Obituaries 07-07-2022

William J. “Coach Bill” Squires, Sr.

Renowned for Coaching Generations of Top Marathon Athletes

William J. “Coach Bill” Squires, Sr. passed away peacefully on June 30 at the ageof 89.  He had been a resident of Reading for the past four years and was formerly of Melrose, Quincy, Wakefield and Arlington.

He was the devoted father of Mary Susan of Quincy, William J. Jr. and his wife, Priscilla of Reading, Gerard F. and his wife, Gabrielle Freedman of Stoughton; beloved grandfather of Christopher, Katherine, Jessica, Robert, Cecelia and Jackson, great-grandfather of Chandler and Savannah and great-great-grandfather of Colten, Alaina and Caden.  He was also the brother of the late John Squires of Arlington and former husband of the late Sally Squires of Wakefield.

Coach Squires was renowned for coaching generations of top marathon athletes including Bill Rodgers, Greg Meyer, Dick Beardsley, Alberto Salazar, Jack Fultz and many other runners. In his youth, he was an All-America runner at Arlington High and Notre Dame and went on to coach athletes at Wakefield High, Boston State and UMass Boston.  He contributed greatly to the “running boom” of the 1970’s and coached local running teams for decades including Team New Balance, the Greater Boston Track Club, the Liberty Athletic Club, and the Boston Sisu Club. 

John Powers of the Boston Globe wrote a tribute to Coach this week; in it he quoted 1968 Boston Marathon winner Amby Burfoot who said, “Bill Squires turned a bunch of wacky individualistic Boston runners into marathon elites in part because he shared the same traits – he’s wacky and individualistic.”  Burfoot quoted Coach Squires, “You need a little flavor… you’ve got to be fun. You can’t have a frown on your face.”  It was these traits – being wacky and fun – as well as his generosity of spirit, that made Coach Squires so beloved by his athletes, his friends, and his family.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, July 8 from 3 to 8 p.m. taking place inside St. Agnes Church, 186 Woburn Street, Reading and a Celebration of Life Funeral Mass also at St. Agnes Church on Saturday, July 9 at 11 a.m.  A collation and celebration of his life with stories etc., will follow immediately afterward in the Parish Hall directly behind the church.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the “Bill Squires Track Legacy Fund” in honor of Coach, c/o 26 Oak Ridge Road, Reading, Mass, 01867.  To share a memory or send a note of condolence, please visit Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home’s website at www.johnbdouglassfuneralhome.com.

Gregory Aloi

Family Was the Most Important Part of His Life

Gregory R. Aloi of Peabody passed away July 2 at the age of 78 surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with multiple myeloma.

 Gregg was born in Medford on December 29, 1943 to the late Daniel and Catherine Aloi.  He was raised in Medford and graduated from Medford High School.  He enlisted in the US Navy immediately after high school and spent time in Okinawa as a communications technician, all while exchanging letters with his future beloved wife, Carol Kennedy.  Upon return, Gregg worked hard to earn multiple college degrees in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology and Northeastern University. 

Once reunited with Carol, they later married and went on to raise their family of three girls in Melrose.  They lived in Melrose together for almost 40 years, members of St. Mary’s Parish and later Incarnation Parish.  Gregg enjoyed helping with collections during Saturday afternoon masses. 

Gregg and Carol enjoyed summers with family and friends at the beach in Point Shirley, Winthrop and also enjoyed many road trips, family vacations and adventures with siblings.  Bermuda was his favorite travel destination.  Gregg started his career at Johnson Controls, then Prudential Insurance and then worked for about 30 years as Facility Manager at First National Bank of Boston in downtown Boston. After retirement from the bank, he continued to work in management including Clerk of the Works for the City of Melrose. 

Gregg was the ultimate handyman, electrician and project manager around the house.  He managed multiple home renovation projects and was always helping his daughters and other family members with their own home projects.  While living at Brooksby Village in Peabody in recent years, he enjoyed spending time with his friends playing pickleball.  The most important part of Gregg’s life was his family. 

Gregg was the beloved husband of the late Carol Ann (Kennedy) Aloi and the loving father of Cheryl Thibault and her husband, Scott of Newburyport, Catherine Boese and her husband, John of Andover and Kristin Wilcox and her husband, Reginald of Millis; cherished grandfather of Michelle, Ryan, Rebecca, Jack, Sara Beth, Timothy, Kyle and Megan; caring brother of Elaine Hommel, Daniel Aloi and the late Sharon Aloi.  He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, July 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Incarnation Church, 429 Upham St., Melrose on Saturday, July 9 at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the charity of your choice. For directions and to sign online condolences, visit www.gatelyfh.com.

Louis Lawrence Abrams

Of Winthrop, formerly of Chelsea

Louis Lawrence Abrams of Winthrop, formerly of Chelsea, passed away on June 29. 

Louis was the beloved husband of the late Adrean (Freede) Abrams, the devoted father of David Abrams and his wife, Alyssa and Stephanie Long and her husband. Kenneth;  the dear brother of Phyllis Pokat and her late husband, Louis, Stanley Abrams and his wife, Kathy and Leonard Abrams and his wife, Jen.  He was the loving grandfather of Ethan, Samantha, Zoe, Chelsea, Mason and Amber. 

Services were held on Wednesday, July 6 at Temple Emmanuel, 60 Tudor St., Chelsea. 

Interment was in Everett.  Memorial observance was held at his late residence following the interment and will continue today, Thursday, from 2 to 8 p.m.  Contributions in Louis’s memory may be made to the Autism Alliance of Metrowest, 1881 Worcester Rd., Suite 100, Framingham, MA  01701 or the Winthrop Public Library, 2 Metcalf Square, Winthrop, MA  02152. 

For online guestbook and directions, please visit the funeral home website, www.torffuneralservice.com.

Martha “Marty” Yardley Hamilton

She Loved Her Family and Friends Above All Else

Martha “Marty” Yardley Hamilton passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 30 at Oostermans Rest Home in Melrose. She was 97 years of age.

Marty was born in Glasgow, Scotland on June 22, 1925 to Elsie and Andrew Thomson. She was the oldest of six children.

During the Second World War, she left school to support her family and journeyed to America to find work.

Shortly after, she returned to Scotland to marry her husband, John Hamilton and start their family. They had two boys, John (Jack) and Alan. The family of four, along with Marty’s parents and five siblings, returned to America. Her mother and father along with Marty and her family established their home atop the hill on Prospect Ave. in Winthrop. Marty loved her home of nearly 65 years where she was an avid gardener, an accomplished watercolorist, world traveler, and sheenjoyed walking around the beautiful town of Winthrop. She was also surrounded by wonderful neighbors throughout her many years. Above all else, Marty loved her family and friends.

Marty was predeceased by her parents, Elsie (Tomlinson) and Andrew Thomson, her husband, John(Jock) Hamilton and survived by her sons John (Jack) Hamilton, Alan Hamilton and his wife, Marci, her Granddaughter, Samantha Yardley (Hamilton) Latta and her husband, Nicholas, her grandson Alex Hamilton, and her great-granddaughter Emma Latta, all of Winthrop. Marty is also survived by her dear sister, Elsie Myserian of Stoneham, her brother, North Thomson and his wife, Philena of Winthrop, her sister, Andrea (Thomson) Smith and her husband, Richard of Edinburgh, Scotland, and her sister-in-law, Jean Thomson. She was predeceased by her brother, William Thomson of Reading and her sister, Joyce (Troy) Taylor of Rye, NH. She is also loved by many nieces and nephews here and abroad.

A celebration of her life will be held at the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop on July 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. Martha was lovingly cared for while at home and during her stay at Oostermans Rest Home. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Brighton Hospice or a charity of your choosing. 

To sign Martha’s guestbook, please visit our website at www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Marie Grande

Boston School Dept. Retiree Whose Family Was the Most Important Part of Her Life

Marie E. (Zaneski) Grande of Pelham, NH, formerly of Winthrop, passed away on July 4. She was 82 years old. The beloved wife of the late Ernest G. Grande, she was born in Boston, the cherished daughter of the late Joseph and Mary (Burke) Zaneski.

Prior to her retirement, Marie worked for the Boston Public School Dept. She enjoyed shopping, good Italian food and animals. Marie always missed her late K9 companion “Jingles.” Above all, her family was the most important part of her life, especially the grandchildren, who she inquired about daily.

Marie was the devoted mother of Laurie Gallo and Cheryl DiMuro and her husband, Jerry of Pelham, NH, Joseph Gallo and his wife, Judi of Canton and Jennifer Holmes and her husband, Jay of Winthrop. She was the adored grandmother of Joseph and his wife Michelle, Nicole, Jaclyn, Olivia, Abby, Julia and Emma and the loving great-grandmother of Tyler, Rylee, Pyper and Wyatt and the dear sister of the late Joseph Zaneski.

Visiting hours will be held in the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop on Monday, July 11 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. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will be private. To sign Marie’s guestbook, please visit:www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Murray Norman Pascar

Retired Restaurant Proprietor, Caterer and Director of Food Service in the Assistant Living Community

Murray Norman Pascar, 86, of Deerfield Beach, FL, formerly of Winthrop, entered into eternal rest on Friday, June 10 after a long battle with his health.

Murray was born in Boston, the son of the late Harry and Francis (Weiner) Pascar of Hull. He grew up in the Boston area and was a US Airforce Veteran who served during the Korean conflict. He was an active member of the Jewish War Veterans (JWV) Post 265 of Deerfield Beach, FL.

Murray’s passion for food was evident in his life’s work as a restaurant proprietor, caterer and director of food service in the assistant living community. While living in Winthrop, Murray loved salt-water fishing, digging for clams, and swimming to the breakers to get mussels for his famous seafood scampi. He was an avid gardener with an amazing green thumb. He was very proud of his vegetables and flowers.

Murray is survived by his wife of 64 years, Gloria (Kaplan) Pascar as well as his son, Richard Pascar of Hollis, NH, daughter, Jodi and her husband, Ira Adler of Nashua, NH, and daughter, Amy Pascar of Winthrop. He was Papa to Jessica (Adler) and her husband, Andrew Moore of North Carolina, Victoria Adler of Massachusetts and Charles Adler of Maine. Murray loved being a great-grandfather (Pa) to little Hunter Moore and was excited for the upcoming birth of Hunter’s baby brother.

Murray was the oldest of 14 children. He was predeceased by his sisters, Doreen Mindes, Eleanor Engel, Sandra Estey and Adele Pascar and is survived by his siblings: Fredrick and his wife, Margaret Pascar of Rhode Island, Lorna Boyce and Sheldon and his wife, Susan Pascar, all of Massachusetts, Aaron and his wife, Mickie Pascar of Arkansas, Jeffrey Pascar, Lowan Pascar, Neila Colella, Deborah Jones and Harley Pascar, all of Massachusetts as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral arrangements were by Stanetsky Memorial Chapel, 475 Washington St. Canton, MA 02021. Burial was at Sharon Memorial Park, Dedham St., Sharon, MA 02067. Shiva was observed at the home of Jodi and Ira Adler, 6 Dane St. Nashua, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Murray’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.