Obituaries – 06/18/09

Adi Ya’akov Kippor, 44
Ritual director

Adi Ya’akov Zippor, formerly of Winthrop, died suddenly on November 19, 2008, at the age of 44. His sudden death occurred in Brighton, and he was buried on Har Menuchot in Jerusalem. Although he died last November, this announcement is being made to reach those of his kind circle of friends who haven’t yet received the news of this great loss to his family and those who knew and loved him.

He was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on November 22, 1963, the middle of three children, to Sylvia and Meir Zippor, and graduated from Cohen Hillel Academy, Winthrop High School, and Prozdor at Hebrew College. He attended Camp Yavneh, UMass-Boston, and received his associate’s degree with honors in science from North Shore Community College.

Mr. Zippor conducted services and read the weekly Torah portion at Congregation Tifereth Abraham and Temple Tifereth Israel, both of Winthrop. He later became ritual director of Congregation Kehillath Israel of Brookline and later held similar duties at Temple Emeth, South Brookline.

With a fondness for Semitic languages, he studied Hebrew and Arabic, enjoying music and art from both cultures and was known for his calligraphy and sweet niggunim, melodies. Most of all, he will be remembered for his acts of loving kindness to all peoples as his guiding principle.

He is survived by his mother, Sylvia (Ford) Zippor of Jerusalem, his sister, Ofra (Zippor) Panzer, of Great Neck, NY, and his younger brother, Rabbi Amihai Zippor of Jerusalem.

Donations in his memory may either be made to the Brookline-based Yad Chessed charitable fund (www.yadchessed.org) or to help offset the large cost for his burial in Jerusalem. For the latter, checks can be made out to “Chevre Kadisha Kehillat Yerushalayim” and mailed to Amihai Zippor, 38 Park Circle, Great Neck NY, 11024. For questions or inquiries, please e-mail [email protected].

A. Richard Giangregorio
A. Richard Giangregorio of Winthrop died June 13.

He loved his family, his trumpet and life. His encouragement and wit will be missed by all who knew him. To quote one of his favorite artists: “I would like to be remembered as a man who had a wonderful time living life, a man who had good friends, fine family – and I don’t think I could ask for anything more than that, actually.” (- Frank Sinatra)

He was a US Marine Corps veteran of World War II, a graduate of Boston College, Class of 1950, and the Dartmouth College V-12 Program.

He is survived by his most loving family, which includes Marie; his son, Richard G. Giangregorio and his wife, Marianne; his grandchildren, Erik and Elise; and his niece, Ellen (Matarazza) Best. He was the brother of the late Mary, Margaret (Matarazza), Lawrence, and Eugene Giangregorio.

A private service to celebrate his life will be held at a later date.

Carmela Munafo,79
Bookbinder

Carmela Munafo of Revere died on June 4. She was 79 years old.

A bookbinder, she was born on March 27, 1930 in Boston, the loving daughter of the late Michael Cascio and Giuseppina (Ciccarello) Cascio; cousin of Carmela Leopold of New Hampshire, Helen Sienkiewicz of Salem and Matthew Cascio of Winthrop and is also survived by her godchild, Maria Leonard, her husband, James, and their two daughters, Christina and Stephanie Leonard.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, Revere. Burial was in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Boston.

Phyllis Marino, 85
Member of Several Revere Organizations

Phyllis A. (Vitale) Marino, a 13-year resident of Winthrop formerly of Revere, died unexpectedly on June 12. She was 85 years old.

Mrs. Marino was born and raised in Revere and was a 1941 graduate of Revere High School. She was an active member of several organizations within the Revere community, namely, the Revere Lodge-Ladies of Moose, St Anthony’s Ladies Sodality, REVERE CARES Organization and the Revere Society for Cultural and Historic Preservation. She was also active in the Revere Alumni Celebration Committee.

Diagnosed with breast cancer about six years ago, with her very determined and feisty spirit, she approached her illness with a most positive attitude and became a “survivor”. She maintained her cancer free status until her unexpected death.

She was the wife of the late Carl A. Marino, who died in June 1993; devoted mother of Sharon G. Slatt and cherished grandmother of Jaime L. Slatt, both of Winthrop, with whom she made her home; dear sister of Lucy Patti and Gloria Hurley, both of Revere, and the late Laura Cataldo, Maryann D’Agresta and Vincent Vitale; and she is also lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Vertuccio Home for Funerals, Revere. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.

Remembrances may be made to one’s favorite charity.

Rayleen Nicole Lescay-Bergeron, 25
Worked at Breakheart Reservation, active volunteer

Rayleen Nicole Lescay-Bergeron, a longtime Winthrop resident, who also lived in Lynn and South Boston, died on June 9. She was 25 years old.

She attended Winthrop schools and later the Northeast Metro Tech High School in Wakefield. She also attended college for a year.

A bright, loving, outgoing, and caring young woman who made friends wherever she went, she was most known for her never-ending smile, a positive attitude for life, and was comforted by her close network of friends throughout her illness.

She worked on the Kerry campaign and was a member of the Partners for Youth with Disabilities, Spina Bifida Association, where she met and made many friends. Prior to becoming ill with cancer, she was independent and happily living in South Boston and working at the Breakheart Reservation, where she touched many hearts. After her disease progressed, she lived with her loving and caring parents in Lynn. She will be missed by her family and those whose many lives she touched.

She was the beloved daughter of Annemarie (Koutrouba) and Michael Bergeron of Lynn; loving granddaughter of Lorraine and Peppi Lescay of Winthrop; loving sister of Rebecca Lescay of Winthrop, Anthony Bergeron of Lynn, Michael and Luke Bergeron of New Hampshire and George Lescay of Winthrop. She is also survived by many loving uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.

Donations in her memory may be made to Spina Bifida Association, 4590 MacArthur Blvd., NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20007 or to Tufts N.E. Medical Center, Cancer Unit 800, Washington St., Box 231, Boston, MA 22111.

Funeral services were private with arrangements by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. For her guest book, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Roberta Gumport, 70
Of Illinois, formerly of Winthrop

Roberta H. (Kugell) Gumport of Illinois, formerly of Winthrop and Urbana, Ill., died June 7. She was 70 years old.

She is survived by her husband, Richard; her daughter, Susan Rachel; her son, William Isaac; her sister, Lorraine Kugell and husband, Mickey Jaffe; her niece, Lisa Jaffe; and her nephew William and his wife, Vicki Jaffe.

In lieu of flowers, donations to any cancer care hospital or research institute would be appreciated. Arrangements were by the Cremation Society of Illinois, 773-281-5058.

Raymond Cross Sr.
Revere resident

Raymond J. Cross Sr. of Revere died on June 12.

He was the beloved husband of 49 years of Carole (Grant) Cross of Revere; devoted father of Cheryl Lillie of Revere, Rosanne Ciaramella of Keene, NH, Raymond Jr. and his wife, Susan, of Winthrop and Karen Molina and her husband, Santos, of Chelsea; dear brother of George, Bernice, Mary, Diane, Sharon, Anthony, Bernard and the late Thomas, Harold, Judy, Claudia, Edward and Patrick. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home, Arlington, Vt. with burial at Ira Allen Cemetery, Sunderland, Vt. For more information, call Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, Chelsea, at 617-889-2723.

Ruth Larson
Reading resident

Ruth M. (Belcher) Larson of Reading died on June 12.

She was the beloved wife of the late George R. Larson Sr.; devoted mother of George R. Larson Jr. and his wife, Nancy, of Reading and Nancy C. Firth of Chelmsford; loving grandmother of Valerie Fernald, Victoria Trudel, Sarah Fennelly and Andrew Larson; great-grandmother of six; cherished sister of Margery Barry of Norwell, Phyllis DeGregorio of Lake Worth, Fla. and the late Frank Belcher, Alice Bernier, Ada Beddeos, Richard and Harold Belcher; and the mother-in-law of the late Thomas E. Firth Jr. of Chelmsford.

Funeral arrangements were by the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home, Reading. Burial was in Forest Glen Cemetery, Reading.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd. For more information and her register book, visit johnbdouglassfuneralhome.com.

Frank Rota, 64
Member of Winthrop Auxiliary Police and Winthrop Yacht Club

Frank A. Rota, a lifelong resident of Winthrop, died at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital on June 11, after a brief illness. He was 64 years old.

He was formerly a mechanic and a member of the Winthrop Auxiliary Police and the Winthrop Yacht Club.

Born in Revere, he was the dear son of Antonetta (Caggiano) and the late Virgilio A. Rota and the beloved brother of Dennis Rota of North Reading.

Funeral arrangements were by the Caggiano Funeral Home, Winthrop. Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery. To sign his online guest book, go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.