Obituaries 03-20-2012

John Joseph O’Leary, Jr.

Past President and CEO of Rotary Machine Company in Lynn and Founder and President of Erintch

John Joseph O’Leary, Jr. of Lynnfield died on March 14 at North Shore Medical Center Union Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.  He was 72 years old.

An avid outdoors man and hunter, he was a veteran of the US Army, serving in the Military Police and stationed in Germany from 1959 thru 1961.  He was a past President and CEO of Rotary Machine Company in Lynn and also the founder and President of Erintech.   He was involved in the Boy Scouts of America, a member of Danvers Fish and Game Club and a member of the Beach Club in Swampscott.  An avid volunteer  who worked tirelessly for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, his other career endeavors included being a member of the Reserve Essex County Sheriff’s Department and a Constable for the Town of Lynnfield.

He was the son of the late John J. and Grace (O’Keefe) O’Leary and leaves his loving wife of 49 years, Susan Hatch O’Leary of Lynnfield and two sons, John and his wife, Christine O’Leary of Bradford, MA, and Mark and his wife, Melanie O’Leary of Gaithersburg, MD; he was the grandfather of Ryan, Shawn, Riley and Braeden O’Leary.  He also leaves two sisters, Patricia Elbaz and her husband, Farouk of Boston and Ann Hammond of Wolfeboro, NH.  He was the son-in-law of Mary A. Hatch and  brother-in-law of  Kathleen Baker, Deems Hatch, David Hatch, Mark Hatch and Cynthia Belhumueur.  He also leaves several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, Lynn. Burial was in Swampscott Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 220 North Main Street, Suite 104, Natick, MA 01760 or the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, PO Box 970025, Boston, MA 02297-0025. For online register book please visit www.cuffemcginn.com

Edward Cooper

Chelsea Youth Basektball League Board Member and Coach

Edward Cooper of Chelsea died unexpectedly at home on March 8. He was 71 years old.

An accountant for many local companies and board member and coach for the Chelsea Youth Basketball League, he was the husband of Jacqueline (Burke); father of Keith Cooper, Sr. and his wife, Jody of Worcester, Kelly Thibeault and her husband, Normand of Penacook, New Hampshire and Christopher Lukatis of Revere; brother of Janice Mayer of Illinois and Nancy Page-Cooper of Colorado; grandfather of Melinda Burke of Waltham, Keith Cooper II of Worcester, Tanya Poulin of Lynn and Taylor Poulin of Penacook, New Hampshire.

At the request of the family, funeral services were private. Expressions of sympathy in his name may be made to a charity of your choice. To send a message of condolence to his family please visit www.smithfuneralhomes.com

Harry John Groblewski

Distinguished Educator, Silver Dove Award Recipient

Harry John Groblewski of Beverly died on March 13. He was 95 years old.

A graduate of Plymouth High School, Phillips Andover and Yale, he was a volunteer ambulance driver for the American Field Service during World War II.

A remarkable man who dedicated his life to education, he was the founding headmaster of the Spartanburg Day School and the Glen Urquhart School. He also led the Park School and taught at schools in four states. During his retirement, he served as a Library Trustee in Topsfield, taught creative writing at the Beverly Senior Center and mentored many, receiving the Silver Dove Award from Governor Michael Dukakis for his efforts on behalf of the senior community. His indomitable spirit, kindness, wisdom, patience and joie de vivre sustained him throughout this life and serve as an example to those who knew and loved him.

Born in Plymouth, PA, he was the son of the late Dr. Casimir and Lucy (Butkewicz) Groblewski and the loving husband of Mary Isabella (Taylor) Groblewski with whom he shared 65 years of marriage. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Mary I. Starck of Atlanta, Casimir R. Groblewski and his wife, Dr. Teresa Zabik of Lexington, Lucia A. and her husband, Thomas Jenkins of Wakefield and Dr. Thomas Groblewski and his wife, Cynthia Bush of Beverly. He was the proud grandfather of Henryk Kumar, Jennifer Perry, Dr. Jan, Dr. Peter and Natasha Groblewski, Taylor, Kyle, Zachary and Cameron Jenkins, Alexis Chapman and Alex, Amanda and Nicholas Groblewski and great grandfather of Zachary Faitel, Isabella and Tallulah Groblewski, Harper Groblewski, Payton Jenkins, Brayden Chapman and Thomas Jenkins. He was the brother of the late Lucia K. Dodge.

His family will celebrate his life at a memorial service on Saturday, June 2 at 2 p.m. at the Glen Urquhart School, 74 Hart Street, Beverly Farms, MA 01915. All are welcome. Please send condolences to Isabella Groblewski, Oceanview, 3 Essex St., Beverly, MA 01915. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Harry J. Groblewski Fund for Visiting Artists at Glen Urquhart School will be gratefully accepted. Arrangements were Entrusted to the Nadworny Funeral Home, 798 Western Avenue, Lynn.

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