Kazimir Pijanowski
February 12, 1952 – January 1, 2021
Kazimir P. Pijanowski, 68, died suddenly on Friday, Jan.1 at his home in Peoria, AZ.
A Chelsea High School graduate of the class of 1971, Kazimir went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from Suffolk University.
Kaz loved to travel the world and has gotten to enjoy the many wondrous sites of Europe, all the way to the pyramids of Egypt. He also truly enjoyed working and what he did. Kaz was a business owner for many years and he loved greeting and socializing with his customers and enjoyed being on his feet all day; something he has truly missed over the last several years.
Kazimir loved living. Knowing that life is short and that tomorrow is never promised, he spent his days doing the things he enjoyed. We are grateful that he spent his last night on earth ringing in the New Year doing the things that brought him joy; being social, being lively, and celebrating with friends. And that, friends, is how it should be. That is how life should be lived.
Born and raised in Poland before moving to Chelsea at the age of nine, Kaz was the son of the late Stella and Joseph Pijanowski and brother of the late Edward Pijanowski. Kazimir is survived by his children, Kristina Mustone and Adam Pijanowski and his fiancé, Anna Merlino. He also leaves behind his wife, Gabriela (Olejnik) Pijanowski, his sisters, Henia Marecka and Zosia Pijanowski and his brother, Richard Pijanowski and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visiting hours will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea today, Thursday, January 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. All attendees are required to wear face coverings, practice physical distancing when greeting the family, pay their respects and exit the funeral home to allow other guests to enter. The Funeral will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home on Friday, January 8 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Rose Church, 600 Broadway Chelsea at 10 a.m. All attendees are required to provide contact information, wear face coverings, practice physical distancing while in church attending Mass. Services will conclude with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. We encourage family and friends who wish, to offer condolences at this time by means of the online guest book at www.WelshFH.com.
Virginia Castro
May 25, 1951 – January 2, 2021
Virginia Castro, 69, passed away on Saturday January 2 at the Massachusetts General Hospital following complications due to Covid-19.
Born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, she was one of eleven children of the late Luis Castro and Graciela Irrizary. She was the beloved wife of 48 years to Jorge A. Colon.
She settled in Chelsea with her husband and young family 35 years ago.
Her life’s devotion was to home and family. This devotion was exemplified by years caring for her beloved son, Richard. After her healthy one-year-old child became tragically and permanently disabled, lovingly and tenderly, she would care for his every need. At 18 years of age, Richard passed away in 1997. Her faith and devotion to the Lord gave her strength to persevere.
She loved flowers and animals and was a young girl at heart collecting stuffed animals and other collectables.
She is lovingly survived by her beloved husband of 48 years, Jorge A. Colon of Chelsea, the forever loved mother of her son, Jorge Colon and daughter, Ingrid Colon. both of Chelsea. She is the cherished grandmother of five and adored great-grandmother of two. She is also survived by five sisters and five brothers, many friends and extended family members.
Services and interment will be held privately due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Virginia will be placed to rest with her beloved son, Richard in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. We encourage family and friends who wish, to offer condolences at this time by means of the online guest book at www.WelshFH.com.
Douglas Crapo
Of Haverhill, formerly of Chelsea
Douglas A. Crapo, 63, of Haverhill died January 3 at High Point Hospice House.
Born and raised in Chelsea, the son of the late Carl and Claire (Stoddard) Crapo, he attended Chelsea High School and was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1974. He served as Specialist 4, stationed in Germany and was a recipient of the Marksman Badge and the “Pershing Professional” Certificate for “outstanding achievement and devotion to duty” as a member of the Third Battalion of the 84th Field Artillery. He was released from active duty in 1976 and continued his reserve status until 1980.
Douglas was employed for eighteen years as a mechanic by Paul Revere Transportation. He was known as a hard worker, many times completing 12 hour days. He enjoyed fixing things himself and dabbled in all areas of mechanics.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by a son and daughter-in-law, Douglas C. and Natasha Crapo of Haverhill, and two sisters, Jane Crapo of Chelsea and Paula DeAngelico of East Boston, and was predeceased by his brothers, Carl and Russell Crapo and a sister, Ruthie Griffin.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours today, Thursday, January 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway, Haverhill following the Commonwealth of Massachusetts guidelines for social distancing and the wearing of masks. His funeral service will begin at 6:15 p.m. in the funeral home and will conclude with the rendering of Military Honors by the U.S. Army. Burial will be at a later date. To send a message of condolence to the family or to share a cherished memory, please visit www.berubecomeau.com.
Anthony C. Simboli
April 17, 1929-December 29, 2020
Anthony C. Simboli lived life with passion, determination, resilience and courage. He loved his wife, children and grandchildren, and his work. He enjoyed a competitive tennis match calling the lines closely, with a wink and a smile, a chess match with his grandson, and a vigorous business negotiation.
Most of all, he had a radiant smile that lit up a room, gathered people around him with his humor, humble intelligence, and firmly held opinions offending none. He grew up in the North End, in a five- floor walk- up, which he called the penthouse and believed that life could be shaped by mind over matter. He put this philosophy into action with eternal optimism and a belief that nothing was impossible.
He was privileged to attend Boston College, where he received a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.A. in Philosophy, in the same year, which is still a “college record.” He checked books out of the library rather than buying them; he hitch- hiked or walked from the North End to Chestnut Hill to save the trolley fare, and he studied at nights and weekends while working at a printing factory, with his father, by placing index cards with his notes along the printing presses.
From Boston College, he joined the Central Intelligence Agency. He lived in Washington D.C. but spent the majority of his time in Japan, just after the Korean War. Prior to leaving for Japan, where he lived at the Yakoska Naval Base, he married Gloria, the love of his life, to whom he remained devoted for 69 years.
When he left the CIA, to return to his roots in Boston, he bought a business, a drug store, in Wakefield Center, opening several locations and launching his retail acumen. Following that, he built one of the most well-respected convenience food store businesses in the country. On every major downtown Boston corner – from Harbor Towers to the Jocelyn Clinic and many suburban downtowns, there was a SunnyCorner Farms.
In the 1980’s, he sold the company and turned his attention exclusively to real estate development. His first speculative development was to build a 60,000 s.f. office building in Chelsea, in 1983, the first major building in over 100 years and the first after the great fire of 1974. He is credited with turning around the city, where he and his children developed 14 parcels of land, creating not just a vision but a reality of what was possible in a city where people said commercial development was impossible. His most recent contribution to the city was to relocate the Federal Bureau of Investigation from Boston to Chelsea. The impossible was made possible by his determination, focus, and drive.
He has been a loyal supporter of Boston College and other opportunities to make education accessible and affordable, including the Simboli Family College Award for Chelsea High School graduates, which now numbers more than 150 recipients. He and his wife are committed to medical research and founded a Chair in Asthma Research and established the Asthma Clinical Research Center at the Brigham and Woman’s Hospital; established the Simboli Family Fund for Esophageal Cancer Research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and supported the Pulmonary Medicine Department at the Mount Auburn Hospital.
He leaves his wife, Gloria, daughter, Patricia Simboli, son, Anthony J. Simboli, his grandchildren A.J., Trevor, and Daisy, and his sister Marie Simboli and brother Edward Simboli. He was predeceased by his younger brother, Patrick.
He loved life, tackled challenges, and relentlessly loved his family. Funeral services will be private. Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Boston College Anthony C. Simboli Scholarship Fund.