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Tuesday, August 13, 2019
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Monday, August 12, 2019
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Monday, June 24, 2019
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Richard Zecchino posted a condolence
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
On behalf of our mom and our entire family we wish to thank all of you for coming to honor our dad and support our family during this time. I would like to tell you a little bit about our dad, some things you may already know, some things you may not. <br>As a young boy our father experienced the Great Depression and people at their lowest points. Like so many growing up in this era, the lessons learned about conserving food and money stayed with him for his entire life. His father, Antonio was an Italian immigrant and a laborer who provided food and shelter for our dad and his brother and sisters. He was, no doubt, a strong set of shoulders on which our dad could sit. Dad graduated from East Boston High, more the exception than the rule in those days. As a young man fresh out of high school, he fought for his country in World War II. He didn’t really talk a lot about those times as many other soldiers who fought in that war do not. However, he did talk about his dog Blackie that he found in Germany and brought home with him. I vaguely remember his stories about Stinky, a member of his unit, and other nicknames like that belonging to those who fought at his side. He told us how he literally sent home an Indian motorcycle during the war piece by piece. There were never really “war stories,” just the lighthearted stories about the guys he fought with and how they got their nicknames. I guess he preferred to only share the good experiences. He began as an ambulance driver and later became a sergeant, so one can only imagine what he witnessed. <br><br>When he returned from the war, he set out to build a life. He dated a lovely girl, our mom, Yolanda. Mom used to say all the girls would flock around him and his car, but she made it quite clear that he was hers. That must have been something to see. They dated for 3 years and then married. They bought a home in East Boston not too far from his parents and just one street over from mom’s folks. Dad worked many different jobs to make ends meet. He worked at A.S. Cambell, a chrome manufacturer, he owned an upholstery store, he worked as a salesman for a paper company, and probably other things that none of us know about. For 27 years he worked at Gulf Oil distribution center in Chelsea as an accountant and he was involved as a member of Gulf Oil’s sponsorship of Junior Achievement helping high school kids learn the ins and outs of running a business. His work wasn’t too far from home and he would come home to eat lunch with mom a lot. Dad always valued family time, even if it was just a lunch break. During the work week Dad’s day would be interrupted by any one of his kids. We were famous for riding our bicycles to Chelsea for surprise lunch time visits. Dad would always stop what he was doing and come talk to us, and usually showed us off to one or two folks. We always took these opportunities to interrupt Joe, too, and they always seemed to have fun working together. Joe DiSantis was Dad’s best friend for 50 years. Dad sometimes worked second jobs at night pumping gas. On those nights, he wouldn’t get home until after ten. I remember because mom used to let me stay up late to see him. I was so happy to see him I didn’t mind the smell of gas on his hands when he came through the door. <br>Dad used to whistle and randomly sing around the house a lot; it was like having our very own Perry Cuomo. I think that is where I got the habit from. Sometimes when he sang the words were made up or all wrong but he didn’t seem to care. He is most famous for making up weather forecasts to entertain my brother and sister while they waited for mom to come home from work. Dad loved playing his guitar even though all the songs sounded the same. His favorites were “My Prayer” and “Sitting round the Campfire”. He enjoyed working on cars, buying, fixing and selling many of them during his earlier years. He loved the Red Sox and years ago was even a die-hard fan of Roller Derby. He loved people, meeting, greeting & talking to anyone and everyone. <br>In 1982 he sold the house in East Boston and moved to Peabody down the street from my sister's home. He and Joe retired not long after that and they worked handyman jobs around the area for a number of years just to keep busy. They called themselves the House Doctors. He "officially" retired sometime after I graduated college when he was around the age of 62.<br>Dad was more than just a working man; He had more important loves in his life. His love for my mom was always evident and together they created a wonderful marriage of 60 years. I’ve had the privilege, as we all did, of watching a relationship with so much love and chemistry. You could see that in everything they did. You can see it in the pictures that date back to before they were married, in their home movies, and if you’ve ever been around the two of them you understand the power and beauty of their relationship. It was never more visible than when they danced together. When the two of them danced it was like watching Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. No one on the floor could hold a candle to them. Dad loved leading Ma while dancing to the waltz, the cha-cha, and especially the polka. They danced together in competitions at the Ocean Ballroom at Revere Beach, then kicked up their heals in later years at the Vitoria Rocci Post in Beverly where my dad was a member. Mom and he did everything together, they were a team like Ricky and Lucy - they made life fun. Not just for thirty minutes a week but for 60 years. Dad loved my mom and cherished her. Now it wasn’t like they didn’t have disagreements, after all two Italians living together are not going to agree on everything all the time. Dad and Mom are the models for a loving marriage and the blessings that emanate from such a bond. My mom took good care of him as his illness progressed during the last couple of years, the strength of that love is the only explanation for the strength she found to do so. We can't thank her enough for what she did for our dad.<br>Dad loved us kids. He was there for all our activities, our triumphs and our disappointments.<br>My sister Ella was always his little princess and he loved her very much. You could see that in the way he watched her and treated her. We have home movies of her and my father dancing, a little girl standing on the tips of her father’s shoes as he waltzes across the kitchen floor. Like he did in life for all of us at one time or another, he did the heavy lifting and she was carried by his strength. She could do no wrong in his eyes, and there will always be the special bond of being his only daughter, a bond that will transcend any divide that separates them. My sister has my mom's fire and my dad's business sense. During this illness she has been there to navigate through all the red tape of the Dr.'s offices and do so with true passion for what was best for him. Nothing else speaks tribute to the bond than her care and efforts in doing so.<br>I’m a bit jealous of the time my brother, Dom had with him as his oldest son - he got to spend more time with a younger father than I did. He was so anxious to become a part of the family that he joined Mom and Dad a few months prematurely. Mom and Dad had to sell some of their furniture to pay the medical bills and Dad labored hard to make it all work. Dad and Dom used to fly model planes together in the park when my brother was a boy, and do the things that young fathers do with their sons. My brother has the honor of bearing my father’s name. In being the first born, he gave my Dad his greatest joys and toughest challenges as an inexperienced father learned how to simply be a dad. Those lessons were not lost on Dad as he used them to become a great father and then an even greater grandfather. <br>Then there was me. There is a 10 year gap between my older sister and I, and a 14 year gap between my brother and I, but I'm pretty sure that was planned. I am my father's son, and have heard that many times from my mom who would always say, "You’re just like your father" or from my kids, "Dad, your being like Papa" usually after I give a tug to their pony tails. I even have the bald spot to prove it. I know I have a lot of him in me and I am good with that. I hear his words coming out of my mouth sometimes and now it is even more precious because it proves he lives on in my heart and mind. He taught me everything he knew, from finances to plumbing, car repair to carpentry, even electrical work, the list is endless. If there was ever a jack of all trades, it was my Dad. I remember as a child going on for rides on his motorcycles with him, swimming at our summer cottage together in Maine, all of us snowmobiling in the winter, and the family vacations to the White Mountains, Canada, the Cape, Six Flags New Jersey, even Disney when Epcot first opened. When most kids thought their parents were jerks, I had my Dad to prove them wrong. As I got older and forged my own life and family I still looked to him for advice and help for everything and anything. To me he was Superman, King Solomon, and Mr. Fixit all rolled into one man. I hope I was able to learn all his lessons and I hope I am half the teacher to my children and grandchildren that he was to me.<br>When Dad had a heart attack in 1996, he nearly left us twice, but he wasn’t ready to go yet because he needed more time to spend with Mom, his children and his grandchildren, and two more that were born that same year. <br>His grandchildren were his joys in later years. Quite frankly the mere mention of Papa?s name to them brought smiles and shouts of “can we go see him” or “when is he coming over.” As babies all seven grandchildren experienced being an airplane in his arms as he helped them sore around his house. He was the official "walking instructor" for them all. Many of them had the joy of spending after school hours with him and Mom waiting for parents to come home from work, all the while getting a full dose of Papa wisdom. Things like “you gotta develop tough skin,” “do the right thing”, “you can’t spend it unless you save it,” and “if you get a cut, pee on it to make it heal faster.” How many of us actually tried that last one? As many years as he could do so, my Dad would dress up as Santa on Christmas Day and deliver gifts to each of the grandkids. Imagine the excitement of Santa hand delivering gifts and then always leaving just before Papa arrived only moments later. He was an incredible grandfather that had a big influence on all of them.<br>Dad enjoyed the simple things in life, like a fish dinner from Kelly’s, ice cream from Richardson’s, a bowl of cashews to go along with a glass of scotch, or some Pisano Wine with his meal. Dad always had a twinkle in his eyes. It was like lights on a Christmas tree. In the pictures of him as a young man I can see the same spark that I loved seeing in his eyes throughout his life. It was his most vivid feature only rivaled by the strength in his hands. I remember the larger than life feel and warmth of his hands as my hands fit inside them. As I held his hands tightly these past few weeks I couldn't help but notice that my hands still fit within his, still larger than life to me. Yet with all that strength he was a gentle man, from him we learned to use our heads and not our fists, to guide our own children through life, to always honor our parents and to love. He lived his life as a good friend, a servant to his country, a dedicated worker, a devoted husband, a loving father and wonderful grandfather putting his all into everything he did. He will be missed and will be remembered by all who loved him until we see him again in Heaven. I am sure he will be waiting for us with that twinkle in his eyes. <br>Dad we know you will watch over Ma. God Rest Dad, I love you, we love you.<br>
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Petra Marino posted a condolence
Monday, August 31, 2009
Ella, <br>I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. Please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers! Thinking of you <br><br>Petra
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Janet Zecchino posted a condolence
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Dad, I will always miss you. Your "wealth of wisdom" and genuine smile have touched me in a way I will never forget. You have, from day 1, accepted me as a full member of this<br>family. My children adored you, as you always made each grandchild feel special! I will always remember the snowmobiling trips to Maine, playing cards and having our coffee and donuts,(which was usually followed by hysterical laughter),our visits to "Richardson's for ice cream, and our<br>light hearted conversations in the breezeway.You are at peace now and know that your legacy will be carried on, especially with your grandchildren.<br>Love always, Jan (Gigi - Jannettamummanon)<br> <br>
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Alba Frasco posted a condolence
Saturday, August 29, 2009
My condolences to your family. I loved him! He was such a great man. He will be missed!
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Matthew Zecchino posted a condolence
Friday, August 28, 2009
Papa, although you may not be here with us in the physical sense, your spirit and remembrance will always remain with every single one of us - Especially with your grandchildren. I will do my best to continue your bidding and threaten all future children in this family with "the belt" and telling them "don't get married :o)" I love you, Papa. And I'll miss you always.
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Craig A. Zecchino posted a condolence
Friday, August 28, 2009
Papa, You are the greatest man I have ever known. Over the years, you have instilled in me the truest values in life. Everything from "put the money in the bank" to remembering, always that "blood is thicker than water". To always give, never asking to recieve and to never "half-ass" anything. To simply love and respect those around me and find the good in people. Your fun-loving way of life, care for others and "papa-isms" will forever be in my heart. I will always use a toothpick, hold my head when i pass gas and don't worry...I won't get married :)...I love you Papa, more than you will ever know. I am your grandchild, I am your legacy and I am so proud to have that privelage. If i'm ever half the man you are, I think i'll be okay. Your always with me...I love you Papa. Muah. I'll be seeing you.
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Shannon,Bob, Taylor and Jordie Balletto posted a condolence
Friday, August 28, 2009
Dearest Zecchinos and Roland Families...You are all in our thoughts and prayers. We love you...Shanny,Bobby and the kids
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