'A Big Loss': Longtime Town Counsel Charles Zaroulis Remembered

TEWKSBURY, MA — Charles Zaroulis, the longtime senior Tewksbury town counsel, will never be replaced, Town Manager Richard Montuori said.

Zaroulis served the town for over 50 years as town counsel and then senior town counsel, beginning in 1968.

He died on Jan. 31 from complications from the coronavirus.

Montuori, who has known Zaroulis since he became town manager in 2010, called him a true gentleman, a true professional and "a brilliant man."

"He's a person that I will never meet anyone like him again in my life," Montuori said. "I'd never really met anyone like him in my life."

A native of Lowell's Acre neighborhood, Zaroulis earned his law degree from Suffolk University Law School then served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 196 before entering private practice, according to his obituary. He began serving as Tewksbury town counsel in 1968 and also served as Tyngsborough town counsel from 1989 to 2018 and Nashoba Valley Tech District counsel for more than 25 years.

"He knew just not Tewksbury but the greater Lowell area like no one I've ever met. Everyone knew him," Montuori said. "No matter what the issue was, even if it wasn't legal, I could call him. I would always seek his advice on a path to go forward.

"He could tell you stories about things going on in this town that maybe we're dealing with again today — history repeating itself."

In addition to his work with local governments, Zaroulis founded Merrimack Valley Legal Services, now Northeast Legal Aid, which provides legal services to low-income clients. He also served as president of the Greater Lowell Family YMCA, the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association and the Greater Lowell Bar Association.

"You could always count on Charles to ask a good question or offer pertinent solutions to municipal legal issues," Jim Lampke, executive director of the municipal lawyers association, said in a statement. "He had an encyclopedic memory for municipal law and cases."

"Charles just really would've wanted to be remembered for being a good, honest lawyer that helped people," Montuori said. "He wasn't looking for any fame or accolades. He quietly helped people. His honesty and integrity were unmatched and something we should all take note of and a lesson from."

Because Zaroulis was always planning, Montuori said, the town had already set up a succession a few years ago, bringing in Kevin Feeley as town counsel while Zaroulis took the "senior town counsel" position.

"We should be fine going forward with regard to town counsel services, but we're never going to replace the institutional and historic knowledge that Charles had," Montuori said. "There are a lot of things that are going to be irreplaceable."

The town manager also praised Zaroulis on a personal level.

"He was just a generous person," Montuori said. "He had a great sense of humor. The town's going to miss him as counsel and I'm going to miss him as a person, a friend."

"Because of the pandemic, a celebration of Charles' life will be held in the future," his obituary reads. "Remembrances may be made to the Greater Lowell Family YMCA, 35 YMCA Drive, Lowell, MA 01852, or by making a tribute gift to Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, PO Box 173, Holderness, NH 03245."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.