Please note this request…..do you have a story,
whether it be a loving one, a historical one or a funny one
that concerns the family members on this page?

If so, would you consider sending it to us via email
so that it may be posted on this page
so that others may share your fond memory?
Thank you.

*******************

2009

Ida (Melagrano) Fulchini

Ida (Melagrano) Fulchini of Reading. May 29. Beloved wife of 50 years to Salvatore Fulchini.
Beloved mother of Carmen A. Fulchini and his wife Victoria of NH and Sandra Emery and her husband Kevin of Reading. Cherished grandmother of Kyle, Dylan and Jake Emery. Dear sister of John Melagrano and his wife Dolores
of Stoneham, Susan Milligan and her husband Richard, Marie Henderson and her husband John
and Margaret Jancy and her husband William all of Marblehead.



EULOGY FOR IDA FULCHINI
delivered by her son
Carmen Fulchini

Good morning.

I wasn’t sure how to start today and then something came to me to that tells you who my mother was.
Right now she’d be worried about ME standing up here, she’d be worried about Sandy and Dad
because she would know it will be hard for them to listen to me without being nervous and wanting to cry
and she’d be concerned for all of you, her family and friends, for what you feel as I speak to you.
She would have said to me, “Why do you have to be up there? There is no need. As long as everyone is OK
and can be happy knowing I am alright, I do not need any words.” That’s MA.

The author Henry James once said,

“Three things in human life are important.
The first is to be kind.
The second is to be kind.
The third is to be kind.”

That was my mother. She had no noted accolades or public recognition for who she was
or what she did but she made a difference in OUR WORLD. Everyone who had a chance to be
a part of her life would agree. She was able to have a smile or encouraging word for anyone.
Her concern, honesty and compassion were so genuine that you always felt important and valued.
Simply, she had a gift for brightening lives and lifting spirits. The hearts she touched throughout her life
would go on to touch other hearts and my family has seen this through the kindness of all of you.
My mother has made a difference through her ability to be kind.

There are two other words that stand out to me when talking about my mother – PRIDE AND LOVE.
It was once said that, “You can’t give people pride, but you can provide the kind of understanding
that makes people look into their inner strengths and find their own sense of pride.” Ma got her pride that way
and helped us to do the same.

Ma was proud of many things but I want to take a moment and mention a few – HER FAMILY,
HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, VIKKI, HER SON-IN-LAW KEVIN, HER GRANDCHILDREN
KYLE, DYLAN and JAKE, HER DAUGHTER SANDY AND HER HUSBAND SAL.

My mother loved her family and loved to be around them. She asked only two things of them – love each other
and be happy. She loved and cared for her parents while they were alive and worried about
and cherished her brother and sisters. Here nieces and nephews knew Auntie Ida to be a person who always showed
an interest in their lives and who always let them know how happy she was to see them.

I think when it comes to Vikki, Ma loved her not only because she knew how much she loved me
but she also knew how much Vikki loved her. They enjoyed each other’s company and shared
some wonderful moments that I know Vikki will cherish always. Ma told me that God sent her to let me know
that I deserved to be happy.

Kevin had a special place in my mother’s heart. She felt there was no one better who could have become Sandy’s husband and she often told me how comforted she was knowing how well he cared for her and how clear it was that he loved her. Though the two of them would never admit it; they were very much alike – Strong-Minded, Humble and Generous to a fault. I know she will always watch over him.

One of Ma’s greatest joys was being NANI to Kyle, Dylan and Jake. Even in her final days
there was nothing that would light up my mother’s eyes more than being with her 3 grandsons.
She spent as much time with them, through her life, as she could and traveled on vacations with them as well.
The boys will not only have memories of their times together but I am sure they will also grow up
remembering her selfless and endearing love.

As a daughter, Sandra brought Ma many reasons to be proud. She admired Sandy for many things
but most among them were; being a teacher, enjoying life, being a loving wife and mother and being a strong
and independent woman. The closeness they had went beyond the mother-daughter relationship.
They shared a bond built on their similarities in how they lived. In the final months,
Sandy reminded me of Ma – LOVING, EMPATHETIC, and WARM. I hope Sandy now finds her sense
of pride from this and knows how proud MA was of her.

If there was one thing that could bring the words PRIDE and LOVE together it is my mother’s husband
of 50 years, her best friend, our Dad, Sal.

Not only did she love him deeply and unconditionally,
she respected him, honored him and never took him, or his love, for granted.
They were each other’s center of the universe and taught us that being married was not just a commitment
but was built on a foundation of simplicity, honesty and love. A while ago I read a quote
that describes my father’s love for my mother and what it was like as her end drew closer. I choose to leave you all with these words not only to describe the love Ma and Dad shared but to help you find comfort.

“When you love someone so deeply they become your life, it is easy to succumb to overwhelming fears inside.
Blindly I imagined I could keep you under a glass.
Now I understand that to hold you I must open my hand and watch you rise.”

*************************

2008

Ralph Albert Fulchino
October 23, 1942
December 1, 2008

Ralph Albert 66, who resided in Naples, FL, formerly of Fairfax, VA, passed away December 1, 2008.
He was born October 23, 1942 in Revere, MA to the late Maria and Albert Fulchino, Sr.
After graduating from Boston College, he received a Master's Degree in Economics at Columbia University
and a PhD in International Affairs at Georgetown University. He served in the Navy as a Telecommunications Officer.

He was later assigned to the National Security Agency (NSA) as a special liaison to the White House.
His business career spanned over 35 years of executive management for government,
commercial and international businesses,
including Senior Vice President positions with COMSAT, PRC and SAIC.

He began his own global services consulting company, specializing in strategic alliances
with international technology-based enterprises.
Ralph also complemented his career by serving as a noted lecturer at several universities,
including most recently at Hodges University and Florida Gulf Coast University.

Ralph enjoyed most being with his friends and family,
particularly his four grandchildren: Ryan, Stephen, Henry and Paolo.
His warmth and engaging enthusiasm plus abundant energy will be greatly missed by all.

Ralph is survived by his wife Katheryn "Ki";
his three children, Mark and John of Baltimore, MD, and Cara of New York City, NY
and by the late Joanne (Bernazani) Fulchino;
his brothers Paul of Wellington, FL and Thomas of Weston, MA;
his sisters Ann Marie of Norfolk, MA and Christine of Nahant, MA.

His family includes numerous nieces and nephews,
many of whom he saw recently in Mobile, AL and the greater Boston area.


One of the measures of any man
is the freedom with which he lends his hand to others
and the kind of hand he lends to others.
Those who knew Ralph were blessed by both.

*********

EULOGY
for
Ralph Fulchino



delivered by his daughter
Cara Fulchino

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’d like to thank all of you for coming today. We are all such different people, coming from different places,
and moving through very different circumstances in our lives.
Yet, the simple truth is that despite these differences we are all undeniably connected.
Here, today- we are connected by one man.
And that man is my father …..Ralph Fulchino.

We do not determine the beginning and end dates of our lives….only God determines that.
But God hands us many opportunities to make the most of that dash we call life… in between those dates.
As I wrote this Eulogy I realized that my Dad accomplished much with his dash.
Born October 23,1942 to Margie and Albert Fulchino he was the oldest of 5 children.
He was the husband to both my mother Mitzie Fulchino and to Ki Fulchino.

He was the brother to 4 siblings Paul, Annie, Tom, and Chrissie and
the father to me and my two brothers Mark and John.
In addition! He was blessed with being the grandfather – or as his grandkids called him ” GRAMPY “ –
to 4 very beautiful grandchildren,..Ryan, Stephen, Henry and Paolo.

My dad grew up in Revere, Mass. His father, Dr. Albert Fulchino,
being the high school principle encouraged his children
to take their education as far as possible…
And my father went the distance…Boston College, Columbia, and Georgetown.
His thirst for knowledge was unbounded. I remember growing up seeing his face perpetually buried
in a newspaper or watching a political news show to keep his mind
ever active…ever stimulated.

After his formal schooling my father served in the Navy and later in his career became a successful businessman.
He had the opportunity to work for both large organizations as well as being an independent consultant.
His jobs and education allowed him to go to places in world he never thought he’d see … all the while ….
.no matter how distant the destination… never ever losing his Boston accent.

At the end of his career, my father was fortunate to go back to his roots and one of his true loves…Teaching.
He was invigorated by this. He became an Adjunct Professor teaching Bus. Adm. at Hodges University in Florida
At the core, my father was a simple man, but was not afraid to move past cocktail conversation
and discuss what really mattered in life.

He loved family, friends, spy films and novels, the ocean, AND most importantly FOOD! ?
It would be impossible not to love food coming from my family.
We’d have to conduct some DNA tests on you!
Those are the basic facts of my father’s temporal existence, but my father was more than those facts.

My father touched people, challenged people, and taught people in many different ways.
Here are some of those ways….
My father was a great provider of support, advice, and counsel to his siblings, family members and friends.
And I know that my brothers have looked to my father for counsel as they moved into their own marriages
and started their own families.

For me, my fathers support came through by him and I moving past what people of my age would describe as
“generational awkwardness” when communicating with parents.
Realizing that he no longer needed to be the authority figure, my father and I began to freely communicate as
adult individuals bringing different perspectives and experiences into our conversations.
Although this was a courageous struggle at times for my father and to achieve this level of communications …..
it bore the richest rewards ……………because we achieved it together.
This was a gift

My father loved family. Throughout the years he remained very close with his siblings.
Even spearheading and hosting annual sibling gatherings.
Because of this he has left me and my brothers with close connections to him through his siblings
as well as the same mission my mother left for us when she passed….
which was to always keep the family together despite life’s challenges.
This was another gift

My father wanted love and had a great capacity to give love.
He not only had the capacity to love my mother, but also
the capacity to share love and life with his wife Ki who he truly respected and appreciated.
This was yet another gift

Finally, my father had great Faith. His relationship with God is one that I could relate to
and most importantly I respected.
As I do, my father trusted and believed in the power of God to transform and make all things good.
This was the greatest gift.

Losing any parent is an irreplaceable relationship. For those of you who have lost your parents,
pray to them and cherish their memory.

My father’s legacy will continue to live on. Through his strengths and vulnerabilities, his joy and sadness,
and his hopes and dreams he molded myself and my brothers into the people we are today.
My life will never be the same because of it and I am better for it.
I knew the truest essence of my Dad and I loved him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I will end this Eulogy for Ralph Fulchino with a poem.

Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys
Different paths along the way.

We all were meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay...
Our destination is a place far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.

And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the lord

God Bless you Dad
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Memorial Service Address
for
Ralph Fulchino



delivered by his brother
Paul E.Fulchino
12/6/08

“The Fulchino Family is pleased that you are here today for my brother, Ralph. I am Paul Fulchino,
one of Ralph’s four siblings, and am honored to have been asked to express some thoughts
on behalf of Ki, Ralph’s two sons and daughter, Mark, John and Cara,
his four beautiful grandchildren, Ryan, Steven, Henry, and Little Paolo,
and my brother and sisters, Tom, Annie and Chris

There are people here who span the complete spectrum of Ralph’s life.
Stepping back, I am sure you will agree that Ralph touched you in special ways.
I can summarize his impact on my and I am sure your life with three qualities.
These were the assets he delivered to all of us.

-My first observation about my brother is that he was the consummate “all around good guy”
--- he was a person of boundless energy—
very exuberant and full of life; couple this with a personality larger than life;
Ralph was a person of great values; remained steadfastly religious; was a truly great husband and family man
---oh how he loved his grandchildren.

Ralph lived within the rails--did all the right things;
he consistently shed a positive light on everything;
was always helpful, refreshing and interesting to talk to;
no matter the audience was appreciated by all.

-Ralph’s second amazing quality was that he loved people and people loved him.
He was the mayor – be it where he grew up or wherever he lived or worked.
It was not Red Sox nation – it was Ralph nation
– Revere, Columbia University, the Navy, in DC, Georgetown, Univ, Severna Park (Md),
Palatine and Chicago (Ill), Boxford (Mass), Fairfax (Va), Naples (Fla)...and at the many universities he taught.

Whether the golf pro or the deli guy – Ralph was their “buddy”
and everyone was Uncle this, Aunt that,
how's my boy or girl so and so?
They all popped up and smiled when arrived.

He was full of life and rich with humor – a constant ribber and prankster as you know,
he had lots of fun with his people skills....As my son David said to his Cara 2 days ago,
and it captures the essence of his persona
… "Ralph made you feel like a million bucks when you walked in the room."
This was Ralph….it was all about you--not him

-Ralph’s third quality was his most compelling for it defines the person
..he was very much the giver not the taker.
He always put you first regardless of his situation at the time.
He loved to guide, teach, counsel and gave back tremendously with his pro-bono work, university teaching
and his technology consulting which often he did as favors to friends.

He made many a sacrifice at his own expense
and often put his reputation on the line for eager and aspiring talent
...and stayed with them throughout the process.
My daughter Lisa is one of many examples of his passion to help
..having spent great deals of time counseling her on education and job options

The world defines your legacy by measuring you on your input value and impact on people.
Ralph selflessly gave to all much value and his legacy is the impact he made to each and everyone of our lives.
What is interesting is his impact was the same to people no matter what walk of life or what their level.
That was his gift...he delivered himself to Ralph nation
...regardless of an individual’s station an uplift, a smile, a contribution, a greater achievement
...their day was brighter when Ralph was with them.
That is what defined Ralph.

There is a beacon in my mind and hopefully yours...a shining light that will keep Ralph's memories alive forever
...it reflects his great points of advice, his what to do file,
Paul always remember these things file.
It shines brightly his notable humor, and his captivating open smile and big hug.

I will forever be hugged by Ralph and I am sure you will feel his embrace too.
My heart goes out to Ki, Mark, Cara, and Johnnie and Little Ryan, Steven, Henry and Paolo
for you will miss a great great man.

***********

In closing a true friend is defined as one who without hesitation,
in an unwavering and uncompromising manner, makes every effort to bring value to a fellow friend.
My brother Ralph was to each and every one of you a true friend, an extraordinary human being,
who brought true value to all around him – one of the truly good guys,
who constantly gave and never asked to receive, who loved life and mostly the people within it.

Please hug me, Bro because I miss you.

Thank you

Paul Fulchino

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2008

Aunt Tamia.
(information supplied by
nephew Charles "Bill" Penna )

She was born Artamia Maria Rotondi
on January 10th, 1914 in Stoneham, Mass.
She was the 5th of nine children to Sabino Rotondi and Antoinette De Marco,
who immigrated from Torre Le Nocelle, Avellino, Italy in 1904.
She was the bookkeeper for the family construction/reality business since she was eighteen
until her death.
She later took Josephine her confirmation name as her middle name.
She married Carmine Edward Fulchino April 18th 1948.
Aunt Tamia passed away Sunday morning 7/6/08.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The four pictures below show Tamia and Bill's mother Mary in all four pictures,
the middle sister Amelia is in two pictures
and their brother Babe (Albert Rotondi is in one ).
These pictures were taken in the early 1940's,
Tamia would be in her late twenties
and Bill's mother in her early twenties.


These next photo's below include Tamia with her husband Carmine Fulchino
before they were married plus a picture of Carmine as a boy
and the bottom pictures were taken in the early 1930's
where Tamia's age ranged between 18 and 21..

EULOGY

For

ARTAMIA JOSEPHINE (ROTONDI) FULCHINO

January 10, 1914 – July 5, 2008

Artamia Josephine Rotondi was born on January 10, 1914,
the fifth child and first daughter born to Sabino and Antoinette Rotondi,
immigrants from Southern Italy. With two more brothers and two sisters born after her,
she quickly assumed the role of a second mother to
her younger siblings and urgently needed helper to her parents.
Family was very important to her and – “when the chips were down” - she was always fiercely loyal
to every member of her family.

After graduating from high school, where she had excelled as an athlete,
she put aside any opportunity to go out in the working world to
remain at home and serve as the bookkeeper in the family’s contracting business,
while continuing to help her mother in the running of the Rotondi household.

Introduced to her “soul mate”, Carmine Fulchino, by her eldest brother, Charlie, prior to the outbreak of World War II,
she had to wait until after the war to become his bride . They were married on April 18, 1948,
beginning a union which would last until his death on August 25, 1988.
With this union, the loyalty to her family was extended to the entire Fulchino family.

Not having been blessed with children of her own, she was very generous to her nieces and nephews in both families.
She never forgot any of us on our birthdays or at Christmas.
My earliest memories include memories of Aunt Tamia coming to our house on Christmas Eve,
laden with gifts for my brothers and me.
She always seemed to know what “we needed”. After I was married,
she continued her gift giving – then giving gifts of cheese, baloney, coke and cake.

Aunt Tamia, like all of us, was not perfect. She was a strong passionate woman,
but she was ALWAYS there for all of us.
She taught me to drive and assisted my brother and cousins in the running of their businesses.
Her generosity was never ending and will be her enduring legacy.
My cousin Pam said it best, “She was everyone’s Santa Claus!”

Rest in peace, Aunt Tamia. You have fought the good fight; finished the race; and kept the faith.
Your heavenly reward and Uncle Carmine await you in Paradise.

by
Arthur J. Rotondi, Jr.

St. Patrick’s Church

Stoneham, MA

July 12, 2008

Artamia Maria Fulchino

 

 

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