Richard Cesareo
Aboard ship that survived World War II Kamikaze attack
Richard J. Cesareo of East Boston died on April 1.
He served proudly aboard the aircraft carrier USS Randolph during World War II, seeing combat in the pacific including a kamikaze attack on his ship. After the war, he worked for more than 20 years as an MBTA employee. He enjoyed ballroom dancing, Big Band music and spending time with family and friends.
He was the beloved husband of the late Raffella “Ella” (Amato) Cesareo and son of the late Stellario and Vincenza (Triffiletti) Cesareo; beloved father of Richard Cesareo and his wife, Elaine, of Winthrop, Linda Reeves and her husband, Maurice, of Winthrop, Paula Montagano and her husband, Peter, of Wakefield, and Anthony Cesareo and his wife, Melissa, of Hazlet, NJ; loving grandfather of Richard, Joseph, Christopher and Stephanie and cherished great-grandfather of Krystiana. He was the dear brother of Josephine Cesareo of Revere, Anthony Cesareo of Peabody, Eleanor Pupolo and her husband, Frank, of Revere and the late Joan, Leo, Larry, Nancy Cesareo, Katherine Stokes, and Lena Caissie. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
His Funeral will be held from The Kirby-Rapino Memorial Home, 917 Bennington St. (Orient Heights) East Boston today, Thursday, at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St., Winthrop at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be sent to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box, 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. To leave online condolences please visit www.kirby-rapino.com.
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Rev. Rocco Crescenzi
Longtime Administrator and Director of Don Orione Nursing Home
Rev. Rocco Crescenzi, son of Domenic and Philomena, died at the Don Orione Nursing Home on April 3 after a brief illness. He was 95 years old.
He was the last of six children. The family was very close, loving and religious, and he became interested in the priesthood very early in life. His uncle, nephew, a niece and two cousins have joined religious orders.
Father Rocco entered the Don Orione Congregation in 1930, and attended the Don Orion Seminaries in Northern Italy, where he met Don Orione in person. Father Rocco was privileged to associate with him during the last 10 years of Don Orione’s life and for a period of one year, he enjoyed the privilege to have been one of Don Orione’s personal younger attendants, performing many of the necessary chores required of Don Orione.
Fr. Rocco was ordained a priest on October 3, 1943, at the age of 27, at the Shrine of Our Guardian Lady in Tortona. His early assignments were spent in Naples from 1945 to 1949, where he was caring for and teaching the orphans and war crippled children. On October 10, 1949, he left Naples for Boston, disembarking in Philadelphia on October 29. He reached Boston on October 30, four months after the official opening of the Italian Home for the aged in East Boston. Shortly after his arrival, 12 elderly women became the first occupants of the first Home which stands on 120 Orient Avenue, East Boston._ _Fr. Rocco became the director in 1952 and served as such for various terms and as its Administrator for more than 40 years, During Fr. Rocco’s service and leadership, the Home, from its very humble beginnings, has become a 200 bed Nursing Home providing skilled nursing care, medical assistance, social and rehabilitative services combined with spiritual guidance and comfort. It was among the first to recognize the importance of providing home life, not just institutional care.
In 1975, the Don Orione Home created a Day Care Health Center for elderly citizens. Sixty-five elderly men and women participate in this program receiving nursing and medical care during the day and returning to their residences each evening. The Home is considered one of the finest in the state. Fr. Rocco was also instrumental in the building of the Madonna Queen National Shrine across the street from the nursing home. In October of 2003, Fr. Rocco’s Diamond Jubilee was celebrated, marking his 60 years in priesthood and 54 years at the Don Orione Home. He was also presented with the First Don Orione Lifetime Achievement Award at the 37th Annual Banchetto. Fr. Rocco’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated today, Thursday, April 7 at the Chapel of the Madonna Queen National Shrine at 12 noon. Burial will follow the Mass in the Don Orione Father’s lot in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Memorial donations may be made to the Don Orione Home 111 Orient Ave., East Boston MA 02128. To sign Fr. Rocco’s online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the Ernest P. Caggiano-O’Maley Funeral Home, Winthrop.
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Mary Briana
East Boston resident
Mary (Buttiglieri) Briana of East Boston died on April 4.
She was the beloved wife of the late John H. Briana; devoted mother of Ronald Briana and his wife, Betty, and the late John D. Briana; dear sister of Sarah Buttiglieri of East Boston and the late Filomena, Rocco, Carmen, Josephine Boncore, Representative Louis Buttiglieri, and Tina Alu; cherished grandmother of four and great grandmother of 11 and is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Her Funeral will be held from the Ruggiero Mazzarella Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga St. (Orient Heights) East Boston on Friday, April 8 at 9 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial in Celebration of her life in Sacred Heart Church, Brooks Street at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Services will conclude with burial with her husband and son in Woodlawn Cemetery. For more information or online guest book: www.ruggieromh.com
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Robert Herdt
Retired from Boston Naval Shipyard and GE
Robert G. Herdt of Winthrop died at the Brigham and Woman’s Hospital on March 9. He was 90 years old.
A US Navy veteran who served during World War II, prior to his retirement, he worked at the Boston Naval Shipyard as a tool and die maker. He later went on to work for General Electric, retiring from there also.
The beloved husband of Dorothy Louise (Wood) Herdt, he was born in Torrington, CT, the son of the late Henrich and Olga (Rosenbeck) Herdt. He was the devoted father of Paula F. (Herdt) Wrenn and her husband, Sy, of New Hampshire, R. Peter Herdt and his wife, Janna, of Idaho, and Randall C. Herdt and his wife, Michelle, of Winthrop, and the late Leslie A. Herdt; adored grandfather of 10 and great-grandfather of eight. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
A Visiting Hour will be held today, Thursday, April 7, beginning at 12 p.m. at the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop. His Funeral Service will be held at the Funeral Home, in conjunction with his daughter, Leslie, at 1 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Donations in his name may be made to the Viking Pride Foundation, P.O. Box 37, Winthrop, Ma, 02152. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
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Leslie Herdt
Retired travel agent
Leslie A. Herdt of Chelsea, formerly of Winthrop, died at the Boston Medical Center on March 28. She was 65 years old.
Prior to her retirement, she worked as a travel agent for various travel agencies.
Born in Winthrop, she was the cherished daughter of Dorothy L. (Wood) Herdt and the late Robert G. Herdt of Winthrop; devoted mother of Michelle Lopes of Florida, Robert Lopes of California and Joseph Lopes of Washington; dear sister of Paula F. (Herdt) Wrenn and her husband, Sy, of New Hampshire, R. Peter Herdt and his wife, Janna, of Idaho, and Randall C. Herdt and his wife, Michelle, of Winthrop; adored grandmother of Mason, Jason, Kaeli, and Giovanni Anthony Lopes. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
A visiting hour will be held today, April 7, beginning at 12 p.m. at the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop followed by a funeral service in the Funeral Home, in conjunction with her father, Robert, at 1 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
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Joan Kirk
Retired waitress
Joan L. (Hewitt) Kirk of Winthrop died at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital on March 30. She was 69 years old.
Prior to her retirement, she worked as a waitress in Jeveli’s Restaurant in East Boston and the former Cloud Nine Restaurant in Logan Airport.
The beloved wife of John J. “Jack” Kirk, she was born in Boston, the daughter of the late Hugh M. and Marian V. (Sanborn) Hewitt. She was the devoted mother and step-mother of Robert V. Cone and his wife, Julie, of Latham, NY, Christine L. Murphy and her husband, Kevin, of Winthrop, Scott B. Cone and his companion, Robin McDonough, of Winthrop, John T. Kirk and his wife, Joanne, of Winthrop, Dennis E. Kirk of Revere, and William J. Kirk of Saugus; dear sister of her late twin, Judith Acone, and Virginia Triantos; adored grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of five. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
At the request of the family, funeral arrangements will be private and entrusted to the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
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Harry Crawford
Self-employed mason and bricklayer
Harry S. Crawford of Revere died at the Massachusetts General Hospital on April 3. He was 87 years old.
Prior to his retirement, he was a self employed mason and bricklayer. One of his favorite pastimes was going to Suffolk Downs to enjoy the races and the horses
He was the beloved husband of the late Cecile N. (Myers) Crawford. Born in Boston, he was the son of the late William and Mary (Halprin) Crawford; devoted father of Dianne E. McCarthy and her husband, William J., of Marblehead, Natalie C. Crawford of Ware, Edward Jeffries of Revere, Ronald Crawford of Revere, and the late John Morrison; dear brother of Dorothy Tirrell of Winthrop, and the late Joseph and William Crawford; adored grandfather of Dianne Lincoln and her husband, Paul, of East Brookfield, Chance Boisse of Sandwich, Kerrin McCarthy of Brooklyn, NY, Michael McCarthy and his wife, Patricia, of Weston, CT, Jessalyn, Susie, Merritt, and Edward Jeffries, and Lauren Crawford. He is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. Cremation was private. Donations in his name may be made to the MSPCA-Angell Memorial Animal Hospital, 350 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02130. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
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Constance Pusateri
East Boston resident
Constance Pusateri of East Boston died on April 1.
She was the cherished daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (Bova) Pusateri; loving sister of Camille Ferullo of Vermont, Anthony of Florida, Frank of East Boston and the late Philip, Anna, Jon and James Pusateri.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Vazza_s _Beechwood_ Funeral Home, Revere. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery. For guest book, please visit: www.vazzafunerals.com
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Harold Roitmman
Advocate for Justice
Harold Roitman, longtime Belmont resident and graduate of Winthrop High School, family man, and advocate for justice, died April 1at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. He was 97 years old.
Prior to his retirement, Roitman represented major unions in New England such as the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, the United Steel Workers, the United Mine Workers, and the United Auto Workers, and helped found the law firm of Segal, Roitman and Coleman where he practiced law from 1973 until 1984. He argued before the United States Supreme Court in 1972.
Born on December 28, 1913 in East Boston to parents, Abraham Roitman, DMD and Jennie Segal Roitman, MD, he spent much of his later childhood in Winthrop. He graduated from Winthrop High School in 1931, Dartmouth College in 1935, and Harvard Law School in 1942. He was a proud alumnus and proponent of education throughout his life. He went on to serve as clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court in 1943 and 1944, practice labor law in the firm of Grant and Angoff, teach law at Northeastern University Law School from 1948-1953 and serve as Assistant District Attorney for Middlesex County from 1953-1955.
He lived in Belmont from 1951 to 2011 and served the community as council president of the Belmont PTA, a member of Belmont Town Meeting, a member of the Warrant Committee and a member of the Belmont Democratic Town Committee. In his retirement, he enjoyed tennis, skiing, travel, hiking, swimming, chess, and bridge. He also loved mystery novels, ice cream, and family gatherings at his summer home on Stinson Lake in Rumney, NH.
He is survived by his wife Elisabeth, whom he married in 1947; his children, Peter, Michael, Judith, and Jennie, as well as his grandchildren, Sara and Alexander Roitman and Jessie and Ben Pounds. He was the father of the late Sara.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in his memory to Massachusetts Audubon Society/Habitat or the American Civil Liberties Union. On line guestbook at: www.brownandhickey.com.
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Edward Ryan
East Boston resident
Edward T. Ryan of East Boston died on March 31.
He was the loving son of Theresa (Cleary) and the late Leo Ryan of East Boston, devoted father of Thomas Ryan of Marion and Daniel Ryan Sr. of Lynn; dear brother of Peter Ryan of Somerville and Thomas Ryan of Winthrop; cherished grandfather of Julian, Kendall and Daniel Ryan Jr. and is also survived by many fond nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Ruggiero Mazzarella Memorial Home, East Boston. Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery. For more information or to send an online condolence, www.ruggieromh.com.