Fair 40°
Obituaries
Mass Bicyclist Killed In VT Race Remembered For His 'Commitment To Others' Mass Bicyclist Killed In VT Race Remembered For His 'Commitment To Others'
Mass Bicyclist Killed In VT Race Remembered For His 'Commitment To Others' A Massachusetts bicyclist who died while competing in a race in Vermont last month was dedicated in several areas of his life, but perhaps his biggest passion was helping others.  Richard "Rick" Wanstall was committed to many things throughout his 54 years of life. The North Shore resident was a passionate athlete, veteran and leader in the workforce. Sadly, Wanstall's life ended while he was doing one of the things he loved the most: competing.  "In recent years, Rick found a passion for fitness as he participated in various triathlons and later moved onto Ironman Competitions," his obitu…

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
'Beautiful' Legacy Left Behind By Long Island Woman Found Dead On College Campus 'Beautiful' Legacy Left Behind By Long Island Woman Found Dead On College Campus
'Beautiful' Legacy Left Behind By Long Island Woman Found Dead On College Campus Amanda Robinson was more than just a 22-year-old from Long Island who was about to graduate from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. She was the epitome of serving others.  "As a cadet of the Massachusetts Maritime Colleges Regiment, Amanda truly embodied the spirit of 'one hand for the ship, one hand for your shipmate,'" Samara Podmore wrote on a GoFundMe campaign organized on the Nassau County native's behalf.  Robinson, of Bellmore, NY, was found dead in her dorm room on Wednesday morning, April 19, The Cape & Islands District Attorney's Office reports.  Earlie…

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
One-Year-Old Girl Dies, Central Mass Community Rallies Around Family One-Year-Old Girl Dies, Central Mass Community Rallies Around Family
One-Year-Old Girl Dies, Central Mass Community Rallies Around Family A fundraiser created to help provide meals and support for a Central Massachusett family following the death of their one-year-old daughter surpassed its halfway point.  Elsie Maeve Lafferty, of Ashburnham, died on Wednesday, April 12, according to her obituary. She was born in February 2022.  Loved ones created a MealTrain fundraiser for the family to coordinate food donations and raise money for them during this tragic time.  During this awful time when we feel so helpless, let's show our love and support. Please pick a day and provide either a home-cooked meal, take out, …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Real Sweetheart': Loved Ones Mourn Central Mass Man, 29, Killed In Crash 'Real Sweetheart': Loved Ones Mourn Central Mass Man, 29, Killed In Crash
'Real Sweetheart': Loved Ones Mourn Central Mass Man, 29, Killed In Crash The tragic death of a man from Athol has loved ones wishing they could got back in time and relive their fondest memories with the 29-year-old. "I wish we could still be stupid together," Desiree Rose said after hearing about her friend Kyle Bezio's death. "I can't even believe it." I wish we could still be stupid together Kyle Bezio i cant even believe it… Posted by Desiree Rose on Sunday, April 9, 2023 Bezio died after he was struck by a car on Route 202 near 150 Daniel Shays Highway just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, as previously reported by Daily Voice. The driver, a 20-ye…

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
'Collective Pain' Spreads Among UMass-Dartmouth After Freshman Student's Death 'Collective Pain' Spreads Among UMass-Dartmouth After Freshman Student's Death
'Collective Pain' Spreads Among UMass-Dartmouth After Freshman Student's Death A student body is coming together to raise awareness after a 19-year-old University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth student was struck and killed by a car on campus last week.  Frankie Petillo Jr. was struck by a vehicle on Thursday, April 6, as previously reported by Daily Voice. Petillo, of the Manahawkin, NJ, was a freshman Bioengineering student.  UMass students gathered for a candlelight vigil on Monday and also launched a Change.org petition to improve street safety on campus.  The petition says, in part: "The student body wants more safety. Speed bumps, speed monitors, sidewalks, and st…

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by Jon Craig
Obituaries
Social Worker Killed In South Mass Hit-Run Leaves Behind Young Son, Husband Social Worker Killed In South Mass Hit-Run Leaves Behind Young Son, Husband
Social Worker Killed In South Mass Hit-Run Leaves Behind Young Son, Husband A 46-year-old social worker was tragically killed in a hit-and-run on a major route in Southeast Massachusetts this week, leaving behind a grieving son and husband. Erpharo Gilbert, of Raynham, died in the crash that happened on Route 24 North in West Bridgewater on Sunday, April 3, as previously reported by Daily Voice. Gilbert’s husband, Jean Marie Coquillon, told WPRI that the couple's 5-year-old son "is still waiting for his mom to come home.” He also expressed anger towards the driver who took Gilbert away from them. “If you stopped and didn’t run, maybe you could have saved her …

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
Man Killed In Mass Rollover Crash Was 'Avid Gamer, Die-Hard Patriots Fan' Man Killed In Mass Rollover Crash Was 'Avid Gamer, Die-Hard Patriots Fan'
Man Killed In Mass Rollover Crash Was 'Avid Gamer, Die-Hard Patriots Fan' Loved ones are mourning the death of a 28-year-old man who died from injuries sustained in a car crash in Southeast Massachusetts this week. William Gronblom, of New Bedford and formerly of Wareham, was killed in a single-vehicle rollover crash on I-195 in Marion on Monday, April 3, as previously reported by Daily Voice. Gronblom graduated from Upper Cape Regional Technical High School in Bourne in 2012 and worked as a manager for a Home Depot in Hyannis, according to his obituary.  When he was not working, Gronbloom was an "avid gamer," enjoyed building his own computers, a…

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
Found Dead After Two Years: Western Mass Man Disappeared in 2021 Found Dead After Two Years: Western Mass Man Disappeared in 2021
Found Dead After Two Years: Western Mass Man Disappeared in 2021 A 63-year-old man who disappeared in Hampden County two years ago was found dead last week.  Gary Belder, of Springfield, was found on Memorial Drive in Chicopee on March 23, the Hampden County District Attorney's Office said. Police do not believe he met with foul play. Belder told friends he planned to go to Smiley's on Boston Road in Springfield on July 5, 2021, but never returned. Police have fielded dozens of calls about the potential whereabouts since then, but none panned out until someone stumbled across remains.  Officials did not release his cause of death, but the…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Fundraiser For Family Of Central Mass Cop Who Died Off Duty Nears Its Goal Fundraiser For Family Of Central Mass Cop Who Died Off Duty Nears Its Goal
Fundraiser For Family Of Central Mass Cop Who Died Off Duty Nears Its Goal Friends of Worcester police Sgt. Derrick Leto created a fundraiser to help support his wife and two children to help them after his unexpected death last week.  The GoFundMe called "Help Support Derrick Leto's Family" has raised nearly $7,000 in less than two days, more than half of its goal of $10,000.  There is also a memorial fund for the family of the 18-year veteran and former US Marine at the Worcester Police Department Federal Credit Union. Checks can be made to the Worcester Police Officials IBPO Local 504 c/o Sgt. Derrick Leto, according to fundraiser organizers.  L…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Friends 'Heartbroken, In Shock' Over Couple's Death In Eastern Mass Car Crash Friends 'Heartbroken, In Shock' Over Couple's Death In Eastern Mass Car Crash
Friends 'Heartbroken, In Shock' Over Couple's Death In Eastern Mass Car Crash Peers are lamenting after of a couple that recently graduated from the same college in Rhode Island died in rollover crash in Eastern Massachusetts this weekend.  Haley Gens and Joshua "Josh" Taylor, both age 23, were killed in the single-vehicle crash that happened in Middlesex County near 717 Highland Street in Holliston on Saturday night, March 18, Holliston Police report.  Connecticut resident Gens, of the town of Avon in Hartford County, participated in cross country at Bryant University while Taylor, a resident of Holliston, was a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team, as previously r…

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by David Cifarelli
Obituaries
Former Central Mass Asst Principal, Harvard Grad Dies From Medical Emergency While On Vacation Former Central Mass Asst Principal, Harvard Grad Dies From Medical Emergency While On Vacation
Former Central Mass Asst Principal, Harvard Grad Dies From Medical Emergency While On Vacation A 74-year-old former Worcester Public Schools teacher and administrator died last week after suffering a medical emergency while on vacation in Mexico, a fundraiser said.  John McFadden, of Paxton, died Friday, March 3, after being airlifted from Cancun to UMass Medical Center in Worcester, his family wrote in a GoFundMe. They wrote McFadden suffered a stroke and took a hard fall, causing a traumatic brain injury. He underwent emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.  They wrote he died surrounded by his family after returning to the United States.  The …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
CT Rapper Killed In Springfield Police-Involved Shooting Was 'Gentle Giant' CT Rapper Killed In Springfield Police-Involved Shooting Was 'Gentle Giant'
CT Rapper Killed In Springfield Police-Involved Shooting Was 'Gentle Giant' Tributes are pouring in for a 48-year-old Connecticut father and rapper who was killed in a police-involved shooting in Western Massachusetts this past weekend.  A Hartford, CT native, William Tisdol went to Enfield High School and studied at Lincoln Tech, according to his Facebook profile. He also worked at Driveline Retail Merchandising as a merchandiser.  However, Tisdol seemed to promote his music career over everything else. He went by the stage name Kasier Soza and was a member of the group So Much Success . "K.I.N.G, Like Kaiser! Rest in peace homie," one Facebook post reads. "Bless…

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by David Cifarelli