Joseph Bernard Adams was born on October 29, 1946 to Cleveland and Bessie Adams in Marion County, South Carolina.  “Joe” as he is affectionately called is the third oldest of his siblings.  At an early age, Joe moved to Boston, MA with his family and began to help take care of his younger siblings.  Until his death, his family looked to him as a source of help when in need.

In 1972, Joe married Betty White and they have 3 sons from their union.  They raised their family in Orchard Park (Gardens) for many years until  moving to Dorchester. Joe worked at the Wolf syrup company, Neponset Steel before becoming a laborer for more than 20 years a part of Labor Union Local 151 until his retirement.

Joseph leaves precious memories with his wife of 48 years, Betty, sons Anthony (Tawanna) and Andrew (Tammy) both from Boston, MA.  Shawn B. Adams preceded him in death.  He has 6 grandchildren: Jannell, Justin, Anthony Jr, Aaron, Avean, Andrena and 2 great grandchild NeVaeh and Justin Jr.  His siblings: Elizabeth Adams-Rowell, Frank Adams, Jonathan Adams, Effie Avant, Cato Adams, Annie Smith, Hazeltine Davis, Christa Mae Edwards (Alvin), Brenda Wilson (Isaiah), Rufus Davis, Katherine Hyatt and Lizzie Davis Prioleau.  His brothers Cleveland Adams Jr, Master Adams, Barnett Sellers and Winston Adams have passed on.  Joe has a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, a community of friends and his favorite nephew Clayton “Chubby” Rowell was just like a brother to him to keep his family laughing!  He will be missed!  

Funeral Services will be held at the Dolan Funeral Home, 1140 Washington St., DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS, on Monday, February 24 at 11am. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10-11am. Interment at Fairview Cemetery.                  

Richard Martell, of Quincy, died Saturday February 22, 2020.

Beloved father of Anthony Martell of Quincy. Son of the late Mary Saccoach Brother of the late Thomas J. Ciccio. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 237 Sea St., Quincy, Wednesday March 4 at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours omitted. Burial at a later date.

Edward Patrick Collins, Jr., age 64, passed away at his home in Milton, Saturday February 22, 2020.

Eddie was born on August 2, 1955 in Boston, MA to Edward P. Collins, Sr., and Catherine Z. (Nagle) Collins. A life-long resident of Milton, MA, Eddie went to St. Agatha’s School and Milton High School. After graduating, Eddie first worked at Milton Men’s Clothing Store, where he developed his enduring taste for sharp dressing. As the grandson and son of MBTA employees, at age 21 he went to work for “The T”.  He completed an associate degree in Electrical Engineering and stayed at The T for 30 years. After retirement, he worked as a mortgage broker for several years.

In 1989 Eddie married Joan Kirby (now Murphy), also of Milton. They had three beautiful children: Olivia, Liam, and Julia. Eddie’s children were always the center of his universe. A simple question of “How are the kids?” would light up his face with love and pride as he regaled the listener with their accomplishments and talents. He was a devoted father, taking a very active role in every aspect of his children’s lives.

He was an avid golfer and would travel near and far to play storied courses. Most recently, he was a member of the Norfolk Golf Club of Westwood. A devout Boston sports fan, he was a walking encyclopedia of Pats, Sox, Bruins and Celtics statistics and trivia. He also loved to watch Jeopardy. Most nights, he and his youngest sister would text each other their guesses for Final Jeopardy (Eddie almost always knew the correct answer).

Eddie was out-going, sociable, and well-loved by his large cadre of friends. He had a loyal and generous spirit, and was always ready to help anyone, friend or stranger. He had the ability to light up a room with his terrific sense of humor, huge smile, and infectious laugh. Proud of his Boston accent so thick you could cut it with a knife, he enjoyed confounding his now-adult children’s out-of-state friends with words like “blinkah” and “chowdah”. He was the King of the Corny Dad Joke (What is the first thing that an elf learns in school? The elf-abet).

Eddie, now that you are up in Heaven, we know you have found your way to the sports bar and are sitting with Ted Williams, John Havlicek, and the rest of your heroes. Save a spot at the bar for us.

Devoted father of Olivia Collins, Liam Collins, and Julia Collins all of Milton. Beloved brother of Mary Lowney of Weymouth, MA, Theresa Collins of Washington, D.C., Francis Collins of Hingham, MA, Daniel Barrett of Florence, MA, and Louise Collins of Attleboro, MA, and the late Anne Barrett.   He had ten nieces and nephews, one great-nephew and three great-nieces.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Agatha Church, Adams Street at Brook Road, Milton, Thursday, February 27 at 10:30 am. Visiting hours at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON SQUARE, Wednesday 4-8 pm.  Interment Milton Cemetery.

If desired, contributions in Eddie’s memory may be sent to the Robert “Bubba” Maloney Scholarship Fund, c/o Tom Gunning, BTEA, 100 Grossman Drive, Suite 300, Braintree, MA 02184.

July 6 1931 – February 21, 2020

Former President, Massachusetts Medical-Legal Society, Dies at 88.

Peter J. Leahy, of Milton, MA and Little Diamond Island, ME, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his children and his loving wife, Donna Crump Leahy, on Friday, February 21^st, 2020.

Born in Cork City, Ireland, in 1931, he was the youngest and most difficult of three sons born to an English mother and an Irish father, Frances Farrell and Michael Leahy. His childhood passions were varied, intense, and lasting: ships and the sea, aviation, theater, film, history, and music. For his 15^th birthday, he begged for a 8mm movie camera, which he used to document the grand transatlantic ocean liners coming and going from the Port of Cobh; dreaming of mid-century glamour and adventure.

His desire to be an actor thwarted by his parents, he was guided toward University and Medical School, graduating University College Cork Medical School in 1954 and heading straight for the “The States.” He arrived in New York Harbor on September 4^th, 1954, aboard the MV Brittanic

After interning in Pennsylvania, Dr. Leahy joined Carney Hospital in Boston, where he was Chief Resident in 1957/58, and would practice Internal Medicine through the 1990’s. He served in various leadership roles at Carney and surrounding hospitals, as Medical director of the MBTA, and as Senior Medical Examiner for the Federal Aviation Authority (New England.) He was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Boston University and Tufts University.

He practiced medicine and life with kindness, heart, wit, compassion and an unwavering loyalty to his patients, family and friends.

He married Ann Quinlan in 1963, and they had four children, who survive him, Shelagh, Michael, Peter, and Annie. He was absolute in his desire to shake off the weight of his own constricted and “Victorian” upbringing, and to raise his children with warmth, love, and openness. He raced home to put them to bed at night and tell them stories, insisted on good manners and ample expressions of “I love you,” and generally indoctrinated them into his interests.

He made many transatlantic crossings, partial to Cunard. He took deep pride in his American-ness, and in his American children, who were once described by an Irish friend as “very well behaved, for Yanks.” He got a kick out of that.

Dr. Leahy was active in Community Theater, performing in countless plays and Gilbert & Sullivan productions in and around Boston. He acquired his pilot’s license in 1972 and flew Piper Cherokees out of Norwood Airport. He felt a real man should be able to whirl a woman around the dance floor, and was a competitive Ballroom Dancer for a time. He kept boats at Dorchester Yacht Club, Hingham Yacht Club, and in Portland, Maine. He was an avid sailor and a solid downhill skier.

In 1970, he bought a small cottage on Little Diamond Island, in Casco Bay, where his family has enjoyed 50 years of nature, community, and memory making.  

When his first marriage ended in the late 1970’s, he suffered over the loss of his dream of a family life, but remained first and foremost, “Dad;” fathering at a level unusual for his generation. The primary instruction to everyone he worked with was that his children were to be “put through immediately” if they called.

In 1999, he met Donna Crump, the love of his life. For 20 years, these two peas-in-a-pod loved, laughed, and lived. They became grandparents to eight very interesting new people, traveled the world on those Cunard ships, attended theater and symphony performances, summered in Maine, wintered on Marco Island and delighted in their good fortune to find and enjoy one another at last.

He liked to say about Donna, “Boy, did I land on my feet or what?”

After closing his private practice in 1993, Dr. Leahy became Medical Director of Tufts Health Plan, and served in that role until 2001. Along the way he leaned in to Forensic Medicine, which had intrigued him for years. He became a State Medical Examiner in 1978 and was President of the Massachusetts Medical-Legal Society from 1994 – 2001. He worked until he became ill last year, shepherding a new generation of physicians and leaders along, including Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Mindy Hull, a protégé and friend, who recently presented him with a Commendation from the Governor of Massachusetts honoring his contributions to the field.  

The Investigative Unit of the MA Medical Examiner’s office will be named in Dr. Leahy’s honor.

He had very warm hands and a great roar of a laugh. He thought it was ridiculous to wear an overcoat, even in New England winters, “if you’re just getting in and out of the car.”  He had no patience for elevators and took the stairs two at a time. He was stubborn and prickly, but soft and deeply sentimental. He was frugal and practical, but all in for a bit of luxury: He loved lamb with rosemary, Irish sausages, and a square of chocolate after dinner. He hovered around acquiring a bottle green Jaguar Sedan, but never pulled the trigger. He liked giving the women in his life jewelry and pressing cash into the hands of his grandchildren. At his first chemo appointment, when a nurse asked “Can I get you anything?” he answered, “I’d love a Manhattan.”

In addition to his wife and children, Dr. Leahy is survived by his grandchildren, Olivia and Leo Ruckenstein of Brookline, MA,  Anastasia and Frances Leahy of Brooklyn NY, and Hugh and Linus Carey of Portland, ME.  His insistence on being addressed as “Grandfather” led to eye-rolls when the first grandchild arrived but now we can’t imagine him by any other name.  He also considered his wife’s grandchildren, Anthony and Sophia Loricco, of Holliston, MA, his own.

He is also survived by and was loved by his children’s partners, Andrei, Nina, and Mike, by Donna’s daughters, Dina and Jennie and their partners Stacey and Tom, by the loving community of Little Diamond Island, and by his treasured friend and unofficial third daughter, Jeanne O’Brien of Milton, MA.

He was cared for with respect, collegiality, and warmth throughout his illness by his Internist, Dr. Mark Ostrem, by Dr. Ann LaCasce and Dr. Laskshmi Nayak at Dana Farber, and by numerous nurses at the Brigham Hospital, who were charmed by the way he always made a point of asking them about their lives.

Dr. Leahy and his wife have been generous supporters of numerous charities, and ask that donations in his name be made to The Pine Street Inn.

There will be a gathering at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON SQUARE, Sunday, March 1^st, with visiting beginning at 12 Noon and a service at 2:30PM.

Later this summer his family will host a celebration of his life on his beloved Little Diamond Island.

Matthew Nicholas Roper entered into eternal life on February 19, 2020.

He was the beloved son of Sean and Kristen Roper and adored brother of John and James, all of Quincy; grandson of Paul and Judi Devin of South Yarmouth and George and the late Barbara Roper of Dorchester; nephew of Paul and Jacquie Devin of Milton, Michael and Jodie Roper of Quincy, Ann Roper Quinn of Canton; and the fun loving cousin of Madeline and Molly Devin, Caroline Quinn, and Liam Roper.

Matthew was born on January 29, 2003.  His physical journey may have been short, but it was full.  In all His Goodness, God joined Matthew with Sean and Kristen in an orphanage in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, and he was finally brought home on April 24, 2004, and it wasn’t long before his charm started to show.  His big hazel eyes were the window into his soul, and the long eyelashes that protected them only needed to be batted once to further wrap his mother around his little finger.  As Matthew grew, his curiosity did too- there was nothing he wouldn’t try. His eyes had a mischievous twinkle, and his determination was limitless.  He read incessantly, and loved sports of all kinds; running track, playing soccer, basketball  and baseball. His love of the outdoors led him to discover his true passion with high school rowing, where he was a varsity coxswain for his team at BC High.

Aside from an incident in fourth grade math, (wherein Matthew got in trouble for knitting instead of paying attention to a math lesson he already knew how to do,) Matthew was driven to always give his best effort, resulting in academic excellence. His hard work paid off with acceptance to Boston College High School, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and uncle.  He found a true home for himself at BC High, and his participation in their various activities made him an integral piece of the fabric of the school. It gave him the opportunity to challenge his mind academically, his body physically, and expand his faith with all the school had to offer.  He played trumpet in the liturgical music ensemble, using his musical talents to praise God. Matthew earned multiple academic awards and was named a scholar athlete. His friends were the joy of his days, and their support meant so much to Matthew. 

He was funny, sometimes inappropriately in his mother’s opinion, but even she couldn’t resist laughing at his sense of humor and quick wit.  He brought a smile to everyone he encountered, his kind and loving nature always on display.  Matthew was thoughtful of those around him, creative and generous, but above all, Matthew was kind.  Even in his own suffering, Matthew would reach out in compassion to others he knew were struggling, offering them hope and comfort. 

As the middle of the boys, Matthew was the bridge that joined their three hearts.  He handled his middle child status like a star, finding his own path and using the many gifts God gave him to grow in wisdom and grace.  His loyalty to John and James was unparalleled. Matthew was always there to listen when they needed to talk, give advice when asked, and was happy to complete the family Christmas performance by adding his trumpet to the mix.

Matthew knew unconditional love.  The connection he shared with his mom and dad was set on his heart from all eternity, and they consider themselves blessed to be chosen as his parents.  Matthew loved watching movies with his dad and sharing jokes his mom didn’t appreciate, and they spent hours talking about all the things Matthew’s future would bring.

Matthew’s life was full of love, faith, joy and laughter.  He also carried a cross that caused him great suffering in his young life.  He bore that cross with courage, knowing he was not carrying it alone, but that his Lord Jesus shared his burden. Matthew’s faith in God sustained him in his darkest times, as he fought fiercely against the insidious disease of depression.   Matthew believed in the power of prayer, and expressed such gratitude for all those people who prayed for him.  We have no doubt that Matthew has been rewarded for his faithfulness, and now rests in peace, at last, in Paradise.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Gregory Church, 2215 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, Tuesday February 25 at 10:00 AM.   Relatives and friends invited.  Visiting hours Monday 3-7PM in Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON SQUARE.  Interment in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Dorchester. 

Armanda Colas of Hyde Park, passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2020.

Loving mother of the late Louis Gerald Milord and his wife Viergella.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 21, at Bethel AME Church, 401 Walk Hill St., Jamaica Plain from 9-10am. The Funeral Service will begin at 10am. Interment at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Relatives and friends invited.

Dorothy M. (Manna) Orlando, of Dorchester, February 18, beloved wife of the late Joseph F. Orlando. Devoted mother of Donna Orlando and her partner Sandra Winters of Hull, Nancy Monday and her late husband Mark of Dorchester, and the late Joseph A. Orlando. Mother in law of Mary Orlando of Needham. Also survived by 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. 

Dorothy loved being with family and friends. Her favorite thing to do was to cook a big Italian Sunday dinner for the family and sit around the table an enjoy. She also took pleasure in going to her senior clubs and loved a great game of Bingo. She was a wonderful mom and grandmother and will be missed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Gregory’s Church, Dorchester Thursday, February 27, at 11 o’clock.  Visiting Hours in the Dolan Funeral Home, 1140 Washington St. DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS from 9 – 10:30 am. Interment Cedar Grove Cemetery, Dorchester.

In lieu of flowers donations in Dorothy’s name may be sent to the charity of your choice.

John “Jack” P. English Sr. of Milton died February 17, age 84. Born in Boston to the late Thomas A. English and Mary A. (O’Sullivan) English.   Jack was a lifelong resident of Milton. He  graduated from Boston College H.S. and Boston College. He was a proud member of the U.S. Army. After his service he carried on the family business, as the proprietor of Tom English Pubs in South Boston and Dorchester for over 50 years. Jack enjoyed a wide array of hobbies and passions.  He was an avid gardener, birdwatcher, a die hard Red Sox fan, military buff as well as enjoyed fishing on the Cape.  He was a founding member of the Yaz Softball League in Milton. What he enjoyed most was sharing his time with his wife, children and many grandchildren.

Jack was the beloved husband of Suzanne (Weeks) English for 60 years.  Devoted father of Nancy Marie Fitzgerald married to Brian J. of Wayne, PA, John P. English Jr., of New Orleans, LA, and the late Michael Patrick English and Brenda Jean English – Yovicsin. Brother of Mary Anne English of Osterville and the late Thomas A. English, Jr.  Grandfather of; Connor, Jake, Maggie, Griffin, Kennedy, Liam, Porter, Nolan, Walker, Rose. Brother in Law of Marcia English. As well as, endeared family friend Igor Popienko.

Jack the patriarch of the English family, his love, presence and devotion will be greatly missed.

Funeral Services will be private.

If desired contributions in Jack’s memory may be sent to The Salvation Army, Attn: Development, 25 Shawmut Rd., Canton, MA 02021

Claire F. (Stevenson) Riley, 93, of Milton, formerly of Dedham and East Boston, February 16, 2020.

Beloved wife of the late Edwin J. Riley, Jr. Devoted mother of Edwin J. Riley III and his wife the late Marguerite of Milton, Janice Shaw & her husband Edward of Dedham, Steven Riley & his wife Susan of Dedham and Mark Riley of Milton. Loving grandmother of 22 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Sister of Frank Stevenson and his wife Diane of Wakefield and the late Doris Hardy and her husband Warren. Sister-in-law of Madlyn Riley of Winthrop and the late James Riley.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Pius X, 101 Walcott Road, Milton, Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 10:00 AM.  Family and friends invited.  Visiting hours at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON SQUARE, Friday 4-8 PM.  Interment Brookdale Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Claire’s memory to: Catholic TV, PO Box 9196, 34 Chestnut St., Watertown, MA 02471.

Fernande Occeus of Boston, MA, originally from Gonaives, Haiti, passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2020.

Fernande was welcomed to heaven by her late husband Jean H. Roseney. She was the daughter of Toussaint and Annoudiela Occeus of Gonaives, Haiti. Fernande is survived by her 5 children, Jean E. Roseney, James Roseney, Sherly Roseney, Gina B. Occeus and Richardson Guerrero. She also leaves behind a host of grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins who will miss her dearly.

Funeral Service at  Tabernacle Baptist Church,575 American Legion Highway Roslindale, MA, Saturday, February 22, at 9am. Relatives and DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS, Friday, February 21, 4–8 pm. Interment Fairview Cemetery, Hyde Park.