Claude H. Croston

Apr 26, 2018 by

Wake tonight April 26 HAVERHILL – Claude H. Croston, 84, husband of Dolores A. (Venezia) Croston, passed away peacefully after a short illness April 13, 2018 at Lawrence General Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Born in Haverhill, he was the son of the late George and Ellen (Welch) Croston. Raised and educated in Haverhill, he was a graduate of Haverhill High School, where he played football and track. He attended Wake Forest University, where he played on the varsity football team. Claude obtained his master’s degree in Education at Boston State College. He had a long career at Melrose High School, as a teacher, coach and principal, retiring in 1995. Claude enjoyed retirement, with golfing, gardening and most importantly, spending time with his beloved grandchildren, attending their school and sporting events. He will be...

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Roland Poulin, 58

Apr 26, 2018 by

Published in the April 27, 2018 edition MELROSE — Roland “Rollie” Poulin, 58,  passed away at his home in Melrose on April 11, 2018. Rollie was raised in Melrose, graduated from Melrose High School and lived most of his life in Melrose. He entered the US Marine Corps in 1977 and served his country with pride until 1982. Mr. Poulin worked as an iron worker for many years and was a member of the Iron Workers Local 7 in Boston. He was a very outgoing person with a huge personality and a great sense of humor. Rollie enjoyed the trip he took to Hawaii several years back and was looking forward to going back and visit with his friends someday. Mr. Poulin was the son of the late Joseph and Gloria (Hopkins) Poulin. Brother...

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Thomas J. Maher Jr., 84

Apr 26, 2018 by

Published in the April 27, 2018 edition MELROSE — Thomas J. Maher, Jr., 84, of Melrose, passed away at the Winchester Hospital on April 22, 2018. He was surrounded by his loving family. Tom was born in Manhattan, N.Y. and raised in the Bronx. He attended Machine & Metal Trades High School in New York City and completed his education in the U.S. Navy at the United States Armed Forces Institute and proudly served his country during the Korean War. Tom resided most of his life in N.Y. until moving to Melrose nine years ago. He worked as a repairman for the New York Telephone Company for 37 years before his retirement in 1991. In his youth, Tom played semi-pro soccer for the Yonkers Scots Soccer Clubs, for many years he was a senior...

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Joan B. Gardner, 89

Apr 26, 2018 by

Published in the April 27, 2018 edition MELROSE — Joan B. (Batchelder) Gardner, 89, a lifelong resident of Melrose, passed away peacefully at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House on Monday, April 16, 2018. Joan was born on January 23, 1929, the daughter of the late Joseph W. and Bertha (Hawes) Batchelder. Raised in Melrose, she graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1947 and received training to become a dental hygienist from the Forsyth Institute in Cambridge. Joan worked as a dental hygienist in Melrose and Wakefield for several years, and later for the Reading School System. A child of the Great Depression, Joan was raised to be independent, self reliant and frugal. She remained true to herself and her family throughout her life. In her free time, she loved to knit, especially anything for...

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Mary-Rita O’Shea retires Monday...

Apr 26, 2018 by

Published in the April 27, 2018 edition MELROSE — One of the most loyal, dedicated municipal employees in the city’s history is calling it a career. City Clerk Mary-Rita O’Shea, a lifelong Melrose resident, officially retires on Monday. The aldermen recognized her distinguished time in City Hall with a resolution on Mary-Rita’s nearly 40 years of service to her hometown. The resolution reads: “Mary-Rita O’Shea has served the City of Melrose in various capacities since 1968, she will be retiring on April 30, 2018 as the City Clerk. The Board of Aldermen congratulates Mary-Rita O’Shea for her years of dedicated service to the City of Melrose; and “Mary-Rita O’Shea is a dedicated and loving wife to her husband, and veteran, Daniel Francis O’Shea with whom she helped raise their son Daniel Francis O’Shea, Jr. “Mary-Rita...

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Aldermen back booze-free MBTA advertising...

Apr 26, 2018 by

Published in the April 27, 2018 edition MELROSE — This week the aldermen passed a resolution supporting the continued use of alcohol-free advertising on MBTA property. Recently the Fiscal and Management Control Board at the cash-strapped T voted to reverse the MBTA ban on alcohol ads. Buses travel Melrose roads every day and there are three commuter rail stops and a subway station, all now eligible to carry those types of ads. The resolution approved by the Board of Aldermen Monday voices strong objection to the T’s change of heart on alcohol advertising and spells out the reasons why. “(R)esearch shows that greater exposure to alcohol advertising is associated with increased drinking in underage youths. For each ad viewed by an underage youth (above the monthly average of 23), youth drink 23% more… “(T)he cost...

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