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Obituaries
Worker Killed At Central Mass Quarry ID'd As Townsend Man Worker Killed At Central Mass Quarry ID'd As Townsend Man
Worker Killed At Central Mass Quarry ID'd As Townsend Man A 67-year-old Middlesex County man was identified as the worker who was killed when a rock ledge fell on Thursday, Aug. 22, and crushed an excavator at a Massachusetts quarry.   Brian Curtis Derby, 67, of Townsend, died just before 8 a.m. when the rocks fell on his heavy machinery at the Sterling quarry along Stone Crest Way, the Worcester County District Attorney said.  Firefighters and crews worked through the day and night to retrieve Derby's body from beneath the rubble.  Sterling leaders ordered that workers stop all earth removal operations until the Occupati…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Body Pulled From Western Mass Pond ID'd As Missing 22-Year-Old Body Pulled From Western Mass Pond ID'd As Missing 22-Year-Old
Body Pulled From Western Mass Pond ID'd As Missing 22-Year-Old Police believe the body pulled from a Hampshire County lake belongs to a 22-year-old man who has been missing   several days, authorities said.  Rodney Yankson, of Easthampton, was reported missing on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and was found on Friday afternoon at Lower Mill Pond in Easthampton, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  A father and his son who were going fishing found the body.  The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the man's ID and the cause of death.  Yankson's family created a GoFundMe to help pay for his …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Douglas Hawley Died 2 Weeks Ago In Berkshire County; His Friends Want To Keep His Spirit Alive Douglas Hawley Died 2 Weeks Ago In Berkshire County; His Friends Want To Keep His Spirit Alive
Douglas Hawley Died 2 Weeks Ago In Berkshire County; His Friends Want To Keep His Spirit Alive If there is a silver lining that could have come on Tuesday morning, July 30, in Berkshire County, it is that Douglas Hawley never heard the train that him. The 40-year-old father of a teenage son and young daughter and an adult stepson had always struggled with his hearing, and a witness who saw the train strike said he never looked up before the crash. "It was a pretty awful day," Douglas' older brother Daniel said in an interview with Daily Voice. "It's one of the worst days of my life." Related: Police ID Man Hit By Train; Second Fatal North Adams Train Strike Douglas Hawley was killed…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
(UPDATE) 'Megan Will Be Greatly Missed': CT Teen Killed In Western Mass Crash ID'd; Funeral Set (UPDATE) 'Megan Will Be Greatly Missed': CT Teen Killed In Western Mass Crash ID'd; Funeral Set
Megan Davis — Killed In Blandford Crash — Was 'A Rockstar' Update: A GoFundMe to help pay for Megan Davis' funeral has raised more than $20,000 as of Sunday, Aug. 4, surpassing its original goal.  More than 350 people have donated to the cause. Click here for more information on the campaign.  Original: A 17-year-old Connecticut girl who was killed in a Hampden County car crash earlier this week is being remembered for her bright smile that was only matched by her bright future.  Megan Davis, of Enfield, Connecticut, died on Sunday, July 28, after dying in a crash on North Blandford Road in Blandford, about 45 minutes west of S…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Western Mass Father Of 2 ID'd As Man Killed By Train Strike Western Mass Father Of 2 ID'd As Man Killed By Train Strike
Western Mass Father Of 2 ID'd As Man Killed By Train Strike A Berkshire County father of two young children was identified as the victim of a fatal train strike Tuesday morning, July 30, authorities said.  Douglas Hawley, age 40, of North Adams, was killed just before 11:30 a.m. after being hit by the train in North Adams, the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office said.  Investigators said he was hit between the American Legion and the Brien Center, both on American Legion Drive in North Adams.  The train was traveling at a slow speed when it struck Hawley, the prosecutor said.  It's unclear what led to the crash, but pol…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'Friend To All': Community Rallies Around Family Of Ex-Stoughton Selectman Killed In Crash 'Friend To All': Community Rallies Around Family Of Ex-Stoughton Selectman Killed In Crash
'Friend To All': Community Rallies Around Family Of Ex-Stoughton Selectman Killed In Crash David "Spanky" Sousa spent his life giving back to the Stoughton community he loved. After he was killed while picking up debris along a highway, they're paying it back to his family.  "Spanky loved his hometown of Stoughton and helping people in need," an obituary for the 57-year-old said. "He was a former Selectman for the Town of Stoughton and was also the Chairman for a time. He played Santa for many charities in the area at Christmas time. He was a founder of the Parade of Lights holiday parade in Stoughton. He loved riding his motorcycle, meeting new friends, and the character Fre…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Teen Who Drowned In Western Mass Pond ID'd; Community Rallies Around Family Teen Who Drowned In Western Mass Pond ID'd; Community Rallies Around Family
Teen Who Drowned In Western Mass Pond ID'd; Community Rallies Around Family The 14-year-old girl who drowned in a pond in Berkshire County last week was remembered as a smart, caring, and intelligent person with a promising future.  Earl Giver Essien was found unresponsive at Benedict Pond at Beartown State Forest in Great Barrington just before 2 p.m. on July 17. Police and witnesses pulled her from the water to perform CPR before paramedics rushed her to Fairview Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead.  Pittsfield Schools Superintendent Joseph Curtis said the rising eighth-grader at Herberg Middle School's "bright light shone brillia…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Motorcyclist Killed In Head-On Groton Collision Remembered For His Compassion, Love Of Animals Motorcyclist Killed In Head-On Groton Collision Remembered For His Compassion, Love Of Animals
Motorcyclist Killed In Head-On Groton Collision Remembered For His Compassion, Love Of Animals The family and friends of a 27-year-old man killed in a head-on collision earlier this month in Groton said he was a kind and loving young man with an accomplished past and bright future.  Cody Trudel, of Ayer, was killed just after 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, when a car drifted over the center line on Boston Road and collided with him, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office said.  An email to the prosecutor's office on Wednesday, July 17, for updates on the investigation or any potential charges for that driver was not immediately returned.  Memorials have flooded social media sinc…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Man Killed In Western Mass Shooting ID'd As 38-Year-Old Man Killed In Western Mass Shooting ID'd As 38-Year-Old
Man Killed In Western Mass Shooting ID'd As 38-Year-Old Authorities have identified the 38-year-old man who was shot and killed on July 9 in Hampden County.  Dexter Ortiz, 38, of Holyoke, was gunned down just before 11:30 p.m. in the 50 block of West Street, the Hampden District Attorney said. Police responded to the area after receiving a ShotSpotter call. The shooting remains under investigation. Police have not named the shooter. 

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Autistic 4-Year-Old Central Mass Girl Drowns In Neighbor's Pool Autistic 4-Year-Old Central Mass Girl Drowns In Neighbor's Pool
Autistic 4-Year-Old Central Mass Girl Drowns In Neighbor's Pool A 4-year-old autistic girl named Eva was found unresponsive in her neighbor's pool in Worcester County on Thursday, July 11, after she went missing from her home. She was pronounced dead at an area hospital a short time later.  Police in Sutton received a 911 call around 3:50 p.m. that the girl had gone missing in the Peachtree Drive area, the Worcester County District Attorney said. Officers quickly began a search and found the girl in the pool. Responders rushed her to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where doctors pronounced her dead, authorities said.  Police did n…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
'He Brought Tremendous Joy': Western Mass 15-Year-Old ID'd As Victim In I-91 Crash 'He Brought Tremendous Joy': Western Mass 15-Year-Old ID'd As Victim In I-91 Crash
'He Brought Tremendous Joy': Western Mass 15-Year-Old ID'd As Victim In I-91 Crash The family of the 15-year-old Berkshire County boy who was killed last week in a crash on I-91 in Springfield was a loving and giving young man who had a bright future ahead of him.  Jayden Andre, of Lee, was killed around 4:30 p.m. on July 2 near exit 5 on the interstate. Jayden was a rising junior who had finished his sophomore year at Lee Middle and High School in June, his obituary said.  His family said he loved sports, his friends, and bringing joy to others.  He always gave the best hugs and brought tremendous joy and light into our lives with his kind heart and beautiful smile. Jay…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Tony Voce, First Philly Native To Star For Flyers Organization, Dies At 43 Tony Voce, First Philly Native To Star For Flyers Organization, Dies At 43
Tony Voce, First Philly Native To Star For Flyers Organization, Dies At 43 Tony Voce, the first Philadelphia native to play in the Flyers organization, died suddenly Monday, July 8, following an esteemed career representing his hometown franchise for years. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms announced Voce's death, noting he was a former Calder Cup Champion and running down his impressive and historic career. A cause of death was not made public. We are incredibly saddened to share the news of the passing of our dear friend, coach, and mentor Tony Voce. Your... Posted by Philadelphia Flyers Warriors on Monday, July 8, 2024 "We are incredibly saddened to sha…

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by Zak Failla