The Bedford Citizen (https://www.thebedfordcitizen.org/category/deaths/)
Albert G. Razzaboni passed away on March 1, 2021. Mr. Razzaboni served in World War II (1946-1947). He was Honorably Discharged with an Occupation Ribbon and a World War II Victory Medal. Albert was a US Postal Service Carrier for 30+ years where he received multiple awards. He was an auxiliary police officer for the Town of Bedford and a charter member of VFW Post 1628.
Jennifer L. Plunk passed away on February 24, 2021. A former Bedford resident, Ms. Plunk—also known as Lady Cadillac—was a strong and caring person and a free spirit who loved everyone without passing judgment. She touched so many lives and made a huge impact on so many people in her life. She loved her family, friends, her animals, reading, and especially her Cadillacs – which was why she was called Lady Cadillac.
Published with thanks to the Charles River Wheelmen and The WheelPeople editors
Don Blake was perhaps the longest-serving of the Charles River Wheelmen cycling club: he was club treasurer from 1972 until 2011, close to 40 years. Don passed away on February 15, 2021, at age 89. We extend our condolences to his friends and family and share memories from Bedford members and others who remember Don.
Carol Hermann Wallace passed away on February 21, 2021, at age 96. A resident of Bedford for more than 25 years, Mrs. Wallace earned her PhD in Chemistry in just three years, at age 24. She was a self-deprecating person who did not stand on formality; her own children had no idea she had a Ph.D. until the mid-60’s when they happened upon a piece of mail addressed to “Dr. Carol.”
Donald G. Blake passed away on February 15, 2021. A resident of Bedford for more than 60 years, Mr. Blake was a longtime communicant of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and was a volunteer for many church projects, providing administrative support for the Monthly Epistle and serving as a cashier at the snack table at the annual Advent Fair. He also enjoyed having breakfast with the Men’s Group and walking his dogs. An avid cyclist his entire life, he was Treasurer of the Charles River Wheelers and a supporter of the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway.
James Michael Porter passed away on February 8, 2021. Mr. Porter, a Woburn resident, was a US Postal Carrier in Bedford.
Judith Lindau McConnell passed away on February 2, 2021. A lifelong Bedford resident, Mrs. McConnell was long active in Bedford town affairs, serving as a member on several town committees, as the Town Historian from 1994 to 2000, and as a beloved longtime volunteer reader to children in the town’s public schools. She was named Bedford’s Citizen of the Year in 2004.
Diane Maynard Cameron passed away on February 1, 2021. A long-time resident of Bedford, Mrs. Cameron served as a deacon in the First Church of Christ, Congregational. Until her retirement in 2000, she had a successful banking career; after retiring she took pleasure in maintaining close contact with her extended family.
Sydney Hanson Mirick passed away on January 30, 2021. Born with neuroblastoma, Sydney never bemoaned her circumstances and instead channeled her feistiness into fighting cancer three times. She was always ready to create worlds with her dollhouse and Legos, play with her brother, cousins, and friends and jump into any body of water she could find. A second-grader at Davis School in Bedford, she showered others with her amazing hugs and toothy smile and was in turn adored by her family, friends, doctors, nurses, and anyone else lucky enough to experience her light. She dreamt of being a scientist and an artist and living in a hotel in the city. Her impact on the lives around her far surpassed her years.
Donald F. Cooney passed away on January 26, 2021, at age 94. Mr. Cooney retired from Millipore in 1992. He was a longtime parishioner at St. Michael Church where he served as an usher and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
John “David” McClain passed away on January 23, 2021. Mr. McClain spent his entire career at Draper Laboratory where he is remembered as a warm and funny colleague and mentor. He maintained connections to a pair of spiritual homes, Arlington Street Church in Boston and First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Bedford and during the pandemic would regularly attend both Sunday services via Zoom.
William P. McLaughlin passed away on January 23, 2021. A graduate of Bedford High School, Mr. McLaughlin retired from the North Carolina university system; he lived in Greenville for more than 30 years.
January 29, 2021
* One (1) new COVID-19 positive case at Bedford High School (BHS case #42) no close contacts.
* There are currently four (4) active COVID-19 positive cases in the BHS Community at this time.
* This case does not appear to be connected or related to previous cases identified in school.
William V. A. Waldron passed away on January 26, 2021. A resident of North Kingston, RI, Mr. Waldron lived in Bedford for many years. His greatest passion was sailing, and sharing that joy with friends and family. He created a lasting bond with his family and friends with his light-heartedness and humor, his generosity and willingness to help at a moment’s notice, and his warm attention to their well-being.
Hugh David Simmons, of Seabrook, NH, formerly of Bedford, died on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. A U.S. Navy veteran of WWII, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War, Mr. Simmons loved his chair and remote, meteorology, and living by the ocean.
Donald E. Holmstead passed away on January 20, 2021. After a long career as a lead machinist for many companies, Mr. Holmstead enjoyed driving for Bedford Charter Service and playing tennis at the Heritage Club of Concord, where he was a board member and served as president.
Linda Dayle Moosick passed away on Jan. 21, 2021. Ms. Moosick was employed as a pharmacy tech at Bedford’s Stop and Shop for more than 12 years. She was an active, long-time member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church as a member of the choir, the vestry, and a devoted volunteer at the church’s annual Advent Fair.
Rachel Meserve Higgins passed away on January 13, 2021. Mrs. Higgins worked as a bookkeeper well into her 80s and continued her volunteer work with the Shriners until last year. Fiercely independent and accepting of all, she loved popcorn, a glass of Chardonnay, the Red Sox, and the Pats.
Ann Fuellhart Seamans passed away on January 12, 2021. A member of the Historic Preservation Commission, Ms. Seamans was a 15-year volunteer at Bedford TV where she worked on a video to commemorate her daughter Heather’s short life, won multiple annual awards, and co-hosted the station’s weekly news program. She was also involved in the movement to keep millions of tons of dirt excavated during the Big Dig from being dumped on Massport land bordering Bedford, and later protested the big rigs that drove through town when Massport repaved Runway 11-29.
Lester J. Macklin passed away on January 7, 2021. Wise, witty, charitable, and a good friend, Mr. Macklin liked to play tennis, do ballroom dancing, travel the world, garden, work with stained glass, and tinker with anything mechanical. He co-hosted a local tv show about Bedford and he authored a cookbook. One of his most proud accomplishments was being president of the NE Region of Jewish Men’s Club.
Virginia Moore O’Grady passed away on January 8, 2021. Mrs. O’Grady was a member of St. Michael Parish and will be remembered by her family as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister who cherished time with her family.
Muriel Wolloff Brooks passed away on January 12, 2021. Mrs. Brooks began as a programmer and retired as head of the MITRE software division. After her retirement, she taught mathematics at the Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Still River, MA.
Charles R. Higgins passed away on January 13, 2021. A Veteran of the US Navy during the Vietnam era, Mr. Higgins resided at the Bedford VA, where he was loved and well-cared-for. An entertainer during his early years, he was blessed with a great voice and not only shared with others but encouraged others to use theirs. He loved to play scrabble, go to Bingo games but especially to have fun.
Peter J. Frasso passed away on January 6, 2021. A Bedford resident in his youth, Mr. Frasso recently returned from a 15-year sojourn in the Midwest where he taught middle school and high school music in Indiana. He recently obtained his Apex certification and worked as a Materials Manager.
Michael C. Lehane, a former Bedford town counsel for many years, died Monday, Jan. 11, 2021 at his home near Reading, PA.
Mr. Lehane was a founding partner of the firm Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, in Quincy. During his 40-year legal career, he was town counsel in Danvers and Norwood as well as Bedford. His firm in 1991 was the first hired by Bedford to represent the town as a corporate legal collective. Prior to that Lehane was a local lawyer, representing several local residents.
Atty. Lehane, who retired several years ago, served as special counsel to municipalities and school committees on litigation matters. While at Boston University Law School, he worked as an aide at the former Metropolitan State Hospital in Waltham, explaining that it was an ideal job, as so many people needed help.
“He was one of the most significant people I worked with during my career in government,” said Bedford’s former Town Manager Rick Reed. “I respected his intellect, his humor, his knowledge of municipal law, and, most of all, his kindness to others.”