Obituary: Sophie T. Crocker

Lifelong Wakefield resident died Saturday at age 93.

Sophie T. Crocker, 93, a life long Wakefield resident died on Saturday, August 18 at her residence. Born in Wakefield on January 17, 1919 she was the daughter of the late Frank and Philomenia (Krezwicka) Yazinka. Mrs. Crocker was a graduate of Wakefield high School, Class of 1938. She had worked as a clerk for the I.R.S. in Andover. Mrs. Crocker was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Wakefield. She enjoyed camping in Brighton, Maine and traveling to Foxwoods. Mrs. Crocker was the wife of the late Herbert R. Crocker. She is survived by her two daughters; Shirley Crocker-Herrick and her husband Dan of Wakefield and Rockport and Mary "Betsy" Crocker of Wakefield, her son John D. Crocker and his wife Karen of Wakefield, her daughter-in-law …

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Obituary: Michael K. Stewart

Michael Stewart, 50, of Wakefield, coached youth sports in town.

Michael K. Stewart, age 50 of Wakefield died suddenly August 13. Born in Boston, MA on March 24, 1962 the son of the late Donald J. & Agnes (O'Sullivan) Stewart. Mr. Stewart raised in Cambridge and was a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School in 1980 and later from Fitchburgh State College in 1984. Mr. Stewart was a Plant Manager for United Technologies of Peabody, formerly Goodrich Turbine Components. He was a sports enthusiast and was active in coaching youth sports in Wakefield. Mr. Stewart is survived by his loving wife Margaret M. (Ireton) Stewart. He was the devoted father of Emily R. & Patrick M. Stewart of Wakefield. He was the brother of Patricia Slater of Ashland, Donald J. Stewart of Belmont, David A. Stewart of …

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Obituary: Peter Gonnella, 48, Athletic Standout and Coach

Wakefield High School graduate Peter Gonnella (WHS '81) was a record-setting athlete while at Wakefield High School and went on to become an accomplished high school basketball coach.

Paul Faler, Longtime Board of Assessors Member, Dies at 71

Faler, who served as a member or chair of the Board of Assessors from 1985 to 2011, passed away on Wednesday at his home.

Paul Faler, a longtime member of the Wakefield Board of Assessors, passed away on Wednesday, December 14 at his Lowell Street home after a brief illness. He was 71. Mr. Faler was well known in Wakefield for being active in civic affairs, serving on the Wakefield Board of Assessors between 1985 and 2011. In his professional life, he taught American History at University of Massachusetts - Boston from 1970 until he retired in 2002. Mr. Faler is survived by his father Paul C. Faler of Lynnfield, his wife Karen Faler, a daughter Jessica Pierce and her husband David Pierce of San Antonio, Tex.; a son Seth Faler and his wife Whitney Faler of Ridgefield, Conn.; a son Justin Faler and his wife Elizabeth of Boston, and five grandchildren: Aidan and…

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Selectman Turco: Not Seeking Re-Election in April

In a letter to the editor, the nine-year veteran of the Board of Selectmen announces he will not seek re-election in the April 2012 town elections.

Dear Editor: I have decided not to seek re-election to the Board of Selectmen this coming April. Although this announcement may seem early to some, I want every good potential candidate for the Board of Selectmen to have adequate time to give full consideration to running for the seat I will vacate in the Spring. During the past forty years, I served twenty years in elective office in Wakefield Town government. I began on the School Committee in 1972 as a young man. During most of the 1980s, I was the Town's Moderator. In 2003, townspeople first elected me to the Board of Selectmen, and by April of 2012 I will have served on the Board for three full terms, a total of nine years. I have been an active and activist Selectmen. When I saw …

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Brandon Chapman

5:15 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanks for your dedicated service, Mr. Turco. Best wishes for whatever the future holds for you   more ›

In Memoriam

Obituary: Betty Rugato, 83, Independent Bookkeeper in Wakefield for 60 Years

Mrs. Rugato, who passed away on July 28, was a Wakefield High graduate and owned her own bookkeeping business in Wakefield for decades, even after she was legally blind.

Elizabeth Anne Rugato, a Wakefield High School graduate who ran her own bookkeeping business and lived in Wakefield for more than sixty years, passed away on July 28 after a long illness. She was 82. Ms. Rugato, know to her friends and family as Betty, was born in Boston on Jun. 30, 1929 to parents Edgar & Myrtle (Lockhart) Eklund and spent her early years in Lynnfield. She then moved to Wakefield and attended Wakefield High School, where she graduated from in 1947. Ms. Rugato married the late Michael J. Rugato right out of high school and had three children. The couple ended up divorcing a few years later. "I don't know how she did it when I was a small child and she was raising three kids as a single mom," said her daughter, Gail …

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In Memoriam

Obituary: Walter V. Maloney, Retired Chief of Wakefield Fire Department, 83

The longtime Wakefield resident served the fire department for over 40 years, raised a large and loving family and loved baseball.

Walter V. Maloney, Jr., who served as Wakefield Fire Chief for 22 years, and a firefighter for 44 years, died on Friday, August 5 as a result of pancreatic cancer. He was 83. Born in Melrose on August 9, 1927, Chief Maloney was the son of the late Walter V. and Helen (Tabot) Maloney. He went on to graduate from Wakefield High School in 1945, and attended North Shore Community College. Chief Maloney served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Tarawa, an aircraft carrier, during World War II. Chief Maloney served as a firefighter in Wakefield for 44 years, with 22 of those years, 1970-1992, as Chief of the Wakefield Fire Department.  And while the fire service was a life long professional pursuit for Maloney, his family was …

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Sara Jacobi

1:41 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Thanks so much for sharing, Tom.   more ›

In Memoriam

Obituary: Walter V. Maloney, Retired Chief of Wakefield Fire Department, 83

The lifelong resident of Wakefield, who put in more than four decades of public service as a firefighter then fire chief, died on August 5.

Walter V. Maloney, Jr., who served as Wakefield Fire Chief for 22 years, and a firefighter for 44 years, died on Friday, August 5 as a result of pancreatic cancer. He was 83. Born in Melrose on August 9, 1927, Chief Maloney was the son of the late Walter V. and Helen (Tabot) Maloney. He went on to graduate from Wakefield High School in 1945, and attended North Shore Community College. Chief Maloney served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Tarawa, an aircraft carrier, during World War II. Legacy at the Wakefield Fire Department Chief Maloney served as a firefighter in Wakefield for 44 years, with 22 of those years, 1970-1992, as Chief of the Wakefield Fire Department.  "Serving as chief for 22 and in this day and age …

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In Memoriam

Obituary: Deborah Somers, a Generous Volunteer and Nature Enthusiast, 65

Deborah Somers, a Wakefield resident and mother of four, passed away on July 25.

Deborah Somers, a Wakefield resident, loving wife and dedicated mother of four died on July 25th, 11 months after she was diagnosed with cancer. She was 65. A warm personality who lit up a room with her presence, her daughter said Mrs. Somers was known by her friends as a giving, generous person.  “Right when you met her, you were her friend right away,” said her daughter Jennifer Moon of Wakefield. Mrs. Somers was born on July 5, 1945 and attended Chapel Hill High School before preceding to the Western College for Women in Ohio, which is now Miami College of Ohio. Mrs. Somers worked for Century 21 in Wakefield as a realtor, and spent her free time pursuing several different types of hobbies. Spending time with family and friends was a …

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