Obituaries 09-06-2011

Michelle Gagner

Of Medford, formerly of Lynn

Michelle M. Gagner of Medford, formerly of Lynn, died on August 29. She was 43 years old.

Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of Frances R. (Cuthbert) Riley of Tempe, AZ and Francis X. Riley of Chicopee. She also leaves her husband Salvatore A. Ferro, III of Medford, her children, James Ferro and his wife, Amanda of Winchester, NH, Jennifer Taylor of Medford, Salvatore A. Ferro IV of Natick and Heather Rose Cotter of Medford; a brother Thomas Riley of Arizona;  four sisters, Lisa Huard and her husband, Richard of Tempe, AZ, Tracy Cotto and her husband, Jonny of Barrington, NH, Shelley D’Amico and her husband, Scott of Seabrook, NH, and Vicki Eaton and her husband, Dana of Chicopee, and many nieces and nephews.

She always brought everyone’s spirits up. You will always be in our hearts.

Funeral arrangements were by the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, Lynn. For online register book please visit www.cuffemcginn.com

Virginia Nalbanian

Retired Lynn Classical High School Teacher, Touched Many Lives

 Virginia M. Nalbandian died on August 29 in Danvers. She was 90 years old.

A longtime resident of Lynn, a city she loved so dearly, she was born in Lynn on February 21, 1921. She was the daughter of the late Vahan A. and Mabel (Gulezian) Nalbandian, also life residents of the city, graduated from Lynn English High School in 1938 and was a member of the National Honor Society. She graduate from Salem State College in 1964 with a degree in Business Education cum laude.

At the age of 16 she passed a written test and landed her very first job at the Lynn Public Library as a page earning 20 cents an hour, an accomplishment she never forgot. For 20 years she worked as a secretary in the Medium Steam Turbine Department of General Electric and for 20 more years as a business teacher in the old Classical High School on North Common Street. In her interview with the late Deputy Superintendant, James Marks, she said, “I’ll be teaching from personal experiences in the business world and not just out of textbooks.” She was hired immediately.

Upon retirement in 1983 due to heart problems, she spent several winters on the east and west coast of Florida, and later became an active member of the Lynnfield Senior Center. Always fond of writing, she was a volunteer reporter for the Golden Outlook monthly newsletter, and occasionally submitted articles to the Lynnfield Villager. Also, as part of her volunteer contribution to the Lynnfield community, she spent five years reading stories to children in the SEEM Collaborative Unit, a private school adjacent to the Senior Center.

She loved her work in education and, in the absence of her own family, devoted many years touching the lives of children and young adults everywhere. “Miss Virginia” as she was affectionately known in her neighborhood, had also traveled extensively to Canada, Bermuda, Cuba, Hawaii, and all the countries of middle and southern Europe. A quiet person in her private life, she enjoyed yoga, sketching, painting, photography, music, gardening, sewing, and all manner of arts and crafts.

Professionally, she was a member of REAM, the Explorers Club, and a former member of the Armenian Students Association of Boston. She was a religious person and attended the West Congregational Church in Peabody for many years.

She is survived by her beloved niece Elaine Nalbandian of Peabody, her beloved nephew Todd Nalbandian and his wife, Kimberly of Danvers, one grand nephew, one grand niece, many cousins, and a dear friend and neighbor, Mark Asdoorian of Lynn.

A funeral Service was held in the West Congregational Church, Peabody. Burial was in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn. Funeral arrangements were by the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, Lynn. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the West Congregational Church, 27 Johnson Street, Peabody, MA 01960.  For online register book please visit www.cuffemcginn.com

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