After a brave battle with cancer, Christopher James McWade of Franklin, MA, passed away on May 25th, surrounded by his wife and four children. He was 55. Born in Norwood, MA, and raised in Westwood, MA, Chris graduated from Westwood High School in 1976. He studied marketing and management information systems at Nichols College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1981. He married Ellen Berlin in 1985 and they had three sons and a daughter. Chris was a devoted husband and father, which was his greatest joy and achievement in his life.
Chris began his career working in sales for an international steamship line and in 1993, co-founded Team Enterprises, a marketing and advertising agency based in Woburn, MA where he worked until 2006. During this time, he also co-founded, incubated and sold two successful Web companies: Beer.com and Diamond.com.
In 2007, Chris took his personal experiences of being the primary caregiver for his Mother, Uncle and several other family members and co-founded ConnectedLiving. The mission of this social impact company is to enhance the experience of aging for our country’s seniors and their families, through a unique combination of technology, programming, and people. Chris served as ConnectedLiving’s Chairman until his passing.
Chris was also passionate about hockey. In his high school years, he was a top player for Westwood High where he won all-star, captain’s, and MVP awards, and was named to the Westwood Sports Hall of Fame. His success on the ice continued at Nichols College where he won numerous MVP and player of the week awards, and set records for numbers of saves made in an individual’s collegiate career. He was inducted into the Nichols College Hockey Hall of Fame. A Nichols College annual hockey award was recently named in his honor. He will also be awarded the Nichols College Alumni Achievement Award for his professional achievements and community service in the fall of 2013.
Chris had served for many years in various capacities on the Franklin, MA, Youth Hockey board of directors. He was a proud supporter of the Tourette’s Association, Xaverian Brothers High School, and other charitable organizations.
Chris was predeceased by his parents Dorothy and Russell McWade and sisters Elizabeth Pietraszek, Jeanette Sullivan, and Carol Delaney. He leaves his wife of 28 years, Ellen (Berlin) McWade; sons Brian (24), Timothy (22), Gregory (20), and daughter MaryKatherine (14). He leaves his brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Cheryl McWade of Pevely, MO, and many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held Thursday, May 30th from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin, 131 Main Street, Franklin, MA. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 31st at 10:00 A.M. at St. Mary’s Church , 1 Church Square, Franklin, . Interment will be at the New Westwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Stanley R. Tippett Home located at 920 South Street, Needham, MA, 02492.