obits

Charles Oakley III

Charles Oakley III

A service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14 for Charles Oakley III of Lincoln, formerly of Burlington, Conn., who died peacefully at The Commons in Lincoln on August 2 at the age of 92.

Born in New Haven, Conn., on January 12, 1927, Charlie was the son of the late Charles Oakley Jr. and Eva May (Nesbit) Oakley. Upon graduating from Plainville High School in 1944, he promptly enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a submariner and radioman aboard the USS Sea Owl, receiving the World War II Victory, American Theater, and Good Conduct medals upon his discharge in 1949.

A project engineer for Colt Firearms and later Stanley Tools, Charlie’s work took him from the drafting table to the Pentagon and to countries throughout Asia and other parts of the world. In his leisure time, Charlie was a devoted fan of the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team. He loved to spend time on the golf course and treasured those he played with, many of whom have remained lifelong friends.

Charlie leaves behind six children: Larry D. Oakley and wife Lorraine Hawley of Newington, Conn.; Patricia Oakley Karpicz and husband Paul Karpicz of South Dartmouth, Mass.; Robert Oakley of Dover, N.H.; Mark Oakley and wife Laurie Parkhill Oakley of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Tristram Oakley and husband Robert Stringer III of Lincoln; and Charles Oakley IV of Anchorage, Alaska. He is also survived by grandchildren David Oakley; Steven, Tobey, and Leah Karpicz; Shanon Schinkel and Stephanie Oakley; Spencer, Richard, and Meredith Oakley; and Oakley and Lockyer Stringer, as well as a niece, three nephews and several great-grandchildren. Charlie was predeceased by siblings George Oakley, Edna Gaccetta, and Doris Williams. 

Relatives and friends are invited to gather for his graveside service with U.S. Navy military honors on September 14 at noon in Lincoln Cemetery. A reception will follow nearby. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Charles Oakley III to Community Servings or the Plainville Community Food Pantry. 

(Obituary courtesy of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.)

Audrey Levington

Audrey Levington

Audrey Ruth Levington, a resident of The Commons at Lincoln and formerly of Sudbury, formerly of Sudbury, died on August 21. For 69 years she was the devoted wife of David Lawrence Levington. Beloved mother of Jilla-Levington-Roth, Wendy Levington McLaughlin and her husband Barry, Marcy Levington, Ilma Paixao, and Rebecca MacNeice. Loving grandmother of Matthew and Sarah McLaughlin. Dear sister of the late Stanley Sherman.

Services were held at Congregation Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley on August 23 with interment at the Sudbury Town Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances, if desired, may be made to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 501 Front St., Norfolk, Va. 23510 or the Democratic presidential candidate of your choice.

(Obituary courtesy of Levine Chapels.)

Susan Isbell

A memorial gathering will be held Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall for Susan Isbell, a resident of Lincoln and formerly of Bedford, who died on July 31. 

Susan was the daughter of the late Maurice and Barbara (Kingsbury) Isbell. She graduated from Bedford High School and later went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Regis College. For many years, she worked as a social worker at the Arlington Council on Aging and most recently at the Lincoln Council on Aging. She was also actively involved in the Bedford COA. As an avid New England sports fan, Susan loved watching and cheering on the Red Sox and Patriots. 

Susan’s objective in life was to make people happy and to help people in any way that she could. She was passionate about her social work at the Council on Aging and always willing to volunteer and advocate for the needs of others.

Her contributions were innumerable. Before she was even an official volunteer in Bedford, after her career in Arlington, Susan was working tirelessly in behalf of seniors in areas of health, disability, and financial assistance — crusades she continued on the COA staff in Bedford and later when she moved to Lincoln.

In Lincoln, she undertook one of her favorite COA projects, a consumer resource guide that was both brimming with useful information and extremely attractive. In addition, she spearheaded successful COA efforts to make Bemis Hall more accessible. Most important, Susan was hailed by colleagues for her constant positive and inspirational attitude. She will be missed by many and remembered as always having a smile on her face.

Susan is survived by her sister, Judith Johnson, and her husband, Dennis of Woburn; nieces Laura Tarello and her husband Michael of Medford, and Debra Patterson and her husband Michael of Billerica; grandnephews and niece Matthew and Stephen Patterson of Billerica, and Ashley and Ryan Tarello of Medford; and cousins Gail Kelley of Stoneham, Barbara Adzima of California and Donald Berry of Florida

A funeral service was held at the Bedford Funeral Home on August 3 with burial in Shawsheen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan St. B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.

The September 17 memorial will be an informal gathering for all those wishing to share their thoughts, stories, and reflections about Susan, and an occasion to honor her life and the many ways she cared for and helped others. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Donald Hawes

Donald Otis Hawes, 89, of Waterville Valley, N.H and formerly of Lincoln, died peacefully surrounded by loved ones on July 17. He was the loving husband of the late Lillian Blanche Hawes.

Don was born in Arlington, Mass. on July 30, 1929 the son of Otis Lawrence Hawes and Anna McKay Hawes. He graduated from the of the University of Maine, Orono in 1951, where he received a B.S. in civil engineering. He served his country honorably in the Korean War and earned the United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars.

Don was the owner and president of Hawes Electric Construction, Inc. in Watertown. He was a long-term member of the National Electrical Contractors Association and past president of the Boston chapter. He later became a distinguished Fellow in the NECA Academy of Electrical Contracting. He served the Watertown Savings Bank as a corporator and trustee for over 40 years. He was also a long-time member and a past president of the Watertown Rotary Club.

Don had a love for sports, travel, and the outdoors. He was an honorary member of the Concord Country Club, where he enjoyed playing golf, tennis and paddle. An avid downhill skier, Don remained active in the sport until the age of 84. He met his wife Blanche on the slopes and they were married in 1958. They introduced their children to the sport at an early age, marking the beginning of 60 years of family skiing. Don retired to the White Mountains of New Hampshire where he enjoyed skiing with his children and grandchildren.

Don was predeceased by his beloved wife, Lillian Blanche Hawes; sister Janet Hawes Street; and daughter-in-law Maral Hawes. He is survived by his son, Donald McKay Hawes of Concord, and Lauren Hawes Kondon and her husband Nicholas Kondon of Lincoln, as well as his grandchildren,Andrew, Ashley, Stephen, Luke and Anna, and his sister Jean Hawes Anderson.

Don led by example. He was known for his wise words, his infectious smile and his kind and compassionate spirit. He will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts as the man telling us all to “always do our best.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the memory of Donald O. Hawes to:

Emerson Hospital Foundation 
Dementia Friendly Program 
133 ORNAC 
Concord, MA 01742

Obituary courtesy of Concord Funeral Home.

Jack Kerrebrock

Jack L. Kerrebrock, 91, Professor Emeritus of Aerospace and Aeronautic Engineering at MIT, died at home on July 19. He was the loving husband for 12 years of Rosemary Redmond (Keough) “Crickett” Kerrebrock, and was married for almost 50 years to the late Bernice (Veverka) “Vickie” Kerrebrock, who died in 2003. 

Born in Los Angeles on February 6, 1928, he was the son of the late Oscar and Florence (Hoy) Kerrebrock. He taught at MIT and internationally for over 40 years. He was honored to teach in technical universities around the world including China, India, and Russia. He was world-renowned in his field, but more importantly, loved and respected by his many students.

He was an enthusiastic outdoorsman who was never happier than when he was climbing a mountain, hiking a wilderness trail, or leading a group of kids through ice and snow to teach them independence and survival skills. He was a member of the Explorer’s Club.

Jack was an avid sailor and loved to sail the waters of Cape Cod and the eastern shore on his boat Puffin. He was a long time member of the Woods Hole Yacht Club and passed his love of the sea onto his children. He ran his first Boston Marathon in his early fifties on a whim with no training. He followed that with several more, including the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. 

He and Crickett cherished their travels to South Africa, Scotland, Tuscany, Paris, and especially a trip to Cape Canaveral for one of the last shuttle launches. Jack had been an Associate Director of NASA in the 1980s, and enjoyed a professional relationship and friendship with many in the space exploration and astronaut community.

His was a life well lived and he will be missed terribly. He died on his own terms and separately thanked both of his amazing caregivers, Nadia Sydney and Yvrose Marcelus, the week before his passing to let them know how much he cared for and appreciated them. 

In addition to his wife, Jack leaves two children and their spouses, Nancy Kerrebrock and her husband Clint Cummins of Palo Alto, Calif., and Peter Kerrebrock and his wife Anne of Hingham. He was also father to the late Christopher Kerrebrock. He also leaves behind five grandchildren, Lewis Kerrebrock, Gale Kerrebrock, Renata Cummins, Skyler Cummins, and Lance Cummins. He is fondly remembered by Crickett’s stepchildren, Paul J. Redmond Jr. and his partner Joseph Palombo, Kelly Redmond and her husband Philip Davis, Maura Redmond, and Meaghan Winokur and her husband James and their children, Laine and Alicia Winokur.

Jack’s family will gather for a private service in the Dee Funeral Home, followed by burial at Lincoln Cemetery. A public memorial service is being planned and will be announced soon. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Jack and Vickie Kerrebrock Fellowship Fund, c/o Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 600 Memorial Drive, W98-200, Cambridge, MA 02139-4822.

(Obituary courtesy of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.)

Richard Russes

Richard P. Russes, 87, of Pepperell, formerly of Sagamore Beach, Mattapoisett and Lincoln, Massachusetts passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on April 13. He was the beloved husband of Mary D. (Williamson) Russes for 61 and a half years.

Richard and Mary both grew up in Lincoln and married in September 1957, they remained in Lincoln to raise their four children until moving to the south shore, nearer to the ocean in 1979. He is survived by his three children: Richard A. Russes and his wife Kathleen Russes of Littleton, Elizabeth Russes and Paul Sylvia of Lincoln, and Bonnie Russes and Stephen Defina of Bolton. Richard’s son Robert P. Russes, an Air Force veteran and senior airman, was pre-deceased by his father. His four grandchildren, Michael L. Sylvia, Jessica B. Sylvia, Tyler R. Russes, and Amy F. Russes knew and loved him as “Grampy,” a grandfather who loved to make them laugh.

Born in Waltham on January 11, 1932, Richard was the son of the late Anthony Russes and Frances (Danosky) Russes. He grew up in Lincoln and attended Concord High School. During his childhood and into his adult life, he worked at The Lincoln, his family’s restaurant across from Walden Pond.

In 1952, Richard enlisted in the U.S. Navy in the Atlantic Mine Force Fleet, Commander Mine Division 82, where he served as a steam engine engineer on the USS Strive during the Korean War. After the war, he worked as an electrician and then as an elevator mechanic for Otis Elevator in the Boston area, a career spanning over 40 years as a tradesman with Local Union 4.

If anyone needed help or something fixed, he was there, never asking for anything in return. He lit up any room with his presence and left an impression so that people remembered him after one meeting, he loved to make people laugh and loved a good practical joke. He was a natural engineer always looking for way to make something work better. He taught his children what a strong work ethic was but not to the sacrifice of having fun with his family. He was a man who would wait for his children and guests to eat first, before eating himself to ensure that everyone had enough, no matter the amount of food. He will be dearly missed by all of his family and friends, but we are sure that he is with the Lord and lighting up heaven just a little bit more.

As Dick was always willing to lend someone a hand and was a proud veteran along with his two sons, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his memory on the the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center website (click on the “donate” button at the top of the page).

(Obituary courtesy of McGaffigan Funeral Home)

Amalie Kass

Amalie Moses Hecht Kass of Belmont, formerly of Lincoln, died May 19. She was born in Baltimore on January 9, 1928 to Leslie and Helene Moses. She grew up in Baltimore with her brother Alfred Moses and sister Claire Moses Lovett and attended Wellesley College.

In 1949, she married Malcolm (Mac) Hecht Jr., with whom she had five children: Anne, Robert, Thomas, Jonathan, and Peter. Following Mac’s death, she married Dr. Edward Kass in 1975 and became stepmother to his children Robert, James, and Nancy Kass.

Amalie obtained her M.Ed. from Boston University and taught high school history in the Newton public schools. She later devoted herself to medical history, authoring two books (one with her husband) and many scholarly articles, with a particular focus on obstetrics, women’s health, and the intersection between medicine and social justice.

Amalie was a passionate supporter of and generous benefactor to her alma mater Wellesley College (where she was a trustee), the Massachusetts Historical Society (where she was the first woman to serve as board chair), the Greenway Conservancy, Planned Parenthood, and many other organizations. She was also an avid outdoorswoman, skiing, hiking, and gardening into her 80s.

Her greatest joy was her large family, which in addition to her eight children includes their spouses Loreta Matheo Kass, Robert Harrold, Jocelyne Albert, Susan Korrick, Lora Sabin, Sean Tunis, Kristina Jones, and Shan Soe-lin; her grandchildren Katie, Julia, Mark, Benjamin, Rebecca, Amelie, Evan, Nico, Alison, Hannah, Cody, Rachel, Mac, Gabe, Molly, Zoe, Alexis, Noah, Sophia, and Charlotte; and her great-granddaughter Emma.

Friends are invited to join the family for visiting hours at Amalie’s home at 20 Howells Rd. in Belmont from 5–9 p.m. on May 22 and 23. A shiva minyan will take place both evenings at 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Wellesley College. Share a memory of her on this Levine Chapels obituary page.

Contributions in Amalie’s memory may be made to the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts or the Pine Street Inn.

Craig C. Hill

Craig C. Hill, age 91, of Lincoln and Bedford, passed away on May 6 after a many-year battle with multiple systems atrophy. He was supported during his illness by an amazing group of caregivers including Carol, Paula, Lisa, Gerry, and Vera. 

Craig had many talents and was an architect, editor, inventor, poet, and translator of The Complete Fables of La Fontaine, widely praised as one of the most vivid and imaginative translations of the 17th-century fabulist ever produced.

Craig was born in San Antonio and attended the University of Texas and the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He and his wife of 62 years, Heather, resided in Lincoln for 44 years before moving to Bedford. They traveled extensively and often with groups of close friends and spent more than 30 summers with friends and family at their home in Truro.

Craig is survived by his wife Heather, daughter Amanda and her husband Kevin, son Matthew and his wife Lisa, son Thomas and his wife Emmanuelle, and grandchildren Malcolm, Hazel, Hannah, Hardy, Montgomery, and Calvin. He is also survived by his brother Roger Hill of San Antonio. Craig was also the brother of the late Marian Hill.

A private burial service will be held at Lincoln Cemetery. To share a remembrance or to send a condolence in Craig’s online guestbook at Dee Funeral Home, click here.

Peggy Elliott, 1931–2019

Peggy Elliott

Peggy Pegram Elliott passed away peacefully in her sleep April 12 at The Commons in Lincoln, where she had been residing for the last two and a half years.

Born in Houston on December 28, 1931, Peggy spent most of her childhood in Boerne, Texas. She attended St. Mary’s Hall in San Antonio through 12th grade, and got her degree in English at the University of Texas. She later moved to Chicago, where she met Bill (William G.) Elliott, the love of her life, whom she married in 1957. Bill and Peggy moved to Massachusetts to pursue Bill’s studies and work pursuits, living in Lexington for several years until settling in Lincoln in 1962. 

Peggy was active in local and national politics, was a Registrar of Voters, and was instrumental in starting the local Recycling Committee. She was also a homemaker who raised four children. She had a love for local theater, from acting and dancing in Lincoln Players in the 1960s to producing large musicals for the Concord Players into the mid-2000s.

In the 1980s, Peggy got her master’s degree in social work, and worked with various agencies until her retirement. More recently, Peggy was active in the Lincoln Council on Aging. She would go dancing whenever possible. Peggy lived in her house until 2016 when it became no longer feasible.

Peggy is predeceased by Bill, who passed away in 2014. She is survived by her children Mark of Lincoln, Randy (William R.) of Pawtucket R.I., Jocelyn of Lincoln, and Lawrence of Brooklyn, N.Y.; her sister, Joyce Jones of Memphis, Tenn.; her grandchildren Zachary of Deerfield, Mass., Jack Vilas of Charlotte, N.C., and Elizabeth Vilas of Amherst, Mass.; and her step-grandchildren Terese Quirk of Lincoln, Thomas Quirk of Lowell, and Tim Quirk of Durham, N.H.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m. in the First Parish Church in Lincoln. Her ashes will be interred at a future date with her family in Boerne, Texas. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Lincoln Council on Aging, c/o Town Offices, 16 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773.

Bill Munroe, 1930–2019

William Munroe, William C. Munroe, Jr., an attorney and longtime Lincoln resident, died at his home on April 22 at the age of 90.

Bill graduated from Brown University and Harvard Law School, and was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Randolph. He leaves his wife, Mary; daughters Hannah Munroe and Libby Munroe-Overberg; daughter-in-law Karen Munroe; his sister, Mary West; and seven wonderful grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, William A. Munroe.

Bill loved his family, his home, and the town of Lincoln. He will be deeply missed. He was buried at Lincoln Cemetery on April 24 during a private service, surrounded by his family.

Arrangements for both Elliott and Munroe are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to send a condolence in the online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.