Charles Edmund Pyne
Commander USCGR (Ret)
Commander Charles Edmund (Ed) Pyne, USCGR (ret), 89, of Winthrop and Fort Myers, Florida, passed away on September 9 at the Ledgewood Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility in Beverly surrounded by his loving family.
He was the cherished husband of Marita A. Pyne with whom he shared 69 years of marriage.
Edmund was born on September 21, 1934 in Medford, the son of Charles and Rosemary Pyne of Winthrop. He was the devoted father of six children: Susan M. (Mark) Johnson of Pacific Grove, California, Margaret (Peg) P. (Joseph) Houghton, of Marblehead, Stephen C, (Deborah) Pyne of Rye, NH, Kathleen P. (Walter) Dossett of Salisbury, Ann Marie (Craig) Foland, of Tyngsboro and Robert E. Pyne of Dartmouth. He cherished his 11 grandchildren: Stephanie Murtagh, Amanda Window, Nicole Capone, Hayley Politis, Christopher Houghton, Erick Capone, Eric Johnson, Alyssa Jones, Sarah Hansen, Benjamin LaPoint and Madison Pyne and 15 great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his brothers and sister: Richard A. Pyne of Portland ME, David W. Pyne of Bonita Springs, FL, and Rosemary Burns of Winthrop. He is survived by his three sisters: Marita Pyne of Lynn, Bernadette Gibson of Estero, Fl and Andrea Farquhar of Fairfax, VA.
Ed Pyne was a life-long resident of Winthrop. He was educated in local schools and graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in Boston in 1952. Upon graduation, Ed was employed by the New England Telephone Company and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves. On June 4th 1955 Edmund married the love of his life and High School Sweetheart, Marita. They were inseparable and did everything together. Their pride and joy was the development of their children and later, their grand and great grandchildren. Ed was deeply involved in his children’s education and social development and that is where he focused his efforts. He served as President of the Cottage Park Yacht Club Youth Sailing Program, of which all his children and to extent his grandchildren had the opportunity to learn to sail. He served as President of the Winthrop Youth Hockey Program and promoted the planning and subsequent construction of the Winthrop indoor skating rink. The family thoroughly enjoyed all the happy years of traveling to New Hampshire for weeks of camping at White Lake State Park.
Ed’s civic and community involvement was manifested as Commodore of the Cottage Park Yacht Club and actively serving for over 60+ years in many CPYC committee assignments. He continued as a Town Meeting Member and served as the initial Secretary of the Harbor Facilities Committee. Responsible for developing the management of the Winthrop Harbor Facilities. He was appointed by the Town Meeting to serve as Secretary to the Central Communications Study Committee, which developed the forerunner of-emergency dial 911.
Ed’s business career spanned 42 years in the communications business, having worked for N.E. Telephone Co, AT&T Co, Fidelity Investments and the Bank of Boston as a Communications manager. He and Marita also owned and operated for a short time a family business in Winthrop.
While employed in his first years at the Telephone Company, he was called to active duty and proudly served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War. His first duty assignment was at sea, where he recognized an opportunity to be assigned as a Telephone Technician. Transferred to the Electronic Repair Shop, Chatham, MA where he served his remaining obligation. After release from active duty, Ed continued in the C.G Reserve, steadily moving upward in rank. Promoted to Chief Technician and quickly recommended and promoted to Chief Warrant Officer and after a short period of time he was recommended and direct commissioned to Lieutenant. In due course, Ed was promoted to Commander, after serving as Commanding Officer of two reserve units in the Boston area and many staff assignments in Reserve Group Boston. He was then assigned as the Commanding Officer of Reserve Group Southwest Harbor Maine. During these duty assignments, he served on board the U.S.C.G Cutter Eagle during three separate America’s Cup challenges in Newport, RI; as Public Affairs and Protocol Officer. Also, during this time, CDR Pyne was recommended by the District Commander to organize and lead a two-hundred-person Coast Guard contingent to march in the Coast Guard Bi-Centennial Parade in Newburyport Mass. Following the Bi-centennial activity. CDR Pyne was assigned as the Coast Guard liaison to the Connecticut National Guard. On June 30, 1992, after 40 years of service, CDR Pyne was retired from the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.
In 1997, Ed and Marita retired from their professional careers and entered a six-year voyage on their 36-foot Grand Banks Trawler, the “Marita” traveling the Intra-Coastal Waterway from Winthrop to Marathon, Florida. This was the most enjoyable period of his life as he and Marita met wonderful people along the way and the many places they visited. They also enjoyed “big” ship cruising in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska and Hawaii. In 2003 they “swallowed the anchor” and retired to their Fr. Myers condo.
While in Florida, Ed continued his management responsibilities by being elected president of the Town and River Condo Association and Commodore of the Cruise Club. This was a continuation of other associations such as: Life member of the following organizations: Cottage Park Yacht Club, Reserve Officers Assn, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
God, Family, Country, these were the ranking principles of his life, values he imparted to all his children and beloved Grand and Great Grandchildren. Ed loved the ocean and spent most of his life enjoying its gifts and splendor. He passed this love onto his children as well. Ed was a success in every important role in life. He was a loving and devoted husband, loving father, trusted advisor and dedicated friend. He will be dearly missed by all who know him. His effect on Family and Friends is his legacy to them. May he forever be held in the hands of our Lord.
Family and friends are cordially invited to attend the visitation from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop on Sunday, September 22, 2024 from 3 to 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop Street, Winthrop on Monday, September 23 at 10 a.m. Immediately following the mass, interment with full military honors will be conducted in the Winthrop Cemetery. Following the mass and interment, a celebration of life will be held at the Cottage Park Yacht Club, 76 Orlando Ave, Winthrop.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: New England Center for Homeless Veterans, 17 Court St. Boston, MA. 02108.
To sign the online guestbook, go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.
Phillip Barone
Operated P.V. Barone Construction with his brothers
Phillip Barone of Winthrop passed away unexpectedly at home on September 11, 2024. He was 68 years old. Born in Brighton, he was the beloved son of the late Constance (Singarella) and Pasquale “Pat” Barone. A resident of Winthrop since 1985, he along with his brother’s operated P.V. Barone Construction.
He was the dear brother of Joseph Barone and his wife, Donna of Winthrop, Constance Averbuck and her husband, Richard of Scituate, Vincent P. Barone of Swampscott and Robert Barone and his wife, Susan of Marblehead and loving uncle of Joseph, Caroline and Christopher. He is also survived by his girlfriend, Pam Haywood.
The funeral was conducted from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop on Tuesday, September 17 followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church. Services concluded with the interment in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Boston.
To sign the online guestbook, go to caggianofuneralhome.com.
Shown above, Alexis Gately perusing the Christmas decorations at the collectors’ table during First Church…
Cary Shuman photoNicole Kneeland Preston (right), director of developmentat the For Kids Only after school…
By Adam Swift At the town council’s next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3, the council…
By Adam Swift The town council is seeking a break on toll fees for Winthrop…
Mass. RMV Reminds Residents of Real ID Deadline The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)…
By Adam Swift There have been changes in leadership in the Gorman Fort Banks Elementary…