Charles A. “Chicko” Alvino, who was born, raised and lived his whole life on Broadway in Revere and served in the Navy in World War II, died on Friday, October 30, at Massachusetts General Hospital after a short illness. He was 99, in his 100th year, a milestone his family says he was proud of.
He was born on May 31, 1927, one of 10 children of Anthony and Carmella (Fiore) Alvino. He went through the Revere public schools and graduated from Revere High School in 1944, then enlisted in the Navy. His decorations included a World War II medal, the American Area Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal. After his discharge he earned an associate degree in business and accounting at Bryant and Stratton.
He married Claire Struthers on August 6, 1950, and they raised five children in Revere. He went to work at Catania Oils, then known as Catania Spagna, as a broker buying cooking oils, and stayed for 68 years. His family says he adored the Basile family there.
For more than 45 years the family spent time together at their house on Webster Lake in New Hampshire, often on the pontoon boat. He played cards with friends at the Soccorso Club on Revere Street and at the Sons of Italy in Revere, and he took family trips to Las Vegas. His family says he was proud of how independent and productive he remained at his age.
His wife of 61 years, Claire M. (Struthers) Alvino, died before him, as did all nine of his siblings. He leaves five children: Charles Alvino and his wife, Judy, of New Hampton, New Hampshire; Cindy Silvia of Revere, whose husband, Manny, died before him; Nancy Boudreau and her husband, Paul, of West Peabody; Stephen Alvino, a retired Massachusetts state trooper, and his wife, Kerry, also a retired trooper, of Plum Island; and Susan Gordon and her husband, Michael, of Danvers. He also leaves 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation is Thursday, November 5, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza Beechwood Home for Funerals, 262 Beach Street, Revere, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 250 Revere Street, Revere. Burial with military honors follows at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Instead of flowers, the family asks for donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Compiled from information published by Vertuccio Smith & Vazza Beechwood Home for Funerals, 262 Beach Street, Revere. Photograph courtesy of the family via Vertuccio Smith & Vazza. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.