On Sunday August 13th, Nunzio (Nunzy) John Martino, age 101-½, a lifelong resident of Marlborough, passed from this life into everlasting life with God, surrounded by his loving family at his bedside. Nunzy lost his soulmate Regina (Calitri) almost 30 years ago. They were happily married for 48 years. Four years after losing Regina, Nunzy met Rita, and they were companions for the last 26 years.

Nunzy leaves behind his daughter Marsha Gleason and her husband Robert, his son Dr. Richard Martino and his wife Pearl, his grandchildren Tracy Martino and her husband Stephen Murray, Carla McAuliffe and her husband John, Peter Gleason and his wife Kirsten, Mara Power and her husband Keith. He also leaves 5 great-grandchildren, Mia McAuliffe, Keegan and Ryan Gleason, and Ellie and Anna Power. Nunzy was predeceased by his wife, Regina, his Dad Carlo (Pa), his brother Angelo, his sister Mary and many sister and brothers-in law.

Nunzy was a World War II Naval Veteran who served with the hand-picked elite crew aboard the USS Benjamin Franklin (CV-13) affectionately referred to as “Big Ben”. She was the newest and most advanced Aircraft Carrier that the United States Navy had in its fleet at that time and she was the “PRIZE” that the Japanese chose to destroy, in a last ditch effort, to display their withering Naval Power. Japanese planes hunted Big Ben down and tried unsuccessfully to sink her. Franklin suffered many casualties, but she remained afloat after sustaining one of the most horrific attacks ever on a United States Naval Warship. Nunzy was one of the 704 crewmembers to survive the attacks out of a compliment of 3000 men. He remembered with detail that terrible day at sea on 19 March 1945. At 0707 hours, a Japanese bomber slipped under the radar to attack Franklin in what is termed one of America’s most fierce battles at sea. She was the most heavily damaged ship in US Naval History to sail home to port and her crew remains, to this very day, the most decorated crew in the history of the United States Navy. Nunzy is was a Life Member of the Italian American War Veterans Post #45 in Marlborough, and a life Member of the Sons of Italy Bandiera e Concordia Lodge #240.

After returning home from the Navy, Nunzy worked at the old Curtis Shoe Co. in Marlborough while attending Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, MA attaining a License of Stationary Engineer which enabled him to change careers. He then was offered a position at General Motors in Framingham, MA as a Stationary Engineer in the Powerhouse of the Plant, remaining there for the next 32 years until his retirement. In retirement, he and Regina planned and guided many Senior trips with their friends, and they travelled extensively.

Nunzy was an avid golfer and played until he was 98 years old, still hitting straight…but not as far. He prided himself in routinely playing a round of golf with only 1 or 2 balls. He enjoyed playing pool with his good friend Les at the Marlborough Senior Center, in fact, they were the very first men to play pool on the new table there. He remained an automobile enthusiast even after he stopped driving at age 93. In 2019, Nunzy was given the honor of being chosen to be Grand Marshal of the Labor Day Parade for the City of Marlborough.

Through the years, Nunzy and Regina were actively involved in not only in their children’s education, but also in their extracurricular activities, the Marlborough High School Band Parents and the Immaculate Conception Ecumenical Drum and Bugle Corps along with being members of the committees for annual Christmas Bazaars, Italian Festivals and Penny Sales at St. Ann’s Parish in Marlborough.

His funeral Mass will be held at 11 AM on Friday, August 18, at St. Mary of the Hills Parish, 630 Cross St. Boylston, MA. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Marlborough, MA. A calling hour will precede the Mass from 10 to 11 AM in the church.

The family would like to thank his neighbors Les and Donna, Judy and Bob, the VA Home Based Primary Care Team, St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Home, Notre Dame Hospice Care and the Lutheran Home Hospice for their wonderful care and compassion. They also request that, in lieu of flowers, a donation to Notre Dame Hospice Care (Veterans Services), 555 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605 would be greatly appreciated.

The Short & Rowe Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Martino family with arrangements.

Melvin Kohlreiter died peacefully in Warminster, PA on February 21st after a brief battle with cancer. The beloved husband, father, and World War II veteran was 100 years old.
Born January 20, 1924 in New Jersey, Mel spent his formative years in Teaneck. He was enrolled in a high school aviation program when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. One month later, on his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the United States Navy, intending to become a pilot. Instead, lacking the requisite two years of college, he was trained to service and repair warplanes. Subsequent instruction in aerial gunnery, dive-bombing, and specialized maintenance took him to various locations up and down the East Coast throughout 1942.
In 1943 he was assigned to the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier USS Franklin, which was headed for the Pacific. Before the Franklin reached the Panama Canal, however, Mel was transferred to an airbase on the Island of Trinidad, where his expertise in servicing variable pitch propellors was sorely needed. Additional duties included hunting German U-boats as a gunner and observer in a dive bomber.
When the Navy ran short of officer pilots, Mel joined an elite group of enlisted men trained to fly, finally donning the aviator’s wings he coveted. He served in that capacity for the remainder of the War.
Soon after his honorable discharge, he met 16-year-old Lorraine Dern at a 1947 YMCA dance in Jersey City. It was love at first sight. On their first date, Mel took her flying around the Statue of Liberty in a rented plane, only to have engine failure force him to ditch in Bayonne Bay. The plane subsequently sank, and their rescue made headlines in every area newspaper and TV news report.
Despite this misadventure, the two were soon engaged. They married on June 5, 1949. Together they raised a family, traveled the world, befriended celebrities such as Perry Como, competed in equestrian events, and figure skated together for many years. Mel excelled at many jobs, including car salesman (alongside a young Jack Lord), small business owner, and, into his eighties, he was the go-to real estate agent in Palm Beach, Florida.
Over his one hundred years Mel survived attacks on U-boats, emergency plane landings, a near fatal automobile accident, triple bypass surgery, and a tricky negotiation with a Maasai warrior in Kenya who offered to buy Lorraine in exchange for a cow. He was a pilot, scuba diver, figure skater, golfer, tennis player, and equestrian. His strength, mental sharpness, and impish sense of humor amazed everyone who met him, right up to the end.
Mel was preceded in death by his son Steven and his sister Audrey Weinberg. He is survived by Lorraine, his wife of 74 years, his daughter Vicki Hughes, granddaughters Lisa Rossmann, Lindsey Leonard, and Diane Steiner, his great grandchildren Dylan Rossmann, Duke Leonard, Sophia Steiner, and Justin Steiner, as well as the many extended family members and friends who found his charm irresistible.
Services will be held 9:00 AM March 1, 2024, at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown, PA 18940.

Marcus Stelios Peris NORFOLK – Marcus Stelios Peris, 88, of the 200 block of Thole St., passed away Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, in a local hospital. He was born on March 28, 1921 in Kardamyla, Chios, Greece and was a resident of Norfolk for the past 63 years. He was the son of the late Stelios and Paraskevi Perivolaris and was preceded in death by his sister, Maria P. Andriotis. He was a member of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. He served his country in the United States Navy aboard the carrier USS Franklin (CV13) and was a veteran of World War II. He was a member of VFW Post 3160 and the American Legion Post No. 60. He was the owner of Peris Painting Company until his retirement in 1985. Survivors include his beloved wife of 63 years, Bessie Jordan Peris; a daughter, Patricia P. Longworth of Norfolk; two sons, Tony M. Peris and his wife Mary of Norfolk, Steven M. Peris and his wife Julie of Morton, Ill.; two grandsons, Marcus S. Longworth and his wife Heather of Norfolk and Ernest E. Longworth and his wife Tracy of Chesterfield, Va.; five great-grandchildren, Toby, Tanner, Ethan, Abigail and Aiden Longworth; sister- in-law, Barbara Jordan of Norfolk; many nieces, nephews and cousins. The Trisagion service will be held Thursday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. in H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk chapel. A funeral will be conducted at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Friday, Dec. 18, at 11 a.m. by the Rev. Father Ambrose Bitziadis- Bowers and the Rev. Father Constantine P. Rogakos. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Bon Secours Depaul Medical Center for their excellent care. Memorial donations may be made to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 7220 Granby St., Norfolk, or the charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at hdoliver.com.
Published in: The Virginian-Pilot from December 16, 2009 to December 18, 2009

Harry, Samuel James, age 81, of Fullerton, CA., lost his battle to Melanoma on Feb. 17, 2008. Sam is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Nancy Harry, and his four children, Christine Krog of Geneva, IL., Samuel Jr. (Diana) Harry of Lakewood, CO., Maureen Harry of Fullerton, CA., Kathleen (Phil) Ely of Anaheim Hills, CA., and eight grandchildren. Sam was the son of Edward and Bernadette Harry and born in Connellsville, PA. His survivng siblings are Eileen Peifer, Bernadette Keslar, William Harry, Philip Harry, and Kathleen Moulton. Sam was a proud veteran of the US Navy in WWII and a survivor of the USS Franklin. He was a former president of the First Friday Friars, a Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus, active in the Probus Organization, and devoted to his Prison Ministry of over 16 years. His passion for golf kept him busy outside of his volunteer work. A Rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m., on Feb. 25, 2008 at St. Juliana Church, 1316 N. Acacia, Fullerton, CA. The Funeral Mass will be Feb. 26, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., at St. Juliana Church with an Honorary Military Ceremony to follow at Loma Vista Cemetery, 701 E. Bastanchury, Fullerton, CA. After the ceremony there will be a reception at the parish hall for family and friends. Donations in his name can be sent to the American Cancer Society. McAulay & Wallace Mortuary, Fullerton. McAulay & Wallace
Published in: Orange County Register from February 21, 2008 to February 23, 2008

Joseph A. Unterreiner, age 88, WWII Navy Veteran, served on the USS Franklin, awarded the Purple Heart; devoted husband of the late Evelyn, nee Lock; beloved father of Margaret (Donald) Davis, and Mary Beth Peron; cherished grandfather of Mark (Janet) Davis, Melissa (Christopher) Brown, Elizabeth Peron and Robin Peron; beloved great-grandpa of Meagan, Paige, Jason, Joshua and Joseph; dear nephew of Mary Lutz; loving brother of Dorothy (the late John) Giuffre, Joan (Tim) Stiles, Paul (Joan) Weilberg, Julie Nadler and Louise (Robert) Sitman; cherished uncle and friend of many. Funeral 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 20, 2011 from Matz Funeral Home, 3440 N. Central Ave., to St. Ladislaus Church for 10 a.m. Mass. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation Tuesday, 3 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials to The American Heart Association appreciated. Info: 773-545-5420