Oriol Severin of Somerville, Massachusetts, passed away suddenly on July 23, 2026. He was born on January 11, 1944, in Anse-à-Veau, Haiti, to Gertrude Alvarez and Anglade Severin.
Oriol grew up in Anse-à-Veau alongside his siblings, Yveta and Edwin. He attended Lycée Toussaint Louverture in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where he completed his secondary education, and later studied at Institut CosComArt, also in Port-auPrince, earning a certification in bookkeeping and accounting. In 1966, with the sponsorship of his older sister, Yveta, Oriol immigrated to the United States. He settled in New York, where he lived for several years with Yveta and his brothers Edwin and Jean Robert. In 1973, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts, after accepting a job as a computer operator at Shawmut Bank.
Oriol went on to work for Lechmere Stores, Inc. as a bookkeeper, later earning a promotion to advertising assistant. In 1983, he joined Bradlees, Inc. as a typesetter and proofreader, remaining with the company until it closed in 2000. Oriol brought an impeccable work ethic to everything he did, and he took great pride in every job he held.
Outside of work, Oriol was a man of endless curiosity. He loved learning new languages, including Japanese and German, and delighted in soccer, music, world history, and a good book. Among family and friends, he was known for his humor, his kindness, his generosity, and his insatiable desire to learn.
Oriol had a gift for making people laugh. He was famous for his animated storytelling, especially when recounting tales of growing up in Haiti with his siblings and friends, and his laugh was infectious. He had the kind of laugh you could pick out of a crowded room.
Whenever something struck him as false or hard to believe, he would punctuate his skepticism with a firm "that's baloney." He never met a stranger, and he had a rare gift for turning acquaintances into lifelong friends wherever he went. But above all else, family was the center of Oriol's world. He celebrated every success his loved ones achieved and lifted them up through every low point. He was, in every sense of the word, loyal.
Oriol never married and had no children of his own, but he leaves behind a family that adored him. He is survived by his siblings, Edwin, Jean Robert, Jean Marie, Michèle, Margaret, Rosaline, Péralte, and Ralph; and by many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly, including Jude Richard, Reginald, Natasha, Farah, Alexia, Joanne, Gardy, Jaime, Rudley, and Jessica. He is also survived by many beloved cousins and countless friends he made throughout his life, both in Haiti and in the United States.
He was preceded in death by his sister Yveta, lovingly known as Tita, who passed on April 9, 2015. Oriol and Yveta shared an unbreakable bond, and their souls are now reunited for all of eternity.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Beals-Geake-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 29 Governors Ave, Medford, MA 02155.
Oriol will be remembered for his warmth, his wit, and his unwavering devotion to the people he loved. His laughter, his stories, and his generous spirit will live on in all who knew him.