Braintree Rotary Club Sponsors Annual Memorial Tree Event

Braintree Rotary Club sponsored the Annual Memorial Tree
on December 11th. The annual event is the “grand finale” to the Braintree Board of Trade’s Holiday Open House held at the Town Hall.

The ceremony is a unique and memorable way to remember loved ones that have passed as well as honor family and friends that are still with us. All proceeds from this fundraising event benefit local educational and literacy programs.

Other local programs funded by proceeds in year’s past included scholarships to high school seniors, youth sports, music and art programs, senior citizen events and other charitable causes. The Rotary Club invited other non-profit
organizations and PTO’s covering Braintree schools to partner with them in their fundraising efforts.

Money raised by the organizations was shared equally with the club and the respective organization.

Braintree Rotary’s President-Elect, Therese Nicklas, a South Shore native, has been a member for 10 years and organized this year’s event. “Community members really look forward to this event”, said Nicklas. “This is a very solemn but joyous ceremony.

At the end of the Board of Trade’s event, club members gather in the foyer of the Town Hall and read the names. Family members and friends of those being remembered gather with us. In addition, the South Middle School Choir joined us in song.

Once the names were read, the group assembled to illuminate the Rotary Memorial Tree which has a permanent home next to the Thayer Public Library. Seeing the joy in the faces of the group is very touching. This year we were honored to have Mayor Joseph Sullivan participate with us.”

Remembered by the Treetop Sponsor:

Melissa Casale, John Clancy, Gregory Patrick Driscoll, Theodore Benedict Driscoll, Roland Driscoll, Florence E. Logan, Samuel M. Logan, Ruth St. John, Arthur St. John, Frederick St. John

Remembered by Memorial Tree Patrons:

Natalie Agostino, Anna Allen, Edward Burke, Frances Costa, Joseph Costa, Bonnie Crowley, Mary Drago, John Frazier, Ruth Garvey, John Gill, Mary Grant, William Hajjar, James P. Halloran, Paul Hamel, Mary Hamel, Dr. Frederick Hanson, Dan Healy, Hamilton Hovsemon, Florence Hutchinson, Elizabeth Joyce, Paul Joyce, Stephanie Joyce, Richard Leland Jr., Ann Mallett, Patrick J. Maloney, Carol McLelland, Mr. & Mrs. William Murphy, John Murphy,
Anna Murphy, Paul Paquin, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Pedretti, Marely Claire Pedretti, Charles G. Peterson, John Ryan, Mildred Ryan, Robert Ryan, Marion Sanford, Helen St. Peter, Kenneth St. Peter, Arthur P. Sullivan, MD.

Hazel Alley, Winslow Alley, Thomas J. Anderson, Ann Antonuzzi, Anthony Antonuzzi, Patricia Baronas, Elena Baronas, Julius J. Baronas Sr., Russell Barry, Henry Barry, Robert Barry, Olive Bean, George Bearse, Parthena Blatharas, Joseph Bonanno, Mary Bonanno, Richard Breen,
Linda Brummett, Amilcar Cabral, Robert Carley, John J. Caruso, Marie Caruso, Brian Caruso, C. John (Sonny) Caruso, Vito Chermisino, Margaret Chermesino, Ann Chermesino, Paul Cirigmano Sr., Shelly Cochrane, Mary Comi, Dotty Conley, Willaim E. Connell, Michael Costales, Kathleen Crowley, James F. Curry, Joan Curtin, Robert Curtin, Rju Dada, Jean Ann D’Amico, Marigo Dassiaklis, Frances Deloid, Julie Deloid Clapp, John P. Deloid I, John Deloid III, Dorothy Deroche, Sarah (Nona) DiMauro, Hazel A. Dineen, John J. Dineen, Sandra W. Dolan, Joseph Dolan, Marain Dolan, Everett Drew, Gladys Drew, Richard Driscoll, Sylvia Driscoll, Thomas F. Driscoll, Mary Driscoll, Christopher “Pud” Duffy, Dean Dwyer, William Facella, Ben Fairlie, Frances Ferro, Bob Fitzgerald, Angela Ford, William & Margaret Frye, Maria Gallinaro, Sam Garlisi, Adelaide Gilbert, Carl Gilbert Sr., Eleanor Golden, Eileen Goldman, Beth Graham, Lee Green, Anna M. Hartnett, Bonnie Hawkins, William Hawkins Jr., Helen T. Hayworth, Frieda Hidasi, C. Thomas Hubbard, Dorothy M. Jones, Albert L. Jones, Bruce Jones, John F. Kennedy, John E. Kennedy Jr., Claudette Kerrigan, Elsie Marie Kjellander, Bruce Edward Kjellander, David Kjellander, Edward L’Heureaux,
Emeline L’Heureaux, Paul L’Heureaux, Richard K. Libby, Edna Logan, Lorraine MacLean, Alice McCabe, Philip M. McManamin, Alice McManamin, Joseph McManamin Jr., Ann Marie McNally, Henry Medeiros, Mary Medeiros, Kathleen Mirrione, Barbara Mirrione, Avard Moore, Claire Mortimer, Members of the Nicklas family, Nancy Nicosia, John Norton, Margaret Norton, John J. O’Brien, Steve O’Brien, James Olson, Domenic Palingo, Barbara Jean Palingo, Members of the Palingo families, Paylor Palingo, Joe Palumbo, William Michael Pasquantonio, Frank R. Pecci, James Peckham, Edward T. Pertsch, Edward A. Pertsch, Agnes Pertsch, Donald Petro, Edward Pimental Sr., Staff Sgt. Robert Pirelli, John Polio*, Florence Ponte, William Ponte, Michael Richardi, Members of the Rizzo family, Acacia Rizzo-Cugno, Helen Rowe, Ray Rowe, Robert E. Ryan, Robert E. Ryan Jr., Stephanie Ryan, Tony Sariva, Dot Shaughnessy, P. J. Shaughnessy, George Francis Shores, Harriet Shores, Mary Smyth, Jean Spellman, Jean E. Sullivan, James Sullivan, Betty Sullivan, Donna Tennant, Patrick J. Thompson, Doris Torry, John Traniello, Robert E. Tully, Pete Vincelette, Joseph Visconti, Joan Visconti, J. J. Walsh, Nancy Walsh, Katherine Warner, Thomas Warner, Eleanor White, Charles Whittall, Ruth Whittum, George Francis Whittum, Demetrios Yiotopoulos, Barbara Yiotopoulos

It is evident the need for Rotary is greater than ever. Our club has seen a significant increase in requests for help from our local community. Fortunately, we have a strong growing club that takes their commitment of “service above self” seriously. We have a great organization whose efforts provide humanitarian service to our local community and fund projects throughout the world.

For more information about the Braintree Rotary Club, visit their website www.braintreerotaryclub.org or follow
them on Facebook.