Obituaries 08-15-2018

James “Jim” Oliver Taylor

Retired Chief Medical Officer of East Boston Neighborhood Health Center

James ‘Jim’ Oliver Taylor was born to Rosalind, a schoolteacher, and her husband, Norman, a Methodist minister, in Phoenix, Arizona on October 11, 1937.

He was brought up in a home that was proper, devoted, and rule-following. Shortly after his birth, they would move to Riverside, CA where his dad would continue his ministry and Rosalind raised their family of four boys, Greg, Jim, Dick and John with help from her mother. Jim was a man of simple needs, as evidenced by his gleeful childhood face in the family photo taken on his birthday after hot dogs had been served. His mother lived until past her 90th birthday and is remembered as a woman who never judged and always loved, remaining gently stubborn until she passed. Jim was a lot like her. Norman died too young from heart disease, but left a big impression on his family as a man of hard-work and character, who helped store Japanese-American families’ belongings while they spent time in internment camps during World War II.

A product of their upbringing, Jim naturally never wanted to make a show of himself, but despite that managed to become quite accomplished in life. After completing his undergraduate degree at Occidental College in three years, he then entered medical school at UCLA where he inspired awe in his fellow students, graduating first in his class. By the time he finished a pathology fellowship in Costa Rica, served in the medical corps in East Pakistan during the Vietnam War, and married his first wife, Anna, he was in his 30s.

He went on to help launch a revolutionary concept – the community health center. At the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) he was part of a small pioneering group that modernized a medical relief station into a full-fledged primary and emergency care center now providing over 300,000 patient visits annually. This community of providers and researchers spearheaded community-based studies on hypertension and other chronic diseases. Jim continued his commitment to public health and delivered direct patient care as Chief Medical Officer until his retirement in 2011.

It was at the health center that he fell in love with Mary Jordan and they would later marry on the Ides of March in 1975.. Mary and Jim lived in Winthrop until only last year and shared a home by the Atlantic Ocean for over three decades.

Jim was the loving father of Kim Woodhouse and her husband, Erik of Oakland, California and James J. Taylor and his wife, Janet of Revere.  He was the devoted grandfather of Meghan and Samuel and will always be remembered as their Papa.

Jim loved to travel.  Mary and he traveled even more as they aged, going to Peru, South Africa, Italy, Russia, and Vietnam. After retirement, Jim studied Buddhist teachings and meditation and volunteered as a companion for patients on hospice. Jim lived many of his final days unable to appreciate the fullness of the life he had lived, a most unwelcome side-effect of his Parkinson’s diagnosis.  Thankfully, he was able to find calm and peace in the end.

Jim will live forever in all that he touched. Jim was gentle and kind, loving and generous. He exemplified patience and compassion, and always brought out the best in those around him.  He was successful but always humble, and always thought of everyone else first. He would never take from those he thought needed more than he did, and spoke often of the golden rule. His devotion to his patients was his driving force and in the words of his colleagues, Jim will be remembered in every patient they serve.

A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, August 16 in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 15 St. Paul St., Brookline at 10:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 15, in the Bell-O’Dea Funeral Home, 376 Washington St., Brookline from 4 – 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to CATCH Program, c/o East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, 10 Gove St., East Boston, MA. 02128.

Salvatore ‘Salvy’ Memmolo

Long time contributor to the

East Boston Community

With deep sadness we mourn the loss of Salvatore “Salvy” Memmolo of Revere who passed away on August 9.

Salvy will always be fondly remembered as co-owner of Continental Cleaning and Tailoring East Boston and Cleaning Town of Saugus with his brother Pat and for his many contributions to the East Boston community which spanned decades. He will be sorely missed and will remain forever in our hearts.

He was the beloved husband of Joan (Russo) over 57 years, loving father of JoAnn Giuffrida and her husband, Anthony of Saugus, Andrea Pagano and her husband, Bobby of Lynnfield and Sally Ann Teebagy and her husband, Jason of Revere; dear brother of Alex Memmolo and his wife, Emanuela of Revere and Pat Memmolo and his wife, Dolly of Peabody and is also survived by eight loving grandchildren; Ashley, Alexandra, Tayla, Robert, Frank Salvatore, Kaylee, Jason and Ava as well as by many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, East Boston. He was laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. For more information: www.ruggieromh.com.

Joseph Francis Hallahan

Of East Boston

Joseph Francis Hallahan of East Boston passed away on August 12.

The loving son of the late John and Evelyn (Kennedy) Hallahan, he was the dear brother to Ann Follett and her husband, Robert of Florida and the late James Hallahan, cherished uncle of Jesse James IV, James Hallahan, Christine Kelleher and her husband, John, Tim Hallahan and his wife, Andrea, and David Hallahan. He is also survived by many great and grand nieces and nephews.

In accordance with Mr. Hallahan’s wishes, all services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kaplan Hospice House, 78 Liberty Street, Danvers, Mass. 01923 or the Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Avenue, Salem, Mass 01970.

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