Richard Clayman, Esq.
Attorney
Richard I. Clayman, formerly of Chelsea and latterly of Revere, passed away on May 1. He established the Law Firm of Clayman and Dodge in Chelsea and was deeply cherished by his wife, Deborah A. (Bradley) Clayman. His children were Katie Clayman Huggard and her spouse Josh of Swampscott, and Erica Colombo of Boston. His parents, Arthur Clayman and Anne Novack Clayman, predeceased him. Steven G. Clayman and his wife Nancy of Boston survive him as a sibling. He is also survived by many extended family, friends, nieces, nephews and colleagues. The Temple Emmanuel in Chelsea hosted his services, followed by interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Rather than flowers, the family suggests remembrances be directed to the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home, 17 Lafayette Ave Chelsea, MA 02150 and/or the Jack Satter House, 420 Revere Beach Blvd, Revere, MA 02151. More information is available at www.torffuneralservice.com.
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Deborah ‘Debby’ Racki
Bar Manager and Member of the French Club
Born in Boston to the late Anthony and Dorothea (Foss) Vannelli, Deborah “Debby” (Vannelli) Racki, a longtime Chelsea resident, she passed away suddenly on May 5 at the Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett following a long and courageous battle with overwhelming illness. She was 65 years old. Her education included local schools and St. Rose High School. Among her various positions, she tended bar for many years at the Chelsea Walk Pub, most recently served as the bar manager at the French Club, and also worked at the Boston Garden until her illness. Devoted to her friends and family, she was affectionately known as “Ma” to many who knew her and she was an active member of the French Club.
Richard Racki was her former husband. Her children include Roberta and Brian Racki, Nicole and Anthony Pasco, Mindy Curry and Shelly Pasco. She was the sister of Leonora Cataldo and Vivian Cash. Her grandchildren were Ottavia, Stephanie, Mario, Linda, Yassmina and Sophia, and she was the great grandmother of Giovanni.
Her Funeral Services took place at the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Thursday, May 9 at 10:30 a.m. Following services, she was laid to rest at New Calvary Cemetery, Roslindale. Relatives and friends were cordially invited to attend. The Funeral Home is fully handicap accessible with ample parking opposite the building. Directions and condolences may be submitted through www.WelshFuneralHome.com, with arrangements under the care of the Frank A. Welsh and Sons Funeral Home.
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Dr. Gerald Sowsy
Retired Dentist
Dr. Gerald Sowsy of Revere, formerly of Chestnut Hill and Sunapee, NH, passed away on April 29 at the age of 84.
A Boston native who grew up in Chelsea, he completed his education at the New Preparatory School in Cambridge in 1946, Harvard University in the Class of 1950, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry in the Class of 1955. His long career included maintaining his own dental practice in Newton Center for many years, along with service as a Captain in the United States Air Force following the Korean War. He held memberships in both the Alpha and Omega Dental Society and the Massachusetts Dental Society.
For 62 years he was married to Shirley (Hoffman) Sowsy. His children are Gail Katz and her husband Dr. Steven Katz, Craig Sowsy and his wife Amy, and Marjorie Boyle and her husband Terence. He was the son of the late Henry and Lena Sowsy and the brother of Dr. Paul Sowsy and his wife Sabina. His grandchildren are Tracey, Michael, Allison, Bradley, Colin and Caitlin. Many loving nieces and nephews also survive him.
Services were held. In his memory, donations may be directed to the Autism Society of America, 47 Walnut St., Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 or to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St. Danvers, MA 01923.
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Marie ‘Tina’ Pegnato
Retired Medical Transcriber Who Also Worked at Chelsea City Hall
Marie ‘Tina’ (Tabbi) Pegnato, a retired Medical Transcriber, passed away peacefully on May 1 at the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home where she had been receiving supportive care for the last several years, with her family at her bedside. She was 93 years old. The late Francesco and Carmella Tabbi were her parents, and she was born in Boston’s North End. She spent her childhood in Jamaica Plain and attended Boston Public Schools.
In 1944, she married Dominic J. Pegnato and moved to Chelsea, where they raised two sons, two daughters and her younger sister. Her husband predeceased her in 1981.
Her employment history was extensive within Chelsea. She initially worked at Chelsea City Hall in the Mayor’s Office under then Mayor Alfred Voke and subsequently served other departments at City Hall. She also spent time at the Chelsea Welfare Office and TJ Walsh Woodworking before completing her career as a Medical Transcriber in the Records Dept. at the Chelsea Soldiers Home before retirement.
She was a past member of Our Lady of Grace Socialites, the Catholic Ladies Auxiliary at St Rose Church and the Sons of Italy in Chelsea. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her younger sister Rosemarie Palladino, and her brothers Philip, Tony and Frank Tabbi, as well as Tony’s wife Helen.
Her surviving children and their spouses include Dominic J. Pegnato Jr. and his wife Pat, Camille Pegnato-Junk and her husband Jerry, both of Chelsea, Marie Bruno and her husband Michael of Melrose, and Frank Pegnato and his wife Drusella of Salem. Her grandchildren are Michael Pegnato and his wife Stephanie, Dominic Pegnato III and his wife Sheri, Kim Pegnato-Marecki and her husband Andrew, Michael Bruno, Christina Bruno, Peter Bruno, John and Danielle Pegnato. She was the adored great-grandmother of Max Pegnato and Mia Marecki. Her siblings include Josephine Sargent and her husband Fred and Phyllis Tabbi, all of Stoughton, Joseph Tabbi and his wife Pat of New Hampshire. She was also the dear sister in law of Albert Palladino of Chelsea, Sherri Tabbi of Canton and Connie Tabbi of California, and many loving nieces and nephews survive her.
The Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home in Chelsea handled arrangements. Burial took place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Those wishing to honor her memory may contribute to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or visit www.StJude.org. Directions and expressions of sympathy may be submitted at www.WelshFuneralHome.com.
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Estelle Andrews
Retired Telephone Operator
Estelle P. (Boc) Andrews, a retired telephone operator, passed away on April 6 at Kindred Harborlights Nursing and Rehabilitation in South Boston. She had reached the age of 83.
Her parents were the late Walter and Josephine (Pawleczyk) Boc, and she was born in Chelsea. She attended local schools and was a Chelsea resident in her early years before relocating with her family to Dorchester, where she had lived for more than 40 years.
Her career was spent as a telephone operator for New England Telephone and Telegraph until she retired. During her retirement years, she spent winters with her husband in Port Charlotte, Florida, and was a member of the South West Polka Boosters in Cape Coral, Florida.
She was the beloved wife of the late Stanley Andrews, who died in 2003. Her son is Jeffrey Andrews of Revere. Her siblings include Stanley Boc of North Weymouth and the late Ben and William Boc, Sophie Lehan, Wanda Dykas and Josephine Gorman.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Stanislaus Church in Chelsea, with interment following at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. The Anthony Memorial Funeral Home handled the arrangements.