Special Announcements

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WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THE DEATH OF Lt. Richard Curry - retired.

Waltham – Retired Waltham Fire Lieutenant Richard T. Curry, of Waltham, died Sunday, April 11, 2010 at his home. He was 62.

Rich was born in Brighton on September 5, 1947, a son of the late Virgil and Martha (Wilson) Curry, and moved with his family to Waltham when he was five years old. After high school he joined the United States Marine Corps and served with distinction during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts in addition to a Presidential Unit Citation; National Defense Service Medal; the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry; the Vietnam Service Medal with three stars and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Rich was nominated to receive the Silver Star, the nation’s third highest military award, when he was a nineteen year old private first class and squad leader serving with ‘A’ Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division. A couple of weeks shy of his twentieth birthday, in August, 1967, Rich and his platoon were sent to establish a defensive ambush position 200 yards outside their base perimeter in Da Nang province. His squad came under heavy enemy attack before they reached their positions, receiving rifle and machine gun fire, in addition to a grenade attack. Rich’s Presidential Citation described the event: “In the initial moments of the attack, all members of the machine gun team were wounded . . . reacting instantly, PFC Curry ran fifteen meters under intense enemy fire to the team’s position. While encouraging the wounded he boldly positioned himself in front of his wounded comrades with the machine gun in full view of the enemy and commenced to direct long bursts of fire into hostile positions.” He continued to fire the heavy weapon from a standing position until the enemy ceased firing and after expending 600 rounds of ammunition, eventually running out, he repositioned himself with his personal weapon in the darkness to other wounded Marines, re-loading their weapons and directing their fire until enemy forces withdrew. One witness to the event, Sergeant Stephen Truss, USMC, attributed Rich’s heroic actions “with saving the lives of the machine gun team and all the members of his squad”.

After returning from Vietnam he attended the University of Massachusetts at Boston. He was appointed a Waltham Firefighter in September of 1976 and promoted to Fire Lieutenant in June, 1983. He served aboard Rescue 6 out of the Central Station on Lexington Street for most of his career, retiring in July of 1998.

Rich was a lifelong outdoorsman who loved to travel the world. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, scuba diving and mountain climbing. He was also a talented carpenter and a ‘Friend of Bill W’. Rich was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1628 in Bedford and the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter No. 47 in Billerica.

He leaves his children, Adam T. Curry and his wife, Dawn, of Waltham and Dannielle C. Kissane and her husband, Chris, of Natick; his former wife, Jeanne C. (Calnan) Curry of Waltham; his grandson, Aidan C. Curry; one brother, Robert B. Curry and his wife, Anna, of Waltham; his sister-in-law, Diana J. (Robichaud) (Curry) Badger and his nieces, Melissa, Kristen and Anna Curry and Robin Jackson.

Rich was also a brother of the late Stephen W. Curry.

Family and friends will honor and remember Rich’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THE DEATH OF Mr. Alfred B. Bergin - Father of Ken Bergin - Group 4

Waltham – Mr. Alfred P. Bergin, Sr., of Waltham, died Monday, April 5, 2010 in Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington. He was 58.

Al was born in Waltham on February 18, 1952, a son of the late Thomas F. and Muriel H. (Jones) Bergin and had been a lifelong resident. He graduated from Waltham High School in 1970 and in 1973 from Wentworth Institute. He served with the United States Air Force Reserve.

Al was the proprietor of Bergin Construction in Waltham and enjoyed golfing, boating, fishing on Lake Winnepesaukee and skiing with family and friends.

He leaves his wife, Sandra J. (Wright) Bergin; his children, Jodi A. Burke and her husband, Kevin, of Waltham, Alfred P. ‘A.J.’ Bergin, Jr. and his wife, Ashley of Ayer and Kenneth J. Bergin and his wife, Allison, of Waltham; his sisters, Ann M. Bergin of Waltham, Paula M. Tingley of Bangor, Maine and Muriel H. Muha of Plymouth; his brother, Thomas F. ‘Buddy’ Bergin, Jr. of Wayland; his grandchildren, Colleen, Nicole, Jared and Jason Burke and Alfred P., III, Thomas and Dylan Bergin; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles Tingley, John Muha, Ruth Bergin, Robert Wright and Carol and John Landry and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Al’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. before leaving in procession to Saint Mary’s Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701 or to the American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210.

WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THE DEATH OF Mr. Thomas Ferrick, Father of Lt. Tom Ferrick and Firefighter John Ferrick

The arrangements are as follows:

The wake will be Sunday March 14th from 2 to 6pm at the Brasco Funeral Home on Moody Street.

and the Funeral will be Monday March 15th at 10:00am at Our Lady's church on Trapelo Road.

WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THE DEATH OF Captain Leonard H. Swanton - retired.

Waltham - Retired Waltham Fire Department Captain Leonard H. Swanton, of Waltham, died Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at his home. He was 77.

Len was born in Waltham on June 12, 1932, a son of the late Leonard J. and Doris (Hills) Swanton, and had been a lifelong resident. Lenny's wife of 47 years, Louise A. (McHugh) Swanton died June 28, 2004.

After graduating from Waltham High School Len joined the United States Navy where he served aboard the U.S.S. Stoddard, a 'Fletcher class' destroyer during the Korean War. Len was appointed a firefighter with the Waltham Fire Department on October 18, 1959. He was promoted to Lieutenant on July, 9 1978 and to Captain on March 26, 1983, a position he held until his retirement ten years later. He served most of his career at 'Central Station' on Lexington Street as the captain aboard Ladder 1.

Len also worked for many years as a truck driver for Harvey Industries in Waltham and was hired as the company's first employee. He and his family spent many happy days at their summer home in Harwich where Len enjoyed sailing his Sunfish on Long Pond. He was also a longtime participant with the Cape Cod Old Timer's Softball League. Len also enjoyed cycling along the Cape Cod Rail Trail, walking, fishing and reading.

He leaves his children, Patti Caira and her husband, Edward, Joyce A. Pilicy and her husband, Paul, all of Waltham, Janet M. I'Aboni and her husband, James, of South Portland, Maine, Beverly J. Goodwin and her husband, Daniel, of Waltham, Carole A. Knox and her husband, Greg, of Framingham, Leonard E. Swanton of Andover, Waltham Firefighter William G. Swanton of Acton, James T. Swanton and his wife, Jennifer, and John J. Swanton, all of Framingham. Len was also the loving Grampy of Taryn, Rebecca, Jason, Kelly, Lisa, Erin, Melissa, Paul, Luke, Daniel, Emily, Monica, Joseph, Abigail, Thomas, Kathleen, Allison and Samantha and great-Grampy of Mathew and Nolan. He also leaves his devoted caregiver, Mary Mensah of Worcester and many nieces and nephews.

Len was the brother of the late Jean Mangan.

Family and friends will honor and remember Len's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning in Christ Church, 750 Main Street, Waltham when his funeral service will be celebrated. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Waltham Fire Fighters Welfare and Relief Association, 175 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA 02452.

December 28, 2009

WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THE DEATH OF Firefighter Robert Bergeron - Group 2 Engine 7

The arrangements are as follows:

The wake will be Friday January 1st from 3 to 8pm at the Joyce Funeral Home 245 Main Street.

The Funeral will be Saturday 10:00am at saint Mary's Church.

Any member available to assist at the Wake is asked to contact Steve Lydon for an assigned time, at the Moody Street station on Wednesday afternoon.

Logistics for the funeral will be posted wednesday and distributed at the Wake.

Any questions contact Steve Lydon at any time.

Waltham – Waltham Firefighter Robert J. Bergeron, of Waltham, died Monday, December 28, 2009 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He was 48.

Bob was born in Waltham on August 29, 1961, a son of Mary C. (Law) (Bergeron) Pelletier of Highland Beach, Florida and the late Paul J. Bergeron, Sr., and had been a lifelong resident. He was a 1979 graduate of Waltham High School.

He was appointed a firefighter on February 1, 1987 and was assigned to the Central Station on Lexington Street before moving to Engine 7, Lake Street Station, thirteen years ago. Bob was a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local No. 866 and had served on the executive board and negotiating committee.

Besides his love for the job, Bobby’s other passion in life was hockey, a sport that he played all of his life. As a longtime coach with the Waltham Youth Hockey League he found great enjoyment teaching and nurturing his son, Jeffrey, now a sophomore and member of the J.V. team at Waltham High School, the skills of the game. He was also a longtime coach with the North Waltham Baseball League and the Little Nippers Baseball League.

He and his beloved wife, Wendy S. (Julien) Bergeron celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary this past October. In addition to his wife, son and mother, Bobby leaves his brothers and sisters, Waltham Firefighter Paul J. Bergeron, Jr., of Millis, Janet Robertson of Waltham, Linda Silva of Ormond Beach, Florida, David Bergeron of Maynard, Carol Haley of Billerica and Mary Bergeron of Waltham; his mother and father-in-law, Bonnie and Jim Julien of Swampscott and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bob’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, January 1st, from 3 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary’s Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Committal services will follow in the Calvary Cemetery Chapel, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Robert J. Bergeron Scholarship Fund c/o John Graceffa, Waltham High School, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA 02452 or to the Waltham Fire Fighters Welfare and Relief Association, 175 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA 02452.

My brother, my co-worker, my best friend, you are missed beyond belief. The job gave us a relationship beyond brotherhood. There will be a void at Miami, Arizona, New Hampshire and Maine. I'll do my best to see Wendy and Jeff are cared for in as much normality as I can. Team up with Dad and protect our family as well as our Fire family, and I'll do my part here. Thanks for the fun times. Your brother, your co-worker, your best friend. Love Paul

Paul Bergeron
Dec 30, 2009
Millis, MA