and his wife, Elaine and Patrick Keenan and his wife, Kathleen, all of Winthrop. He was the adored grandfather of 13 grandchildren and the great-grandfather of seven great-grandchildren and the dear brother of the late Edward A. Keenan Jr. and his late wife, Louise.
His funeral will be from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop today, Thursday, August 5 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church-Winthrop at 11:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will be in Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section.)
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Assn. 300 5th Ave. Ste. 6, Waltham, MA 02451. For guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
Robert Lerardi
Retired Teacher and Former Member of the Town of Winthrop Advisory Board
Robert R. “Bob†Ierardi, 86, of Naples, FL., Gilford, NH. and formerly of Winthrop, passed away on May 18. He was 86 years old.
The beloved husband of the late Anne (Folsom) Ierardi, he was born in Winthrop, the cherished son of the late Luciano and Anna (Marukelli) Ierardi.
Prior to his retirement, Bob was employed as a teacher in the Winthrop and Danvers Public School Systems. He was involved with the Boy Scouts of America, past co-chair of The Caregiver Network of Laconia, NH., Past President of the Deauville Lake Club Association of Naples, FL., and a former member of the Town of Winthrop Advisory Board.
Robert was the devoted father of Robert Ryan and his partner, Patrick Cudmore of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Thomas Ierardi and his wife, Gloria of Skaneateles, NY and Douglas Ierardi and his wife, Monique of Beaverton, OR. He was the adored grandfather of Allison, Matthew and Joseph Ierardi, Maria and Alex Ierardi and Jason Gale. Bob is also survived by his dear and close friend, Judith Murphy of Auburn, MA., and by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
His funeral will be held from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop on Saturday, August 7 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Michael the Archangel Parish (formerly St. John the Evangelist Church)-Winthrop at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will be in Winthrop Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be held in the funeral home on Friday, August 6 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the Alzheimer’s Assn. 309 Waverly Oaks Rd. Waltham, MA. 02452. To sign Robert’s guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.