Edward “Buddy” Gleeson
February 22, 1934 – February 28, 2024
Edward “Buddy” Gleeson of Winthrop, formerly of East Boston, passed away peacefully on February 28.
Edward was born in Boston on February 22, 1934 to the late Francis and Josephine (Cahill) Gleeson. He grew up in a large Irish family and married his loving “Betty.” He passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness. Edward had just celebrated his 90th birthday.
The beloved husband of over 60 years to the late Mary “Betty” Gleeson, he was the devoted father of Edward Gleeson of Winthrop, Tracy Wilson and her husband, Kenneth of Hampton, NH, Doreen Gleeson and her loving companion, Charles DiGiacomo of Winthrop; dear brother of William Gleeson and his wife, Josephine of East Boston, Joanne Candelora and her husband, Frank of Revere and the late Frank, Mary, Joseph, John, Herbert, Theresa, Thomas, Katherine and Elaine and he is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Family and friends honored Edward’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, East Boston on Wednesday, March 6th with visitation followed by a prayer service in our serenity chapel. Services concluded with Edward being laid to rest with his lovely wife, Betty at Winthrop Cemetery, Belle Isle Section. To leave an online condolence, visit www.ruggieromh.com.
Constance Agatha McNeil
Loving Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother
Constance Agatha (Sparaco) McNeil of Winthrop, formerly of East Boston, entered onto eternal rest on February 28 surrounded in the love of her family at the age of 94.
The devoted daughter of the late John and Lillian (Gazzaro) and sister of the late Agatha Boyd, she was the loving wife of the late James (Jim) McNeil with whom she shared 41 years of marriage; dedicated mother to Marissa Madden and her husband, Peter of Reading, James (Jamie) McNeil of Middleton and Nancy Famolare and her husband, Charles of Winthrop; proud Nana to Lauren Magro, Ashley Happy, Peter Madden, Kayla Famolare and Gianna Famolare; great grandmother to Joey and Dylan Happy and Lilli and Violet Bemister and she is also survived by her loyal fur grandbaby, “Lizzy the Dog.”
Family and friends honored Connie’s life by gathering at St. Joseph – St. Lazarus Church, 59 Ashley Street, East Boston, on Monday, March 4th and again on Tuesday, March 5th for a Funeral Mass in the church. Services concluded with Connie being laid to rest at Winthrop Cemetery, near River Road and Cross Street, Winthrop.I
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Joseph / St. Lazarus Parish, 59 Ashley Street, East Boston, or to a charity of your choice.
For more information, please visit www.ruggieromh.com.
June Marie Lupis
Beloved Matriach, Fondly Known as the “Mayor of Seaview Avenue
June Marie Lupis, beloved matriarch of Winthrop and former resident of East Boston, passed away peacefully on February 23, 2024, at the age of 90.
Born on June 20, 1933, June was a cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend who left an indelible mark on the lives of those who knew her. June is survived by her loving daughters, Bernadette DeAngelis and Carol Harvey, along with their late husbands Alan and Bob, respectively. Despite the sorrow of losing a brother and sisters before her, June’s legacy lives on through the many lives she touched.
Fondly known as the “mayor of Seaview Ave,” June was a fixture in her community, a source of warmth, kindness, and wisdom. Her home was a gathering place, filled with laughter, love, and the comforting aroma of homemade meals. She created a sense of family not only with her blood relatives but also with friends who became like family over the years. June leaves behind a rich tapestry of memories for her numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. Her generous spirit, compassionate heart and unwavering love will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Family and friends came together to honor June’s remarkable life on Wednesday, February 28th, at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, East Boston, followed by a procession to St. John the Evangelist Church on Winthrop St., Winthrop, for an 11:30 a.m. Funeral Mass celebrating June’s life. June was laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Angelo, at Winthrop Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, reflecting June’s compassionate and caring nature. As we say our final goodbyes, let us remember June Marie Lupis for the love she shared, the lives she touched, and the enduring legacy of kindness she leaves behind. May she rest in eternal peace.
John Grover
A Larger Than Life Character, Charismatic and Full of Love for His Friends and Family
John S. Grover of Winthrop passed away suddenly on March 3rd at the age of 69.
He was born on April 13, 1954 to Herbert and Patricia Grover. John was one of four siblings, he was predeceased by his brothers, William Grover and Richard Grover and his sister, Karen Bodvar. John was the beloved husband of Sandra (Herron) Grover. They were married for 46 years and together they raised three sons: Mathew Grover, Adam Grover and Evan Grover. John also had five grandchildren: Raechel Ward, Erick Grover, John Grover II, Robert Grover and Gabriel Grover and he was a great grandfather to Malcolm Rodriques whom he got to meet before he passed. He was also a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews.
John was a larger than life character. He was charismatic and full of love for his friends and family. He was a printer by trade for many years before retiring to a peaceful life of watching sports, telling stories about his father and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a history buff, lover of classic rock and building models. He was always the center of attention whenever he was in the company of friends and family.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 12 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster Street, Melrose. A funeral service will take place at 7 p.m. in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Jimmy Fund.
Ruth L. Calvano
March 9, 1933 – December 31, 2023
Ruth L. (Norlin) Calvano of Winthrop entered into rest on December 31, 2023 at 90 plus years of age. Born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, Ruth was the cherished daughter of the late Arthur C. Norlin and Judith DeMasi.
Her father, a native of Norway, spoke many languages and was an engineer whose work for the United Shoe Machinery had him travel to South America, where he and Judith, a native of Italy, spent a period during which Ruth’s two sisters, Beatrice and Charlotte, were born in Rio de Janeiro.
Ruth, the youngest of the three, although North-American born, often reminisced over memories from her earliest years in Brazil and Argentina.
She would allude to the sounds and images of the wildlife indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and its lively elements.
On the family’s return to the United States, they lived in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where Ruth attended school and then went to work as a seamstress in the garment industry.
She adored her mother, “Giuditta” in Italian, as Ruth would indeed succeed in uttering at times in the latter part of 2023. Like her father, Judith spoke more than her native Italian, namely, Portuguese, Spanish and English.
In the mid-1950’s Ruth met the man she would marry, Louis J. Calvano, Jr. Lou had worked in Air Cargo in New York and by that time was working for National Airlines at Logan Airport. Not surprisingly, their first encounter was at an Italian restaurant in East Boston, as the two shared an affinity for the neighborhood’s unique culture.
With the birth of their first son, Louis, and with her sisters in nearby Revere, the Chelsea – Revere – East Boston triangle was most certainly home.
About a year following the birth of their second son, Arthur, the family moved to Tampa, Florida, where brothers Louis and Arthur grew up until the family returned to Massachusetts in the summer of 1980, eventually landing in Winthrop. Winthrop would become Ruth’s steadfast stomping ground, as she walked one corner of the town to another.
She immediately made close friends while Arthur enrolled at St. John the Evangelist School and Louis at St. Dominic Savio High School. Arthur would also later attend Dom Savio and then Holy Cross and Louis, Suffolk University.
The travails of becoming a single mother in the mid-80s and the trials that it created for her bore the forerunners of her great tenacity and grit, which could hardly be subdued by misfortune and the worst disease, even up to her passing. Because for Ruth, nothing was more important than her sons’ well-being and seeing a smile on their faces, a smile that they inherited from their mother – a smile that was each of theirs and theirs alone.?
Well, that and the unconditional love that she demonstrated for animals, and cats above all. Ruth was wholehearted in her care and treatment of all kitties through the years, and not just her own. On Bowdoin Street she kept a close watch on a large outdoor cat as he began to falter (for the longest time thinking it was a she, as Ruth always called him “her girl”), fearing that she would get hit by a car with her diminished dexterity.
She loved dogs too. She would occasionally carry treats with her and surprise a dog down the Center with an unexpected serving. She was a huge fan of an adorable resident cat named Nate of a hardware store in Beverly. On one October day in Salem years back, she enjoyed the most special company of a pig named Willy and his owner. Just a few examples.
The importance and symbolism of maintaining a smile and being able to laugh went hand in hand with the resilience and positive attitude that Ruth exhibited for 33 ½ years subsequent to losing her Louis in a tragic accident in 1990. She was equally persevering, persistently unaccepting, and inexplicably perspicacious through and amidst the formidable physical and mental challenges provoked by the infirmity that she was dealt that began to surface over the greater part of the last decade.
Ruth had an uncanny ability to articulate in her own succinct way that which was unquestionably true. Direct and often funny, other times replete with emotion if not pain, she managed to hit it right on the button.
Those who truly knew her shall never forget that smile of hers that embodied her kind, selfless and magnanimous spirit. Those who knew her wouldn’t be surprised that she lived with deep humility up until her passing.
Ruth was the loving mother to her son and primary caregiver, Arthur C. Calvano and to the late Louis J. Calvano, III. She was the dear sister of both the late Charlotte Timms and the late Beatrice Pesino. Ruth is survived by Arthur, her nephew, Louis Duguie, three nieces – Sabrena Pesino, Dena Cordero and Nena O’Brien (and her husband Eric), as well as their children and grandchildren.
She also leaves behind her precious Poppy, of nearly twenty feline years.
Visitation will take place at the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home on Saturday, March 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. A Funeral Mass will follow the visiting hours at 11:30 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church (of Saint Michael the Archangel Parish) located at 320 Winthrop Street, Winthrop.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruth’s memory can be made to any of the following organizations at their websites: Alley Cat Allies – https://www.alleycat.org ; The Compassionate Friends – ttps://www.compassionatefriends.org/grief/; or The Humane Society of the United States – ?https://www.humanesociety.org?.
Funeral arrangements are from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop, MA. To sign Ruth’s guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com?.
Stephen R. Joltki
March 28, 1934 – February 28, 2024
Family & friends are respectfully invited to attend a visitation on Friday, March 8th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in St. Michael the Archangel Parish / St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St. Winthrop, for Stephen R. Joltki, who died on Wednesday, February 28th at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston following a very long illness, he was 1 month shy of his 90th birthday. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated following the visitation at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be held privately.
Steve was born on March 28, 1934 to his late parents, Steven Joltki & Apollonia (Pohorecka) Joltki in Boston. He was one of four children. He was raised & educated in Boston’s old West End.
Steve was a very talented and gifted athlete and destined for the major leagues. Known, locally as “shut out Steve”, he played and pitched in the West End league in Boston. He was drafted by the Dodgers and played semi pro baseball for their farm team the “Red Hats”. While there, he pitched a “No Hitter” and got a standing ovation and the folks in the stand filled his ball cap with tips. He got called up to the majors and at his first game, unfortunately, sustained an injury by a wild ball that hit his pitching elbow and ended his career.
He proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War, while continuing to play ball for the Army team with teammates from the west end and north end of Boston. Because they so won often, his superiors on base asked him to stay on and manage the Army team, but he declined as he wanted to come home to his wife and was honorably discharged for his service.
Stephen married his wife, Carolyn (Kaziukonis), who he knew growing up, on October 14, 1956 and they lived on Beacon Hill. The couple later moved to east Boston, before settling in Winthrop in 1969. During this time, they began their family together and had happily & proudly raised their son & daughter.
Steve worked in the food industry all his working career. He along with his wife owned & operated two restaurants, “Foxie’s Deli” in Watertown and a second in Newton for many years. He was recruited by Baystate Lobster Co. to develop gourmet recipes for seafood lobster bisques, chowders and other foods. He then opened a frozen Seafood Factory in Winthrop with investors and worked ad-hoc for various manufacturers with contracts to produce seafood recipes – frozen to ship to luxury hotels in Bermuda and Caribbean until he retired.
At the Fancy Food shows, Julia Child was a repeat patron for his famous lobster bisque. Culinary interest and talent ran in the family and he influenced his children. His son Steve followed in his footsteps and became a chef on mega yachts in Europe and Caribbean and his daughter Kris, ran Saveur magazine in New York City and worked for Gourmet and Bon Appetit.
Steve was a selfless person and would give to anyone in need, literally, the shirt off his back… he was always there to help. He did a lot of charity work in the soup kitchens of the Pine Street Inn and other homeless organizations, for the church and charities locally and in Europe. He sponsored a Vietnamese family in his home after the war for a few years, always helped neighbors and friends and anyone not having a place to go on a holiday was always welcome at his table.
Steve loved travel and was especially proud of one of the last trips he took with his brother Paul and cousins to the Ukraine where his father was born and was lucky to take a cherished memento home – a brick from the foundation of his grandfather’s house before it was gone.
He loved cooking/entertaining, auctions, antiquing and working in the garden. With his daughter, he planted thousands of tulips and spring flowers, window boxes and over a hundred varieties of roses – French, English, heirloom, climbing on perogolas and festooned 20 feet up on trees around his property wafting an incredible fragrance throughout the neighborhood.
He was fun and funny and loved to dance. He was a huge rat pack and classical music fan and often had the windows open with his Bose speakers on full tilt with Mozart, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky’s 1812th Overture or Frank Sinatra blaring through the neighborhood. When his flowers were in full bloom, a hint of salt air blowing in off the ocean, you could find Steve enjoying his late vintage port wine with a good cigar on the porch while he listened to the music… one of his greatest joys.
He is the beloved husband of 67 years to Carolyn A. (Kaziukonis) Joltki of Winthrop. The loving father of Kris A. Joltki & partner John Tiano, and the late Steven M. Joltki. The cherished papa of Max Joltki, Alexander Boone, & William Boone. He is the treasured brother of the late Olga Kasinowicz, Paul Joltki, & Mitchell Joltki. Also lovingly survived by several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, & grandnephews.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Stephen’s memory to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Boston, 18 Canton Street, Stoughton, MA 02072. To send online condolences, please visit www.vertucciosmithvazza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals, Revere.
Elizabeth Curtis
Of Revere, formerly of East Boston
Elizabeth A. Curtis of Revere, formerly of East Boston, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 1.
The loving daughter of Philip Puzzo and the late Elizabeth Gallagher, she was the beloved wife of the late Richard Curtis, devoted mother of Christopher Curtis, Angela Curtis and her fiancé, Steven McGrath; dear sister of Brian Puzzo, Barbara Puzzo and Danny Gallagher. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor Elizabeth’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga Street, (Orient Heights) East Boston, on Saturday, March 9th from 1 to 5 p.m. A prayer service will be held in our Chapel at 4:30 p.m. Committal services will be private. For more information please visit www.ruggieromh.com.
Hosanna Lochiatto
Of Winthrop
Hosanna “Dot” Lochiatto of Winthrop passed away at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on February 16, 2024. She was 83 years old.
Born in Boston, she was the beloved daughter of the late Elizabeth (Cardinale) and Alphonse Ricupero, the devoted wife of the late Stefan Lochiatto and the loving mother of Lisa Viera of Salem, Kevin Lochiatto of New Hampshire, Alan Locke and Kristen Lochiatto Thomson, both of Winthrop; dear sister of Debbie MacDonald of Ipswich, Joyce Davey of Florida and the late Leonard Ricupero and Theresa Ricupero. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Services and interment 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.
Daniel Wiener
GE Retiree
Daniel T. Wiener of Winthrop passed away on March 4, 2024. He was 77 years old.
Daniel was the beloved husband of the late Ellen (Vida) Wiener. Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, he was the cherished son of the late Eva (Novak) and Jan Wiener.
Prior to his retirement, Daniel worked as a steam turbine assembler for General Electric.
Daniel was the devoted father of Daniel H. Wiener and his wife, Shari Warden of Reading. He was the dear brother of the late Michael Wiener.
Funeral services for Daniel will be private. Donations in his memory can be made to the Pine Street Inn, 444 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA. 02118. Funeral arrangements were from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop. To sign Daniel’s guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.