Patricia A. Racki, 63

Jan 14, 2021 by

Published January 15, 2021 READING — Patricia “Patty” A. Racki, 63, of Reading, formerly of Melrose, died in her home on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, after a lengthy illness. Born in Boston on July 6, 1957, she was the daughter of the late Anthony E. Maffie and is survived by her mother Barbara A. Maffie. Patty graduated from Melrose High School in 1975 and also attended Katharine Gibbs School in Boston. She went on to work at the Federal Reserve Bank for many years. Patty was an avid reader and enjoyed watching classic films. Patty is survived by her husband Steven Racki; her son James Racki and his fiancee Ashleigh of Derry, N.H.; her two sisters Susan Berggren and her husband Robert of Wakefield and Ellen Hardy and her husband Thomas of Marshfield; and...

read more

Peter J. Bagarella, 76

Jan 14, 2021 by

Published January 15, 2021 MELROSE — Peter John Bagarella, 76, died at MelroseWakefield Hospital on Jan. 9, 2021. Peter was born in Everett, raised in Everett and attended Everett schools. In 1962, he entered the U.S. Army and served his country with pride during the Vietnam War. Mr. Bagarella worked in the construction field for many years as a foreman for DeLorenzo Construction Company and in the tile flooring business for many years. Peter lived in Everett for several years, then spent 30 years in Melrose before moving to Saugus a few months ago. He and his wife Anna enjoyed taking trips to Atlantic City as well as to Kennebunkport and Ogunquit, Maine. Peter was the husband of Anna P. (Rossino) Bagarella. Father of Thomas Bagarella and his wife Lauren of Melrose and Stephanie...

read more

Jean M. Kripp, 88

Jan 14, 2021 by

Published January 15, 2021 MELROSE — Jean M. (Stevens) Kripp, 88, oldest daughter of the late Arthur and Margaret Stevens, passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord on Jan. 11, 2021. Jean was a lifelong resident of Melrose, the past Treasurer of the Women’s Guild and lector at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Wakefield. Jean was a woman before her time, being one of the first women candidates for the Melrose Board of Alderman. Jean was also an early advocate of special education, championing Chapter 766, one of the first special education laws in Massachusetts. For many years, she enjoyed spending time with her late husband James F. Kripp Jr. and family and friends on Red River beach in Harwich and hosting family Thanksgiving in Melrose. She could be heard laughing and telling...

read more

A fractured union

Jan 14, 2021 by

Published January 15, 2021 MELROSE — Congresswoman Katherine Clark, the Prospect Street Democrat, doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to President Donald J. Trump and what happened in Washington last week. “He is a traitor,” she said in the aftermath of the violent protest urged on by Trump on Wednesday, Jan. 6 as he continued to cling to the notion that somehow the November election had been stolen from him by Joseph R. Biden and the Democratic Party. Rioters ransacked the Capitol complex and five people, including a Capitol Police officer, were killed. “We have a president who has turned on us. He is a traitor. He has incited violence and perpetuated a lie that he won this election,” Clark said. “If we do not hold this president accountable, if we do not...

read more

Men4MAAV host ‘Raising Boys to Men’ program Jan. 26...

Jan 14, 2021 by

Published January 15, 2021 MELROSE — The Men4MAAV (Melrose Alliance Against Violence) is hosting a program entitled “Raising Boys to Men,” a free virtual discussion of strategies for raising boys to exhibit healthy masculinity, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom. It’s a one-hour panel featuring local experts followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session that will focus on empowering fathers to serve as positive male role models and support healthy growth and development. The moderated discussion will include local experts discussing strategies to support parents to raise healthy young men. It will focus specifically on parents’ roles in supporting the growth and development of boys so they can become responsible, respectful and successful men. Panelists will offer tips and strategies for parents, advice for tough conversations, share examples of how to model...

read more