Obituaries 03-30-2017

Charles Balliro

Attorney, actor, author, and playwright

Attorney Charles R. Balliro died tragically in his Winthrop home on Saturday, March 18. He was 68 years old.

Born in Boston, Charlie was raised in the North End before the family settled in Revere. He was educated in Revere and is a graduate of Revere High School, Class of 1966. Charlie went on to earn his undergraduate degree at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. During his time there, Charlie was most active, taking advantage of all that the school offered. He played football for the NSU Demons, he was in student government, he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and he thrived in the School Drama Club. In his junior year, he earned the lead role in a Woody Allen production of “Don’t Drink the Water.” He was the lead as King Lear in “The Lion in Winter” and received Best Actor Award for his performance. He also won awards for Southwest Conference Poetry Competition, earning first place. Charlie excelled at NSU and his achievements validate his active leadership. In his senior year, he was elected President of the Student Body and he was sworn into the Chief Justice office by the Dean of NSU – Fulton. He graduated from NSU in 1971.

Charlie’s true calling may have been “Acting.” He loved the theatre and the audience loved him. He had a natural talent for the stage.

Charlie returned to Boston to pursue a law degree and earned his J.D. of Law from Suffolk University Law School in 1976. He later moved to Winthrop and opened his own law firm, Offices of Charles R. Balliro. Charlie practiced law and loved what he did, but his true passion was theatre. He continued to act in Dinner Shows, Summer Stock on Cape Cod and returned to Louisiana at the Abbey Players. He wrote a poem titled “To My Brother Paul.” He wrote several plays to include “He’s not heavy, He’s my brother.”

Charlie had a real zest for life, intellect, talent and an aura that made people want to be around him.

With all his accomplishments and leading roles, his most favorite role was “Dad.” He loved his family and made them proud of all his achievements.

He was the beloved son of Antonetta (Agresti) Balliro of Revere and the late Joseph P. Balliro; the loving father of Joseph P. Balliro of Winthrop; cherished brother of Lucille DiChiara of Revere, Fawn Andersen and her husband, Bjorn of Charlestown, Deveen Balliro–Arrigo and His Honor Revere Mayor Brian M. Arrigo of Revere and the late Paul “Paulie Boy” Balliro. He was the dear friend of Linda M. “Shana” Plakias of Revere, the former husband of Peggy Balliro–Bayard of New Iberia, LA and is also lovingly survived by many nieces and nephews, many many friends and extended family.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Visitation on Friday, March 31  from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Vertuccio and Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Route 107) Revere.  A funeral service will begin at 7 p.m. in the Funeral Home following the visitation. Interment will be private. For more information, visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com.

Maryann Chisholm

Retired educator, camp counselor, director and Girl Scout official

Maryann Chisholm of Winthrop, formerly of Melrose, passed away on March 18 surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was 71 years old.

She will be remembered for her generosity, gentle nature, quiet kindnesses, fierce loyalty and independent spirit. Maryann was an educator in the Wakefield public schools, teaching sixth grade at the Greenwood, Warren and Atwell/Galvin schools.          She served as assistant to the principal at several of the same schools. Her students were always her priority.

Maryann loved to play and watch many different sports, but the Red Sox were her passion, particularly after her retirement. Girl Scouts also played an important part of Maryann’s life, resulting in many lifelong friendships. Maryann served as a camp counselor, CIT director and assistant director at Sherwood Forest and Menotomy Camps, both located in New Hampshire. She was an advisor to Senior Scouts and also served on the Program Committee and the Board of Directors for Mystic Side Girl Scout Council.

Maryann was the beloved daughter of the late Alice Rita (Renney) Chisholm and William J. Chisholm. She was predeceased by her friend and partner Elizabeth Vazquez and is survived by her brother Colin G. Chisholm of Somerville, many loving cousins and a host of friends.

Her Funeral will be held from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St, Winthrop on Saturday, April 1 at 8 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church-Winthrop followed by burial at the Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section).

Visiting hours will be held in the funeral home on Friday, March 31 from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Maryann may be made to The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, P.O. Box 321, Wakefield, MA 01880 or The Girl Scouts of Eastern MA, Attn: R. Nolan, 95 Berkley St. Boston, MA  02116.  For guestbook and directions please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Eileen Craft

Jordan Marsh retiree

Eileen M. (Phelan) Craft passed away peacefully at home in Winthrop on March 22. In 97 years, she never wavered from her deep Roman Catholic Faith.

Eileen, was employed as a salesperson by Jordan Marsh prior to her retirement.

She was the loving wife to the late Theodore J Craft. Born in Brookline, she was the daughter of the late Lawrence and Rose (Brooks) Phelan; devoted mother of Carol A. Craft of Miami, Florida, Francis J. Craft and his wife, Charlotte of West Sayville, NY and Richard A. Craft of Winthrop; adored grandmother of Thomas J. Craft and Catherine E. Johnson and her husband, Matt and cherished great-grandmother of Charlotte Ann Johnson.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. John the Evangelist Church, Winthrop. Cremation was private. Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. For guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Doreen Whalen

Of Florida, formerly of Winthrop

Doreen E. Whalen of Fort Pierce, Florida, formerly of Winthrop, died on March 20 at the age of 87.

The beloved wife of the late Thomas E. Whalen, she was the devoted mother of Thomas Whalen (Louise Murphy), Nancy Grimm (William Benker), Susan Gillis, Doreen Cerra, Jacqueline Whalen (Steve Niad); cherished niece of Pearl Perrine; sister of Natalie Flynn and Penny Ryan and loving “Nana” to 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. She also leaves many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will follow at a later date. An online guest book may be signed at www.haisleyfuneralhome.com.

Mary Quilty

Of Revere, formerly of Winthrop

Mary A. Quilty of Revere, formerly of Winthrop, passed away on March 23 at the age of 83.

Born in Boston, she was the cherished daughter of the late Alfred S. Quilty, Sr. and Adeline M. (Jordan) Quilty.; loving mother of David McGah Jr. of Wilmington, Kathleen McGah of Salem, Alfred McGah of Winthrop, Mary Banda of Malden, Deborah McGah and the late Brian McGah; adored grandmother of 10 and several great-grandchildren. She was the dear sister of the late Robert Quilty, Alfred Quilty Jr. and Marion Brazel.

Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop.

Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery. For guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Sabino DiPierro

Past member of Laborer’s Union Local 22

Sabino DiPierro of Winthrop passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family by his bedside on early Friday morning, March 24.

A past member of the Laborer’s Union Local 22, he was the beloved husband of more than 57 years to Graciela (Rondon) DiPierro; devoted father of Girolamo and his wife, Mary Beth of Clinton, Angela Dalton of Winthrop, and Lisa DiPierro of North Andover; dear brother of Franca LaGioia of Winthrop, Anna LaGrasta of Florida and other brothers and sisters in Italy; cherished brother-in-law of Jesusa Bertuccelli and family and adored grandfather of 10 grandchildren and the late Aleesha DiPierro. He is also survived by his many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home (Orient Heights) East Boston. He was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. For more information, please visit: www.ruggieromh.com.

Charlotte Coffey Caroll

Winthrop native

Charlotte Coffey Carroll, native of Winthrop, MA passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on 3-28-17.

She was the wife of the late James J. Carroll and daughter of the late William and Dorothy Coffey.

She is survived by her “5 Perfect Children” Dianne and Dom Paci of Malden, Debbie and Sal LaMonica of Peabody, James Carroll, Denise and Kenny Quist, William and Kathleen Carroll all of Winthrop.

She is also going to be missed by her 11 grandchildren and 8 great-children who loved her very much and she adored.  She was a beautiful person inside and out and will be truly missed by everyone.

Funeral arrangements through Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop.

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.