Obituary: Vera Julia Bernacchi, Longtime Arlington Town Meeting Member

Bernacchi, of Arlington, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 29.

Vera Julia Bernacchi, beloved sister, aunt and mother, of Arlington, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012 at Mt. Auburn Hospital from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a form of blood cancer). Born in Somerville, she lived in Arlington, Mass., and Ormond Beach, Fla., for most of her life. She worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an executive secretary during the 1960s and later was a strong advocate for the special education for gifted children. Vera was the daughter of the late Pietro G. and Olga Bernacchi, and the sister of the late John P. and Rita Bernacchi. She is survived by her son Anthony Bernacchi of Arlington, her sisters Alba Gouldthorpe of Newburyport and Elsa Gould of Weymouth and many nieces, nephews …

Board of Selectmen Takes Moment of Silence for Two Recently Deceased Arlington Residents

Both residents had a connection to Town Meeting.

Board of Selectmen chairman Kevin Greeley opened Monday’s meeting with a moment of silence for two late Arlington residents – Marc Aaron Butler (pictured) and Joel Sachs. Butler was a current Town Meeting member from Precinct 19. He passed away Wednesday, Sept. 5. Butler was also the former president of the Arlington Children’s Theatre and an elected member of the Arlington Democratic Town Committee. He was a longtime member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints and sang in Iveria, an all-male group that sings Georgian liturgical and folk music. Joel Sachs was the husband of Marlene Rockmore, a Town Meeting member from Precinct 12. He died Saturday, Aug. 11. Both men died from pancreatic cancer.

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