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Frank A. Antonelli Veteran
March 07, 2005

Obituary

Frank A. Antonelli
...former State Representative and Tewksbury Selectman; 80
TEWKSBURY - Frank A. Antonelli, age 80, a well known former Tewksbury resident who
served as State Representative for the Tewksbury District, died Monday evening, Mar. 7, at the
Lahey Clinic after a lengthy illness. He was the husband of the late Mary L. (Hall) Antonelli, who
died in 1992.
He was born in Somerville, August 20, 1924, a son of the late Rocco and Rose Antonelli. He
was raised in Somerville and graduated Somerville High School. He later attended Drake
University. He raised his family in Tewksbury, where he resided for more than 35 years, and
retired to Englewood, Fla., in 1989.
During WWII, he served in the U.S. Army, assigned to Headquarters of 303rd Infantry, 3rd
Battalion. He saw action in both the European Theater as well as the Asiatic Pacific Theater.
During his tour, he was awarded a Purple Heart and honorably discharged at the rank of Staff
Sergeant.
Throughout his work career, he worked as an administrator for several companies, but may be
best remembered as the Administrator of the Fr. Coppen’s Knight of Columbus, Council 4336 in
Tewksbury. He was active with the Knights of Columbus throughout his life, as Grand Knight in
Tewksbury and Englewood, Fla., Council 9033. He also served as District Deputy for the K of C
in Fla. He also achieved the 4th Degree in the Bishop Delaney Post in the greater Lowell area.
He was active in community services in Tewksbury and served as Chairperson of the Tewksbury
Board of Selectman. He later was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the
Tewksbury district.
He was active in youth sports in Tewksbury, and served as a coach in the Babe Ruth League in
Tewksbury. Most notably, he helped found the Livingston Street Recreation Area in Tewksbury.
He was recognized for his services when the town named a baseball field at the Livingston Street
Park in his honor.
He was also a devout Catholic, and had served as an usher at St. William’s Church in Tewksbury,
as well as President of the St. William’s Holy Name Society.
He is survived by five sons, Ronald F. Antonelli of Las Vegas, NV, John M. Antonelli and his
companion, Hope DeBorse of San Francisco, Francis J. “Frank” Antonelli and his wife Joanne
(Lawler) of Dunstable, Paul A. Antonelli of San Francisco, James K. and his fiancé, Debbi
Harding of Henderson, NV; a daughter Joanne M. Antonelli of Amesbury; seven grandchildtren,
Jenna Antonelli of Chelmsford, Mia Antonelli of San Francisco, Emily Antonelli Ray and her
husband James Ray of Groton, Peter Antonelli of San Francisco, Dean Secchiaroli of Amesbury,
George Secchiaroli Jr. and his wife Frances of Lowell; Anzlee Harding of Henderson, NV; two
great grandchildren, Olivia and Jack; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Rocco and his wife
Elizabeth (McFarlane) Antonelli of Andover, Rudy Antonelli of Las Vegas; two sisters, Mary
Antonelli of Somerville and Jean Stanger of W. Virginia; four sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law,
Geraldine Crocker and her husband Roderick of Cape Cod, Irene Jones and her husband John of
Andover, Kathleen Boch of N.C., John Flynn of Waltham; and many nieces and nephews.
He was also brother of the late Ralph Antonelli, and brother-in-law of the late Helena Flynn and
Ann Antonelli.

His Funeral
Mass was held Friday, Mar. 11, in St. William’s Church Tewksbury. Burial was at the National
Cemetery of Mass., (Cape Cod) Bourne, MA. Memorials to either the
American Cancer Society, 30 Speen st., Framingham, MA 01701-9376 or the Alzheimer’s
Asson., 36 Cameron Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140-1102 will be appreciated.

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Tewksbury Funeral Home
1 Dewey Street
Tewksbury, MA 01876
978-851-2950