Jean Elizabeth Vecchio
Retired Nurse
Jean Elizabeth (Treloar) Vecchio, a longtime resident of Winthrop, entered into rest on July 19 surrounded by her loving family. She was 75 years old.
Jean graduated from the Chelsea Soldiers Home School of Nursing in 1979 after fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse. She first fell in love with nursing at the Cliff House Nursing Home in Winthrop and later worked at Winthrop Hospital, the Governor Winthrop Nursing Home, and Bay View Nursing Home.
Jean enjoyed gospel music and the singing of Elvis Presley, Barry Manilow and The Village People. She found pleasure in seeing Andrew Lloyd Webber plays, playing Facebook games, crossword puzzles and Sudoku. She loved her television game shows, her Hallmark Channel movies, and her favorite series shows.
Jean was born on Dec. 22, 1943 to Esther K. Treloar in Watertown, N.Y.
She is survived by her son William C. Vecchio and his wife, Amy of Salem, NH, her daughter, Roberta J. Vecchio-Kilduff and her husband, Michael of Reading; her daughter, Dawn M. Orengo and her husband, Raul of Winthrop and her daughter, Barbara M. Massingham and her husband, David of Duxbury.
She is also survived by her sister Joanne Jonsson of Salem, her brother John Treloar and his wife, Debbie of Fredericksburg, Virginia and her sister, Judy Treloar of Brockton.
Jean was the loving grandmother of Kristina, Brittany, Davis, Austin, William, and Theodore and the cherished great-grandmother of Benjamin. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, who will miss her dearly.
Per Jean’s request, she has donated her body to medical research. There will be no services at this time.
John Kevin Gill
Retired Groton, CT Deputy Fire Chief
John Kevin Gill, 83, of Sebring, FL peacefully passed away while at home early on the morning of July 20.
Kevin was born in Winthrop on June 3, 1936, son of the late Henry Aloysius and Alice Donovan Gill. He attended Winthrop public a graduated from Winthrop High School in 1953. Soon after high school, he joined the United States Coast Guard and was eventually stationed in Groton, Connecticut.
Kevin settled in Groton and, after finishing active duty with the Coast Guard, he served as a Groton police officer for about 10 years and later as a Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department (Groton) firefighter for 25 years, retiring in 1991 as the Deputy Chief.
Kevin married Carolyn (McVey) in 1955 and together they had five children. In 1975, he married Nancy (Bullard). They were married for 42 years until Nancy passed away in November, 2017. In December. 2018, Kevin married Lois Lewis.
Kevin moved from Connecticut to Florida following retirement in 1991, spending the majority of his time in Lake Placid, where he led a very active retired life. He was a member of the Glad Hatters Senior Performers group at the Highlands Little Theater in Sebring. He loved to share his beautiful tenor voice by singing and entertaining on many stages from Connecticut to Florida. He was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Placid where he served as an Elder. Kevin was a very proud 30-year member of AA, gaining support from and donating his time to improve the lives of others.
Until recently, Kevin lived in the Covered Bridge community in Lake Placid, where he served on various boards. He was a very proud military veteran, was most comfortable when wearing the uniform and loved attending military events, even following his retirement.
Finally, Kevin never lost interest in traveling in his RV, meeting and making lifelong friendships with people from all over the U.S. and Canada.
Kevin is survived by his current wife, Lois; his four children: Michael Gill of Berkeley, Calif. (Caryn), Kathy Haase of Lake Placid, Fla. and Gales Ferry, (Jeffrey), Sharon Gill of St. James, N.C. (Frank Roseman) and Denise Gill (Lawrence Boland) of Mystic, CT; his stepdaughter Lorrie Gault of Sanford FL (Richard); three brothers, Rev. David Gill, SJ of Weston, Richard Gill (Kathy) and Peter Gill (Maureen, both of Winthrop, seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; as well as many other loving family members and friends.
Kevin was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Nancy (deceased 2017); his youngest son, Timothy (deceased 1986); and his brother, Henry Gill (deceased 2010).
An interment service will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 18 at the Pachaug Cemetery in Griswold. A Celebration of Life service will take place on Feb. 29, 2020 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Placid, Florida with Pastor Richard Norris officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, Lake Placid, Florida.
Sophia Speliakos
Her Life Was Centered Around Her Family and Her Church
Sophia K. (Condakes) Speliakos of Winthrop passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on Aug. 11 after years of battling Alzheimer’s Disease.
She was the beloved wife of the late Kosmas Speliakos of Vresthena, Sparta Greece and Winthrop. She is survived by her son, Constantine, daughter in law, Yula, grandchildren Sophia, Christina and Paul, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Born in Vassara, Sparta, Greece, she emigrated to the United States after World War II with her mother, the late Lefkothea (Meletis) Condakes, her beloved siblings, the late John Condakes and the late Polixeni (Condakes) Tsiotos and the late Peter Condakes to join her father, the late Nicholas Condakes, who had already settled in East Boston (1913) and subsequently Winthrop (1940s).
A 1950 graduate of Brandeis Vocational High School in Boston, she then went on to St. Basil’s Academy Teachers College in Garrison, N.Y. and became the Secretary of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Boston and then served as Secretary for the Diocese of Boston.
She met her love, Kosmas, while vacationing in Greece and they later married in Athens. After Kosmas resigned his commission as a Captain in the Greek Army, Sophia and he moved to Astoria, N.Y. in 1964, and lived there for 10 years. Sophia became the Secretary for St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria, N.Y. until 1973.
Moving back to Winthrop in 1973, she used her teaching degree as a Greek school teacher for over 15 years at the Cathedral in Boston and St. George in Lynn. Sophia was also employed by Winthrop Savings Bank/Bank Boston until her retirement.
Sophia’s life was centered around her family and the church. She focused on carrying on the legacy of the Speliakos and Condakes families with strength, sacrifice, love and perseverance.
Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop. A Funeral Service was held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 54 South Common St., Lynn on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. Interment followed in the Winthrop Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Hellenic Nursing Home, 601 Sherman St., Canton, MA. 02021, or to St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Lynn.
George Nils ‘Sandy’ Hill
He Always Lit up a Room and Brought so Much Joy to so Many People
George Nils “Sandy†Hill, formerly of Winthrop and a longtime resident of the Wrentham Development Center in Wrentham, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Aug. 9.
George was a gentleman with a big heart, kind smile and handshake for everyone he met. He was fascinated with cars and colors and took pleasure in knowing who drove what model and its color. He loved fire engines, police cars and their sirens along with motorcycles and sports cars.
Sandy, known to his family and hometown friends because of his sandy red hair, always lit up the room and brought so much joy to so many people.
His Wrentham family filled with many longtime caregivers, staff and volunteers helped George thrive and grow expanding his horizons enabling him to lead and live a long and amazing life given his disabilities. He was always active attending field trips, going to workshop, enjoying daily program activities and parades and he loved his mealtimes.
George loved everyone he met and never forgot a pretty face. He enjoyed the Red Sox, water activities and especially music and sing-a-longs. George will be missed by many but never forgotten thanks to his positive spirit and loving impression he shared with all who knew him.
He was the beloved son of the late Natalie and George Hill, favorite sibling of the late Gail Powers (David Dyche), Douglas Hill (Lena) of Aliso Viejo, Calif., Janet Cushing of Fort Myers, Fla., Hollis Mory (Charles) of Cape Coral, Fla., and Karen Hill of Denver, Colo.; endeared uncle to Patrick Cushing of West Hartford, Conn., Jennifer
Cushing of Groton, Conn., Natalya Hill of Roswell, Ga., Bryan Hill of Dunwoody, Ga. and Michelle Hill of Aliso Viejo, Calif. Heartfelt thanks to longtime caregiver Cheryl Cornell for her endless support, love and companionship.
Visiting hours will be held in the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop today, Thursday, Aug. 15 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. A Funeral Service at the funeral home beginning at 11:30 a.m. today will be followed by burial in Winthrop Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, don ations in George’s memory to support Seabird Enterprises 169 Thames St. Groton CT. 06340 or seabirdenterprises.org to aid and assist other developmentally challenged adults will be welcomed.
For guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.comom.
Ronald Campbell
Veteran of Three Foreign Wars
Ronald S. Campbell of North Port, FL passed away on August 7. He was 85 years old.
Ronald was born on June 8, 1934 in Canton, Ohio, to Joseph and Marian Campbell. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1968 in the 3rd Division H&S Company 1st Battalion. He was a veteran of three foreign wars; the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, Vietnam Era 1960s to 1975 and the Cold War from 1945 to 1991. He received the Navy/Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Fleet Marine Force Service, and Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon. Ronald’s Marine Corps League
Decorations include Department Staff Appointed Bronze Medal, Distinguished Citizen Silver Medal and the Detachment Staff Appointed Bronze Medal.
Afterward, he obtained his Doctorate in Clinical Pathology. When he retired, he became a DAV/HSC/FSO.
Ronald was the Commander of his branch of the Disabled American Veterans, the Marine Corps League and the Korean War Veterans of TN.
He lived 22 years in Memphis, Tenn., and 26 in Winthrop before moving to Florida.
Survivors include one daughter, Cynthia Campbell of North Port; one son, James Joseph (Jamie) Campbell of Plymouth, N.H.; grandchildren, Tiffany (Michael) Adams of North Port, Timothy (Jasmine) Campbell of Reno, Nev., John Ramsey of Thornton, N.H., Nicole (Malachi) Nicodemus of Plymouth, N.H., Aimee (Caleb) Tara, of Redding, Calif., and Tyler Zimmer, Cody and Emma Campbell of Plymouth, N.H.; and eight great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by wife, Joyce G. Simpson; son, Lloyd S. Campbell; daughter, Nona G. Hobbs and twin brother, Donald Campbell.
A graveside service took place on Mon, Aug 12 at Sarasota National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ronald’s honor to Tidewell Hospice House at tidewellhospice.org/home/giving
Arrangements entrusted to Farley Funeral Home, 5900 S. Biscayne Dr, North Port, FL 34287.
To share a memory of Ronald or to leave a special condolence please visit: www.farleyfuneralhome.com.
Holly Altri
Now at Peace in HeavenÂ
Funeral Services were held privately for Holly A. (Parkins–Hennessy) Altri who died following a brief illness on Tuesday, July 23 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston with her mother by her side. She was 47 years old.
Holly was born in Dallas, Texas, and later moved to New Orleans, La. with her parents. As a young girl, she and her family moved to East Boston where she remained throughout her education.
She attended St. John’s School in Boston and East Boston High School. When Holly moved to Jeffries Point in East Boston she made friends very quickly with her southern accent, blonde hair, witty sense of humor and personality. Holly enjoyed spending time with her friends and making new ones. She was always looking to make people laugh and just having a good time and enjoying life. Holly later settled in Winthrop, where she raised her son, Christopher. As a young mother, she worked various jobs trying her best to be a good mother and provider for herself and her son. She later had two more children, Amber and Jacob and then moved to Maine.
Life became difficult for Holly, she lost her firstborn son, Chris — the tragedy was devastating and unfortunately her life would never be the same. Life became a challenge for Holly and her health became debilitating. A life that was once filled with promise and endless possibilities became difficult and filled with obstacles that were overbearing. Holly is now at peace in Heaven with her son Chris, and her eternal life is filled with every dream and wish attained that she did not have here on earth.
She was the beloved daughter of Victoria (Houston) Neary and her husband, Frederick of Dallas, Texas; the loving mother of Amber Altri–Church and Jacob Altri–Church both of Waterville, Maine, and the late Christopher J. Kjersgard. She was the proud grandmother of one grandson, the dear sister of Richard Houston–Garcia and his companion, Kristie of Yonkers, N.Y. and she is also lovingly survived by her nephew, Logan Garcia. She was also a friend to many.
Funeral arrangements under the care and direction of the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals of Revere. Remembrances may be made to Rosie’s Place, 889 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118. For online guestbook, please visit www.vertuccioandsmithc.com.
Arthur Perrin
Member of Beachmont Yacht Club and Winthrop Elks
Arthur A. Perrin of Revere St., Winthrop passed away at the Massachusetts General Hospital on Aug. 9. He was 77 years old.
Born in Medford, the son of the late Allison Perrin and Virginia (Colby), prior to his retirement, he was a salesman for American Steel and also worked at Massport for 10 years. Arthur was a lifetime member of the Beachmont Yacht Club and also a member of the Winthrop Elks Lodge #1078.
He was the devoted husband of Mary J. (Maher) and the loving father of Brian Perrin, retired from Massachusetts Environmental Police and his wife, Karen, Sean Perrin, WPD and his wife, Tia, all of Winthrop and Arthur Perrin and his wife, Julie of Lynnfield; cherished grandfather of Brian Jr., WPD, Rachel and Daniel Perrin and brother of Connie Wright and Janice McLean, both of Georgia.
The funeral was conducted from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop on Tuesday, Aug. 13, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church. Services concluded with the interment in the Belle Isle section of Winthrop Cemetery. Donations in his memory can be made to: Giving.MassGeneral.org.
To sign the online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.
Vincent Gaetano Tarantino
Retired Commercial Fisherman
Vincent Gaetano Tarantino of Woodside Avenue, Winthrop passed away at home on July 27. He was 84 years old.
Born in Boston, the beloved son of the late Susan (Napoli) and Steve Tarantino, he grew up in the North End before moving to Winthrop in 1971. Prior to his retirement he worked as a commercial fisherman for many years. He was also a member of the Madonna Del Soccorso Society “Fisherman’s Club” in the North End.
He was the devoted husband of Marie R. (Sutera) and the loving father of Steven Tarantino and his wife, Blanche of Hopkinton, Carl Tarantino and his wife, Kathy and Susan Martucci and her husband, Gus, all of Winthrop; dear brother of the late Jennie Palladino, Gaetano Tarantino, Lillian Spinale, Steven “Junior†Tarantino and Marie Sarno and cherished grandfather of Suzanne, James, Andrea, Vincent, Christine, Matthew, Julie and Shauna.
The funeral was conducted from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop on Wednesday, July 31, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church. Services concluded with the interment in the Belle Isle section of Winthrop Cemetery.
To sign the online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.