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Rosemarie (Urbano) Gedgaudas
Rosemarie (Urbano) Gedgaudas, 80, a lifelong resident of Brockton, passed away November 9, 2018. A graduate of Brockton High School, she retired from Raytheon after many years there. She enjoyed painting, crocheting, knitting, feeding family, friends and neighbors, and hosting coffee time at home. Rosemarie was the widow of Vitas Gedgaudas; beloved mother of Janine McIlvene of Abington, Catherine Gedgaudas of Norton, Michael Gedgaudas (and Kathleen) of Avon, Paul Gedgaudas (and “Sam”) of Brockton, and Mark Gedgaudas (and Linda) of Plymouth; loving grandmother of Jaclyn McIlvene, Kerri Fenore (and Chris), David McIlvene III, and Michael Gedgaudas II; great-grandmother of Marshall and Medina Fenore and Travis Stillwagon; sister of Dominic Urbano Jr. and his wife Toni of Everett, Washington and the late Nancy Lindstrom; sister-in-law of Bronius Gedgaudas (and Arlene) of Raynham and the late George Gedgaudas; devoted friend of Sandy Boucher and Gaye Grogan; and an aunt of many nieces and nephews. All are welcome to a calling hour Wednesday Nov. 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. then an 11 a.m. service in Waitt Funeral Home, 850 North Main St. Brockton and burial at Calvary Cemetery.
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Paul C. Bamford, 74, of Brockton, passed away Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton after a period of failing health. He was the husband of Arlene (Irr) Bamford for 53 years.
Born September 22, 1943 in Brockton, he was the son of the late William Bamford and Elin (Johnson) Bamford. A lifelong Brockton resident, he graduated from Brockton High School in 1961. He was a Veteran of the United States Army.
Paul was a retired Brockton Firefighter after serving the City of Brockton for over 28 years on Engine Company #3. He had also worked as a maintenance worker for Cape Cod Match-Cricket Lane Company for several years.
He was an avid Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots fan. He was a member of the Polish White Eagles and Conti Memorial Club where he was a bartender. Paul especially enjoyed time spent with family and friends at Hampton Beach.
He is survived by his wife, Arlene (Irr) Bamford; father of Lynette Routhier and her husband the late Doug, Doreen Bamford, Timothy Bamford and his wife Jennifer and Tracey Giordano and her husband Robert; grandfather of Derek Routhier, Jenna Routhier, Brianna Bamford, Stephen Bamford, Mackenzie Giordano, Ryan Giordano and Camden Giordano; brother of Robert Bamford and his wife Dianne and Patricia Alles and her husband Kevin; he is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Service will be held in the Russell & Pica Funeral Home, 165 Belmont St., (Rt123) Brockton on Wednesday, August 22nd at 10:00AM. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Brockton. Calling hours in the Russell & Pica Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 21st from 4:00-8:00PM.
**PLEASE NOTE DATES OF FUNERAL SERVICES**
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Joseph S. Papagno, Jr., 77, a longtime resident of Falmouth, formerly of Stoughton, died unexpectedly at Falmouth Hospital on Friday, August 10, 2018. He was the husband of Susan R. (Russo) Papagno for nearly 51 years. Son of the late Joseph S. and Louise (Cappiello) Papagno, he was born and raised in Brockton and graduated from Brockton High School. Joe was a Private 1st Class in the U.S. Army. He was a resident of Stoughton for 25 years before moving to Falmouth 19 years ago. Joe was a firefighter for the City of Brockton for 25 years before retiring in 1997. He also was a dry wall applicator for over 40 years. Joe was a member of the Wheels of Time Car Club and the Local 144 Firefighters Union. He enjoyed woodworking, quahogging, fishing and working on old cars but his greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends.
In addition to his wife, Joe is survived by his children, Tobey A. Dillon and her husband William of Franklin, Joseph S. Papagno, III and his wife Denise of Stoughton and Jennifer J. Preto and her husband George of Mansfield, as well as his grandchildren, Joseph IV, Hannah, Emma, Brady, Connor, Viviana and George. He was the brother of Debbie Papagno and the late Robert Papagno and is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral will be held from the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St., (Rt. 27) Stoughton on Thursday, August 16 at 9 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at Immaculate Conception Church, Stoughton at 10 AM. Visiting Hours Wednesday from 4-7 PM. Interment will take place at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne on Friday at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe's memory may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.
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The following was an op ed to the Patriot Ledger on Saturday March 10, 2018 by PFFM Pres. Rich MacKinnon
Legislature needs to protect firefighters
In2014, Plymouth firefighter Anthony Colarusso, 38, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer; a type of cancer that a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked to firefighting. An 8-year veteran of the fire department, Colarusso had accrued 93 shifts of sick leave as he and his wife, Christina, faced months of doctors appointments and grueling treatments.
He very quickly exhausted his earned medical leave and vacation days.
Though his union and firefighters across the state begged the town to provide coverage for Colarusso in his time of need for a man who devoted his life to helping others in need, no aid was forthcoming.
For 93 days, he went without a paycheck or health insurance while fighting a cancer likely caused by occupational exposure. Then just 15 months after receiving his diagnosis, Anthony Colarusso, who was also a U.S. Navy veteran, died at the age of 39.
It is easy to see the dangers and health risks confronted by firefighters by reading a newspaper or simply turning on the nightly news. But, firefighters are confronted by even greater risks.
The leading cause of line of duty deaths among firefighters is cancer.
The multi-year CDC study found higher rates of certain types of cancer among firefighters than in the general population. It’s believed occupational exposure to chemicals and other toxins puts firefighters at increased risk of being diagnosed and dying from certain cancers. The study also found that firefighters were younger than expected when diagnosed with certain cancers.
Nationwide, firefighters are 9 percent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and 14 percent more likely to die of cancer than the general public. Firefighters have a 62 percent higher risk of esophageal cancer, are diagnosed with testicular cancer and mesothelioma twice as much as the general population, and contract multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, skin, brain, prostate and colon cancers almost one and a half times more frequently than non firefighters.
Cancer is a line-of-duty death for firefighters.
Over the past two years, 235 active firefighters have been diagnosed with cancer, 107 were able to return to work, 99 were forced to retire, and 29 succumbed to their illness.
While Massachusetts law acknowledges these cancers are job-related as it pertains to retirement, there is a gap in the law large enough to drive a fire engine through. A firefighter who injures a knee while fighting a fire has greater coverage and protections than one who contracts cancer from the products of that same fire. Like our fellow “jake” Anthony Colarusso, after their sick time runs out, so does their coverage.
Throughout the fire service, efforts are being made to reduce the instances of cancer that are killing our firefighters, but action must be taken to alleviate the hardships taken on by our brave brothers and sisters and their families as they work to regain their health. New practices like washing gear and decontaminating equipment and apparatus are being embraced by fire departments across the state. Additional gear and new technologies are being utilized to protect firefighters from dangerous carcinogens at fire scenes. However, nothing has been done to ensure firefighters are afforded the time and health care necessary to become well.
Legislation is now on Beacon Hill that would treat cancer among firefighters as a work-related injury. Nearly 40 states have already passed similar legislation. This important bill would put in place the necessary protections to allow firefighters with cancer, people like Anthony Colarusso, to receive the care they need without adding additional and unnecessary strains on them and their families.
For every motor vehicle accident, every overdose, every time an elder calls about something as simple as a chirping smoke detector, firefighters answer the call. It is a firefighter’s duty to protect those in need. Now firefighters need the Legislature to protect them.
Richard MacKinnon Jr. is president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts.
He lives in Whitman and works for the local fire department.
COMMENTARY
RICHARD MACKINNON JR.
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