Search Archived Marriage Records
Arthur O'Connor, phone co. retiree
Revere
Thursday, May 6, 1999
Arthur J. ``Okie" O'Connor of Beachmont - Revere, a retired equipment installer for the former New England Telephone Company, died Monday at Beth Israel Deaconess Palliative Care Center. He was 73.
Born in Medford, Mr. O'Connor was raised in Somerville.
He served in the Navy during World War II.
Mr. O'Connor was employed for more than 35 years as an equipment installer for the former New England Telephone Company. He retired in 1989. He was a member of VFW Beachmont Post 6712 and the Revere Elks.
Mr. O'Connor is survived by his wife, Katherine T. (Sullivan); a daughter, Jane M. Messinger of Winthrop; three sons, James J. of Revere, John F. of Hoboken, N.J., and Michael J. of Quincy; two sisters, Phyllis Barnes of Belchertown and Barbara DiGiorgio of Swampscott; two brothers, Richard and Robert, both of California; and a granddaughter.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Beachmont - Revere.
Burial will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Arrangements by the Porcella Funeral Home, Beachmont - Revere.
Biago Bordonaro, fought Cocoanut Grove blaze
Boston
Friday, March 26, 1999
Biago B. Bordonaro knew he had nerves of steel, but they were tested to the limit the night the Boston firefighter was called to his first big fire, which turned out to be at a swanky, crowded nightclub called the Cocoanut Grove.
``It really struck him, seeing all the people dead there who weren't really burnt, but had just died from smoke inhalation," recalled Bordonaro's son - in - law, Frederick Olivero, yesterday.
``It wasn't burnt - out inside the way you think it would be. There was money on the tables. People in odd positions."
Bordonaro, one of the first firefighters at the scene of the horrific Cocoanut Grove fire - where 492 people died on Nov. 28, 1942 - died Tuesday. The longtime North Ender was 83.
Bordonaro had only been a firefighter for a year when the call came to go to a fire in the city's nightclub section of what is now the Bay Village.
The fire is believed to have spread across a ceiling decorated with satin crepe paper, and flames quickly lapped over the room.
Waiters feebly tried to douse the flames with seltzer water, but the fire soon roared out of control, racing across the dance floor.
Frightened partygoers stampeded for the exits. But none of the exits were lit.
The back door was chained to prevent people from leaving without paying their tabs. And the revolving front door quickly jammed in the crush of people.
Once Bordonaro made his way inside, he was devastated at the sight.
``The panic really got to him," Olivero said. ``Once a person fell down in the revolving door, it got jammed and didn't work. The front door didn't work at all."
For the rest of Bordonaro's 32 years as a firefighter, he showed the ``strong - minded nerves" many people envied, Olivero said.
After a natural gas explosion took out a building in Charlestown, a shoemaker was trapped in the rubble. But ``instead of walking away, he went in," and found the body, Olivero said.
After Bordonaro retired in 1974, he moved to Humarock on the South Shore.
He is survived by his daughters, Virginia Olivero of Saugus, and Rose Anne, of Stoughton; a son, Richard, of West Newbury; a sister, Josephine Gagueno of Somerville; 12 grandchildren and eight great - grandchildren.
A wake will be held today from 5 to 9 p.m. at Dello Russo Funeral Home in Medford.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. tomorrow in Sacred Heart Church in North Square, Boston.
Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, Boston.
Clarke E. Duncan, at 50, fisherman, Vietnam vet
Hamilton
Tuesday, May 4, 1999
Clarke E. Duncan of Hamilton, a former commercial fisherman and Vietnam veteran, died Thursday evening at Beverly Hospital. He was 50.
Born in Malden, Mr. Duncan grew up in Medford. He graduated from Medford High School in 1967.
Mr. Duncan served in the Army's 227th Engineer Company, 29th Infantry Brigade, in the Vietnam War.
After his discharge from the military, he worked as a commercial fisherman. He was captain of several fishing boats out of Boston, Gloucester and New Bedford.
Mr. Duncan continued his education and graduated from Paul's School of Marine Engineering in Boston. For the past 11 years, he was employed by Boston Towing and Transportation.
He was a member and president of the Hamilton Wenham Badminton Club, a member of the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club, the Retreads of Salisbury and the Hyde Shoe Bowling League.
Mr. Duncan is survived by his wife, Ruby (Prime); three daughters, Emily O.J. of Lodi, N.Y., and Elizabeth A. and Lindsay E., both of Hamilton; five brothers, Robert of Magnolia, Garvin of Burlington, David of Hollis, N.H., Bruce of Port Orange, Fla., and Kevin of Saugus; and two sisters, Carole of Beverly and Romayne Swim of Glenwood, Nova Scotia.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today at St. John's Episcopal Church, Gloucester.
Burial will be in Hamilton Cemetery.
Arrangements by Campbell Funeral Home, Beverly.
Daniel Rahilly, at 82, police officer
Melrose
Monday, April 26, 1999
Daniel N. Rahilly of Melrose, a police officer, died Saturday at Melrose Wakefield Hospital. He was 82.
A lifelong resident of Melrose, he graduated from Melrose High School.
Mr. Rahilly was a patrolman for the Melrose Police Department from 1948 to 1973, when he was forced to retire due to a disability.
He served in the Army during World War II and was awared the Bronze Star.
He was a longtime member of St. Mary's Church.
Mr. Rahilly is survived by his wife, Catherine G. (LeBlanc); a daughter, Catherine Cormier of Melrose; a granddaughter and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.
Arrangements by Gately Funeral Home, Melrose.
Douglas A. Rieth, at 18
Walpole
Thursday, May 6, 1999
Douglas Arthur Rieth of Walpole, a senior at the Massapoag School in Weymouth, died unexpectedly at his home Sunday. He was 18.
Mr. Rieth was born in Natick.
Mr. Rieth is survived by his mother and father, Brenda J. (Keris) and Bruce A. of Walpole; a twin brother, Stephen B. of Walpole; a sister, Amanda of Walpole; his paternal grandmother, Suzanne H. Rieth of Cliff Island, Maine; and his maternal grandparents, Joseph J. and Florence J. Keris of Medfield.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Roberts - Mitchell Funeral Chapel, Medfield.
Burial will be in Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield.
Edgar Donovan, 56, computer engineer
Rhode Island
Monday, April 26, 1999
Edgar ``Tony" Donovan of Rhode Island, and formerly of Randolph, a computer engineer, died unexpectedly at work on Wednesday. He was 56.
Born in Groveton, N.H., he was a graduate of Groveton High School and later graduated from Northeastern University. He lived in Randolph for 25 years before moving to Rhode Island two years ago.
Mr. Donovan was a computer engineer in the computer service center at Corporate Headquarters for Massachusetts General Hospital/Partners Health Care System at the Charlestown Navy Yard for 33 years.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy L. (Fitzemeyer); two daughters, Cheryll of Quincy, and Kerry M. of Rhode Island; three sons, Michael P., Kevin P. and Timothy P., all of Randolph; two sisters, Evelynn Gagnon and Arlene Theriault, both of Groveton, N.H.; and four grandchildren.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today in St. Mary's Church, Randolph.
Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Groveton, N.H.
Arrangements by Cartwright Funeral Home, Randolph.
