R. Sherwin Drury      1918 - 2009

R. Sherwin Drury, 91, of 112 Stuart Ave., died in his sleep Sunday evening, Aug. 9, in his home surrounded by family. Before his death, Sherwin wrote the following notes contributing to his own obituary. He was born at home at 790 Main St. in North Leominster to parents Ralph S. and Florence M. (Farnsworth) Drury, January 9, 1918. He attended Leominster schools through high school class of 1936 and graduated in 1941 from Brown University in Providence, RI. Shortly after graduating, he was drafted, however his stay in the army lasted only nine months because of asthma. He worked for 40 years at the former Simonds Saw and Steel Co. He was chairman of the historical committee of his church and produced a 250th anniversary book for it in 1993, plus a Troop 1 of Leominster Boy Scout history book. He was formerly a member of the Planning Board of the City of Leominster and for many years have been a member and secretary of the City of Leominster Historical Commission.

He went on to become Historian for the City of Leominster Historical Commission, where he was a member for 30 years, until his death. He was instrumental in and a contributor toward the 2006 publication of Combing through Leominster's History , the first history book of Leominster since 1853. One particular interest was in the history of the Houghton family of Leominster, and of the renaming of Houghton St. to N. Main St. in 1874. In 2008 the square at the corner of Main St. and North Main St. was named Houghton Square, and a dedication was held this May to honor the efforts made by Mr. Drury.

He is survived by three daughters, Ann Drury, Judy D. Young, and Barbara Drury; two grandchildren, Sherwin A. Young and Emily J. Young, a cousin Florence Tainter, a brother-in-law William Hart Jr. and his wife Mavis as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Doris M. Drury, in 2003 and his sister, Jane Graffagnino, of Columbus, GA, earlier this year.

Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery.

Jeanette L. (Levesque) Landry 90 of Leominster died Friday September 25, 2009 in Health Alliance Leominster Hospital. She was born on October 1, 1918; in Leominster, MA was the daughter of Narcisse and Marie-Jeanne (Beland) Levesque. She was a member and Past President of the Emblem Club. She worked as a Secretary and Record Keeper for the Leominster Police Department retiring June 8, 1984. She was a member of St. Cecilia Parish in Leominster. She is survived by one son Paul Landry and his wife Suzanne of Leominster, two sisters Margaret Morse of Pocasset, MA and Madeline Krause of Orinda, CA two grandchildren Michelle Landry of New Haven, CT, & Carolyn Clark and her husband Sean of Westminster, MA, three great-grandchildren Regan Clark, Paul Gus Clark and William Clark.

Edison Horton MacPhee, 91 years old of Leominster, died Sunday, July 19, 2009, in the Keystone Center in Leominster. He is survived by his wife of 62 years Kathleen M. (Baxter) MacPhee, his 2 daughters Brenda K. Maffeo and her husband Samuel A. Maffeo of Leominster and Carolyn F. Moss and her husband Roy Moss of Sydney, Maine, his grandson Benjamin S. Maffeo and his wife Joyce Maffeo of Leominster, his great grandson Nicholas S. Maffeo of Leominster and his sister Mary Farwell of Ft. Pierce, Florida. He was predeceased by his 2 brothers, Wendell MacPhee and Lyman MacPhee.

Mr. MacPhee was born in Martinvale, Prince Edward Island, Canada on May 25, 1918, son of William A. and Eva Jane (Horton) and had lived in Leominster since he was 4 years old. He graduated from Leominster High School in 1936 and was a Flight Officer and Instructor in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. Ed was a general contractor and with his brother Wendell had owned and operated W.A. MacPhee & Son, Inc. for many years. He was a former member of the Wilder Lodge of Masons in Leominster. He was an avid gardener, spending many hours in his beloved vegetable garden and also enjoyed sailing and golfing.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 11 am in the Congregational Church of Christ, 583 Main Street, Leominster. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster. A calling hour will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2009 from 10-11 am in the church prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Simonds-Sinon Regional Cancer Center, 275 Nichols Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420.

Joseph J Pellecchia  1917  -  2008

Joseph John Pellecchia, 91, of Fitchburg, and formerly of Leominster, died Wednesday, December 10, at UMass Memorial Hospital, Worcester, surrounded by loving family members. "Joe" was born on October 23, 1917, in Leominster, son of the late David Pellecchia and Maria (Isopo) Pellecchia. He was a graduate of Leominster High School (1936), and the former Saxton Trade School graduating in 1940, as a machinist. Joe served in the US Army Air Force during WWII as a Radio Tech. He and his family were founders of Blocks, Inc. of Leominster for many years (1946 to1968), where he invented D'Pelco Glazed Concrete Block. He also owned his own construction business, Pellecchia Masonry Contracting (1968-1972) and the Concrete Pumping Service (1972-1982). Joe was an avid sports fan, having run track and played baseball and football while in high school. He then was one of the founders of the semi-professional Leominster Lions football team where he played offensive center and defensive linebacker. He was responsible for bringing Little League Baseball to Leominster when he founded the Leominster National Little League. He along with some of his brothers also built the first American Little League baseball field off Marguerite Avenue. He also assisted communities of Springfield and Milton. He spent many years of service for the Nashua Valley and Monadnock Councils of Boy Scouts of America. He built an outside ice skating rink in downtown Leominster in the 1960's for area youth and families. He may be best known for his efforts to bring the "International Multi-Cultural Dome" to the former Fort Devens. For many years, he contacted Presidents, Governors, and legislators from numerous cities and states in his efforts. He even had a building plans and estimated how much it would cost and how much income it would bring to the area. He enjoyed politics and ran for Mayor in both Leominster and Fitchburg over the years, and served on the original committee to promote the Leominster School Building Program. He had a long list of associations and accomplishments some of which included: the Lions Service Club, Amvets Post 38, Boy Scouts of America, Leominster Recreation Center Incorporator, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Leominster Little League, Italian American Citizen's Club, Friends of St. Anna's School Association, Wachusett Grange, Leominster Historical Commission, and was a member of the Massachusetts Silver Haired Legislators (Representative). Joe enjoyed tinkering with electronics and loved music. He started a 50 piece military marching band while in the Army. He played saxophone and clarinet. Joe also was a member of the Leominster High School Orchestra, the Italian Colonial Band, Eagles Drum Corps and a member of the musicians Mutual Association Local No 173. Joe served on many other organizations to promote the well being of the community. He also was a life long member of the National Concrete Masonry Association and local unions. Joseph is survived by six sons, David , Phillip, Vincent, Richard, Stephen and Robert; five daughters, Frances George, Lelaine Sicard, Maria Richardson, Cynthia LeFleur and Jennifer Pellecchia. He also leaves 26 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. He leaves one brother, Settimio "Babe" Pellecchia and a sister, Olga Valera. He was predeceased by six brothers, Isolino and Dalmazio (infant deaths) Enrico, Isolino, Charles, Dalmazio "Red"; and two sisters, Elmarinda and Lena.

Burial was in St. Leo's Cemetery in Leominster.

J. Barry Pickford     1918  -  1994

Nov 7, 1994, J. Barry Pickford, owner of a plastics distributorship, died of a stroke Friday in Leominster Hospital. He was 76. Born in Leominster, he graduated from Leominster High School in 1936 and Nichols College in 1938. At Nichols, he captained the football and baseball teams. After graduation he played semi-professional baseball in central Massachusetts. In 1968, he was named to the Nichols College Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Pickford served as an army correspondent in Europe during World War II. He received four bronze stars and the meritorious service award.

Alice E. (Emery) Pickford

Alice E. (Emery) Pickford, 89 years old, died Wednesday, October 15, 2008 in Health

Doria "Titou" L. Remy    1918 - 2008

Doria "Titou" L. Remy, 90 years old, of Leominster and York, Maine, died Thursday, November 27, 2008 in the Sterling Healthcare Center. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Doris M. (Hetchell) Remy, his daughter Susan V. Remy of Leominster, his son Timothy P. Remy and his wife Kathleen Remy of Santa Barbara, CA, 3 brothers George Remy of Malden, Jimmy Remy of Ludlow, VT and Peter Remy and his wife Jackie Remy of Vero Beach, FL, his sister Rita DeCarolis of Leominster, his sister-in-law Claire Roiko of Leominster, 3 grandchildren Morgan Remy of Santa Barbara, CA, Richard Ferzoco of San Diego, CA and Alessandra Ferzoco of Chapel Hill, NC, and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his brother Charles Remy and his sister Paulette Scoggins.

Mr. Remy was born in Leominster on October 4, 1918, son of Dr. Louis and Graziella (Favreau) Remy, DDS and was a life long resident. During the summer months he lived in York, Maine. He graduated from Leominster High School, where was the quarterback of the football team. He also graduated from Worcester Trade School and was a tool and die maker for many years. During his working career he had worked at TRW, Standard Tool and Leominster Tool. Doria served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a member of Holy Family of Nazareth Church, the St. Jean's Club, the Turnpike Club in Ashburnham and he was a member and former president of the Leominster Sportsmen's Club. He enjoyed fly fishing, hunting and was a long time Pop Warner and high school football official. Several years ago he had played for the former Leominster Lions Football Team.

A celebration of Doria's life will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2008 with a mass at 11 AM in Holy Family of Nazareth Church, 750 Union Street, Leominster. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to either the Simonds-Sinon Regional Cancer Center, 275 Nichols Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420 or to the Leominster Sportsmen's Club, 1455 Elm Street, Leominster, MA 01453. The Silas F. Richardson & Son Funeral Home, 106 West Street, Leominster is assisting the family with arrangements.