Obituaries

Judy E Gifford (nee McCabe), 69, died Thursday, September 21, 2023 at a Rehabilitation Center after a brief battle with Cancer. She was the wife of the late Richard Gifford to whom she was married for 35 years. Born in Framingham, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Lorraine McCabe.

Judy was a 1972 graduate of Hopkinton High School. She worked for many years as a retail clerk in Ashland, as well as at Sharon Bolt Co. She was an avid Bingo player, in addition to competitive family card games.

David Earle Senior, 88, of Hopkinton, (formerly of Natick) passed away at Golden Pond Assisted Living in Hopkinton on Sunday, August 20, 2023. He died following a brave battle of many years with Parkinson’s disease. He was the son of the late Effie (Stevenson) Senior and Noah Senior, born in Boston, and was raised in Waltham.

Wallace E. Irvine, known by all as “Wally”, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2023, at the age of 92. Son of the late Hazel (Lougee) and Arthur E. Irvine, he was born and lived in Hopkinton, MA most of his life. He spent the past two years with his daughter Nancy and her family in North Carolina; where they spent many happy days together.

Anne Maria Fairbanks, 82, of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, died peacefully on August 31, 2023. Anne was born on October 12, 1940 to Fredrick Kennedy and Marjorie Kennedy (Benner) in Framingham. She graduated from Peters High School in Southborough in 1958.

Nicholas Paul Scianna (Nick) of Natick and Hopkinton, passed away on August 30, 2023, at Fairview Estates in Hopkinton at the age of 99. He was predeceased by his wife, Rose Scianna on September 10, 2020. Nick was born on January 25, 1924, in Trapani, Sicily to Giuseppe and Ignazia Scianna. He graduated from Natick High School and received a football scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana University. Nick enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943 to 1946 and while in the Marines he attended Aerial Gunnery training.

Robert “Bo” Whalen, 70, a long-time Hopkinton resident, died Sunday, August 20, 2023 at his home after a lengthy illness. He is survived by his wife Mandy Savage, and brothers Mike Whalen of Hopkinton and Jack Whalen and wife Vita of Houston, Texas. Bo is also survived by Mike’s daughters Suzy and Sarah and Jack’s daughters Jill and Josephine.

James Merloni Jr, 88, of Ashland passed away at his home surrounded by his family on August 3rd, 2023. He was the husband of Marilyn (Hogan) Merloni for 68 years. Born in Framingham, he was the son of the late James Merloni, Sr. and Louise (Luisetti) Merloni.

James was a member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 609 since 1952 and was the longtime Administrator of the New England Laborer's Training Trust Fund located in Hopkinton, MA.

Peter J. Pandolfino, 92, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2023, in Hopkinton, MA. Pete was born in Cambridge, MA in 1931 to Anthony and Mary Pandolfino and survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Lorraine; his brother Joseph and his fiancee Cathie Harty of Ashland, MA and predeceased by his sister Josephine of Centerville.

Michael Coleman Clooney, 81, died at his home in Hopkinton on Friday July 28, 2023. He was the husband of the late Katherine N. (Sullivan) Clooney, who died in 2012. He was born March 13, 1942 in Malden MA to Faith Miltimore Clooney, and was raised in New England.

After high school he entered the service, serving in the U.S. Army as a mechanic and later as a platoon leader in the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged as a Second Lieutenant after his service, and soon began working as a diesel mechanic for Caterpillar, work he continued until his retirement in 2009.

Gary P. DiGiantommaso (Carmichael), 68, died Thursday June 22, 2023, surrounded by his family at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA after a brief illness.

Gary was born on Dec. 31, 1954, to the late Rocco DiGiantommaso, formerly of Walpole, MA, and Marilyn (Larsen) Greeno of Hopkinton, MA, where Gary spent most of his childhood and attended high school. He will be dearly missed for his gentle and friendly nature, wide-ranging interests and curiosity, sly wit, his perfectionism, his love of music and the N.E. Patriots, and of course his Christmas decorations.