Peter Ventresca
Retired Local 4 Worker
Peter A. Ventresca, of Winthrop passed away at the Lighthouse Nursing Care Facility on April 20. He was 87 years old. His sister, Armida (Amy) Ventresca Miller, several long-time friends and a faithful relative were with him when he died.
For the past nine years, he has lived in Winthrop with his younger sister and her husband where he enjoyed being a member of the Senior Center in Winthrop.
Born in Italy, he and his parents, Mario and Anna Ventresca, who are long deceased, emigrated to Boston when he was very young. They were proud to become USA Citizens.
Mr. Ventresca attended all American schools and Northeastern University for certifications in several specialized areas. He was an industrial engineer and a member of the Local Four Union until his death.
He is survived by his sister, Armida Ventresca Miller and her husband, Paul Miller of Winthrop. He is also survived by an aunt in Boston and an aunt in Italy, including younger cousins in Boston, the surrounding area and Italy.
He was the beloved husband for 55 years of Anne P. Sears of Boston. They made their home in Melrose and Randolph. His wife passed away on February 14, 2007 and he has lived in Winthrop ever since. He enjoyed a good life and was cared for with family in Winthrop.
Mr. Ventresca became very interested in the Martial Art style of Shoto-Kan Karate. He traveled to Japan to receive his 5th Degree Black Belt from the Buddhist Monks in Japan. This belt is only given in Japan by the monks who practice this pure form of Karate. He wrote an introductory illustrated book on this style of Karate while he was a 3rd Degree Belt holder which presented this style of Karate in a simplified manner. It led the beginner toward becoming a First Degree Black Belt owner. He became an instructor in this style of Karate and later organized the Shoto-Kan Association of Massachusetts.
He loved instructing children and was an extremely patient teacher. He made sure to teach them: “Because you know it, you don’t use it.” He did not tolerate bullies. The book was a success with Shoto-Kan followers and was published in 1970 by The Charles E. Tuttle Company. At the time, he was a popular lecturer at universities and other organizations since this was considered a very pure style of Japanese Karate. It is still practiced by the Japanese Buddhist Monks. Shoto-Kan means ‘The Beginning of Knowledge.’
The Funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. today, Thursday, April 27 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 327 Winthrop Street, Winthrop. At 9:30 a.m. there will be a guest reception with Registration Book at the back of the church prior to the Mass. Peter’s family members will be there. His casket will be held at the back of the church until time for the Mass at 10 a.m. He did not want an elaborate funeral and stressed the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the American Heart Association. His burial will be at The Blue Hills Cemetery in Braintree. His luncheon reception will be on the South Shore after the burial, and the convenient location will be announced. Funeral arrangements are by The Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home Inc., 210 Winthrop St. Winthrop, MA 02152. For guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com
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Thomas ‘Tim’ Key
Deer Island Engineer
Thomas “Tim†Key of Winthrop passed away on April 22. He was 72 years old.
Thomas was a graduate of Norwich University and was employed as an engineer working at Deer Island.
Born in Boston, he was the cherished son of the late Thomas E. and Frances L. (Hancock) Key;.dear brother of the late Daniel M. Key and Heather F. Key; loving cousin of Thomas W. Hancock, Roger Hancock, Denise Bowdler, Britt Hatch and Thomas N. Hancock.
A Graveside Service will be held in the Winthrop Cemetery (Cross St. Section) on Friday, April 28 at 1 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Funeral arrangements are by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St. Winthrop. For guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
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Jean Miles
Cottage Park Yacht Club member
Jean A. Miles of Veterans Road, a lifelong resident of Winthrop, passed away at home on April 16. She was 86 years old.
Born in Winthrop, the beloved daughter of the late Pauline (Luppold) and Edward Brady, she and her husband operated an Inn in Vermont for many years. She was also a member of the Cottage Park Yacht Club.
She was the devoted wife of the late Frederick E. Miles, Jr. and the loving mother of Frederick “Ricky” Miles, III of Gloucester, Kathleen Titus of Plum Island, Jennifer Miles of Cambridge, Christopher Miles of Swampscott and Julie Miles of Colorado; dear sister of the late Paula Vitagliano; cherished grandmother of Jessica, Jamie, Jacqleen, Jennifer, Thomas, Sam, Luc, Brady, Mary Frances, Jake, Paige and Elise; great grandmother of Molly, Kayleigh, Jack, Mickey and Benjamin; loving aunt of Jane, Laura and Maura Vitagliano and cousin of Paula Walsh.
Her Funeral Mass was celebrated from the St. John the Evangelist Church, Winthrop on April 24. Committal was private. Memorial donations may be made to the MSPCA 350 S Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 or go to www.mspca.org. To sign the online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.
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Barbara Jean Arcadipane
Former Proprietor of Barbara Jean’s Cards and Candies of Winthrop
Barbara Jean Arcadipane, born March 29,1932, of West Palm Beach, Florida, formerly of Winthrop, passed away on April 18 after a long illness.
The former proprietor of Barbara Jean’s Cards and Candies, Winthrop, she was the devoted wife of Andrew A.; beloved daughter of the late Leonard and Agnes Iannarone; loving mother of Andrea and her late husband, Dr. Robert Harney, Andrew and his wife, Gail Arcadipane and Alan and his wife, Diana Arcadipane; NANA to Jessica and Kimberly Harney, Andrew and Nicholas Arcadipane and Bianca Arcadipane and great grandmother to Andrew Robert Griffin.
Cremation services in Florida were private per the family’s request. Her name and memory will be celebrated at the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday, April 29 in St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St., Winthrop. Donations in her memory can be made to New England Disabled Sports, PO Box 26, Lincoln, NH 03251 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN. 38148-0142. To sign the online guestbook go to: www.caggianofuneralhome.com.
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George Romanos
Retired Mass. Penal and Parole Board Deputy Commissioner
George D. Romanos of Winthrop died on April 14 after a long illness. He was 72 years old.
George worked as the Deputy Commissioner for the Massachusetts Penal and Parole Board.
He had a PhD in Philosophy and is the author of a published book on the subject of logic, as well as many articles in academic journals. His hobbies included playing the guitar, both blues and classical, and running; he ran the Boston Marathon three times and started a running club for runners with low vision.
He was a member of the Park Street Church in Boston for many years.
The cherished son of Geraldine (Delvental) Romanos of Boston and the late George M. Romanos Jr., he was the beloved father of Nicholas V. Romanos and his wife, Justine of Winchester, Cynthia L. Romanos and Alex B. Romanos and his wife, Tara, all of Winthrop; adored grandfather of Nicholas, Damon, Gabriella, Liam and Sudie and devoted brother of Barbara Romanos of New Hampshire, Joan Romanos of West Roxbury, Michael Romanos of Portland, OR. and Stephanie Romanos of Jamaica Plain. He was the former husband and dear friend of Brenda Romanos; nephew of Elmer Delvental, Winnie Lyons and Linda Delvental and is also survived by seven nieces and nephews and seven great-nieces and great-nephews.
Visiting hours will be held in the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop on Tuesday, May 2 from 9 to 11 a.m. A Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home beginning at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Memorial donations may be made to the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Â 431 Pond Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130..
For guestbook and directions, please visit:
www.mauricekirbyfh.com