Union-News, Thursday, July 1, 1993 13. Deaths 'Spanky' of 'Our GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) George "Spanky" McFarland, the chubby child star of "Our Gang" and "Little Rascals" fame, died yesterday at age 64. McFarland died less than an hour after arriving at the emergency department of Baylor Grapevine Hospital, said spokesman Steve Tatum. The cause of death wasn't immediately known. McFarland's acting career began in 1931 at age 3 when he modeled baby clothes in his hometown of Dallas.
He later made a Wonder Bread commercial that was noticed by director Hal Roach, the creative force behind "Our Gang." In addition to "Our Gang," McFarland made 14 feature- length movies including "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" with Henry Fonda and Fred MacMurray and "Woman in the Window" with Edward G. Robinson. "When I reached 16, and they stopped making the comedies, I made the decision then I told my parents I wasn't going to make any more films." he told the Midland Reporter Telegram in 1988. After retiring from the movie industry, McFarland went into sales, working for a wine company and a car dealership. He also owned a barbecue restaurant in Oklahoma City.
He later was a spokesman for the Justin Boot Co. Survivors include his wife, Doris, and three children. Funeral arrangements were pending. elsewhere McFarland, Gang' fame "SPANKY" of 'Our Gang' GEORGE McFARLAND GEORGE McFARLAND 'Jimmy the Mafia boss, informant By The Los Angeles Times Aladena "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno, a longtime Mafia hit man and mob boss before turning FBI informant with a contract on his own head, has died peacefully in his sleep. He was 79.
Fratianno, shoot-and-tell author and talk show regular, died Tuesday at his home in an undisclosed U.S. city where he was living under an assumed name, his wife, Jean Fratianno, told the Los Angeles Times. Phoenix FBI agent James F. Ahearn, who developed Fratianno as a government informant and witness, confirmed Fratianno's death yesterday. Fratianno said her husband had suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
Ahearn, who had kept in touch with Fratianno and had seen him a few months ago, said Fratianno had suffered from a series of strokes. Highest-paid informant Fratianno, after spending much of his adult life in the mob, turned government witness in 1977, traveling the country to testify against fellow mobsters and becoming the highest participant in the history of the federal witness protection program. For the most part, he was able to live quietly with his wife, whom he married shortly before getting out of the mob. But his two books, "'The Last Mafioso" and "'Vengeance is Mine," brought him bursts of attention throughout his retirement, as did his occasional appearances on television talk shows and periodic attempts on his life. Both books were ghostwritten, and Fratianno claimed never to have read either of them.
Indicted in 1977 on charges related to the car-bombing murder of a Cleveland racketeer, Fratianno later told a jury he began considering testifying for the government out of fear for his safety. In return for his testimony, he pleaded guilty to the charges but served just 21 months of his five-year sentence. "I thought that if I fight these cases and beat them, I'll get killed," said Fratianno, who had claimed the mob he called La Cosa Nostra had a $100,000 contract out on him. In the 1980 trial that led to the racketeering convictions of JIMMY FRATIANNO five reputed Mafia figures, Fratianno casually admitted, as part of his graphic description of his 32 years in the mob, that he had committed five murders and participated in six others. "They tell you when you come in.
you come in alive and you go out dead," Fratianno said of his initiation into the Los Angeles branch of the mob in the late 1940s. Born in Naples, Italy, in 1913, Fratianno came to the United States as a small boy and settled with his family near Cleveland. He first was arrested at 19, on suspicion of rape, but was not charged. Two years later, he was acquitted of robbery charges and, in 1937, he was convicted of robbery and spent more than seven years in an Ohio state prison. Gangland-style slaying Paroled in 1945, he moved to Los Angeles and fell in with underworld figure Mickey Cohen.
In 1951 he was arrested but later released in connection with the gangland-style slaying of two mobsters believed to have plotted to kill Cohen. Fratianno's next prison term came with his 1954 attempted extortion conviction, and he served six years and three months, mostly at San Quentin prison in California. In 1968 he pleaded guilty to charges stemming from phony pay agreements with drivers at a trucking company he owned, and in 1971 'he entered another guilty plea, this time for extortion. In the late 1970s, Fratianno became acting boss for the Los Angeles mob. It was then, he said, he became the target of a murder contract, and the hitman became the songbird.
Death site visited by jury in trial BOSTON (AP) The jury in the Shay is charged with conspiracy trial of Thomas Shay Jr. visited in the 1991 bomb blast that killed the site in Boston yesterday where Police Officer Jeremiah Hurley. a bomb killed a city police offi- An alleged co-conspirator, cer. Alfred Trenkler of Quincy, is being tried separately. I Robert A.
Smith BERNARDSTON Robert A. Smith, 62, of Gill Road, a truck driver and heavy-equipment operator for Weller Potato Plus Co. in Youngstown, Ohio, died Monday in Van Buren, N.Y. He previously had his own trucking company, and also worked for Mackin Co. in Greenfield.
Born in Gill, he attended schools there and in Greenfield. He was a former member of the Moose Club in Greenfield, the Teamsters Union, and the Hoisters and Riggers Union. He leaves his wife, the former Norma Harris of Burns Flat, two sons, Robert A. Jr. of Shelburne, and Bill A.
of Greenfield; three daughters, Beverly H. Williams-Rubin of Greenfield, Bette J. Smith of Brattleboro, and Lisa Matosky of Warwick; six stepdaughters, Bobbi J. Harris, Donna J. Six, Melissa J.
Six, and Molly R. Six of Burns Flat, and Cathy G. Six and Sunshine A. Six of East Liverpool, Ohio; a brother, Richard C. of Bernardston; three sisters, Shirley M.
Bellemare of Millers Falls, Ruth E. Kimmens of Bernardston, and Rene A. Stone of Gill; 17 grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. The funeral will be on Friday morning at McCarthy Funeral Home, with burial at the Riverside Cemetery in Gill. Calling hours are this evening, and memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin County Agricultural Society, Fairgrounds, Greenfield, 01301.
Wilfred T. Riley, 77, plumber, Shriner; Indiana crash victim ALTOONA, Fla. Wilfred T. Riley, 77, of Altoona, a retired self-employed plumber, died on June 25 after being injured in a motorcycle accident in Indiana. Born in Boston, he lived in Agawam, before moving south 10 years ago.
He was a veteran of World War II. He belonged to the Melha Shrine Temple in Springfield, and the Turnverein in Agawain. He leaves his wife, the former Laura M. Dooley; two sons, William of Connecticut, and Russell of Agawam; two daughters, Linda Card of Altoona, and Cheryl Edwards of North Hampton, N.H., and several grandchildren. Myers Funeral Service's Burkholder Chapel of Seymour, was in charge.
Edward C. Townsend STAFFORD SPRINGS Edward C. Townsend, 70, of 91 West a former deliveryman for Purity Milk Co. in Westfield, died Tuesday in Johnson Memorial Hospital. He had also worked at Belmont Laundry in Springfield.
Born in Westfield, he moved here 20 years ago. His wife, the former Isabelle Martin, died in 1990. He leaves a daughter, Jacqueline G. Robbins of Stafford Springs; a brother, William and two sisters, Dorothy E. Townsend and Hilda E.
Townsend, all of Westfield; six grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. Another brother, George, died earlier this year. The funeral will be on Friday morning at Introvigne Funeral Home, with burial in the Stafford Street Cemetery. Calling hours are this evening. Memorial contributions may be made to the Stafford Ambulance Association, in care of Rebecca McQuaid on Green Acres Road, Stafford Springs, 06076.
Sallie A. Harrington SPRINGFIELD Sallie A. (Burns) Harrington, 56, of 603 Berkshire a three-year sales associate at Kmart Department Store in Springfield Plaza, died Wednesday at home. She was previously a 23-year press-punch operator at National Metals Co. in West Springfield.
Born in Spring. field, she lived in this city most of her life. She leaves a son, Richard Harrington Jr. of Glen Gardner, N.J.: a daughter, Patricia A. Rueli of Springfield; her father, William A.
Burns of Springfield; three sisters, Mary Cabey, Patricia Valois and Mercita Moroney of Springfield. and four grandchildren. The funeral will be conducted on Saturday morning at St. Pierre Springfield Funeral Chapel. with burial at the family's convenience in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
Calling hours are on Friday afternoon and evening, and memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 383 Dwight Holyoke, 01040. Margaret Cronin HOLYOKE Margaret (Drew) Cronin, 92, of Holyoke, a former 30-year employee of the old Skinner Silk Mills, died on Wednesday in Holyoke Hospital. Born and schooled here, she was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church. She was the widow of John Francis Cronin. She leaves two sons, John F.
and James R. of Holyoke; four grandchildren, and 11 greatgrandchildren. The funeral will be on Saturday morning at Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home and "the church, with burial in St. Jerome Cemetery.
Calling hours will precede the funeral. Doris 'Marie' Hutton, counselor at hospital GREENFIELD Doris "Marie" (Beaudoin) Hutton, 66, of 81 Country Club Road, a 21-year substance abuse counselor at Franklin Medical Center, died there Tuesday. Born here, she was graduated from Greenfield High School in 1944. She received a nursing degree from Fitchburg State College, and a degree in mental health sciences from Greenfield Community College in 1971. She was fond of camping, and belonged to the ShirRoy Campground in Richmond, N.H., for 25 years.
She leaves four sons, Edward J. LaCroix Jr. of Wyandotte, James A. LaCroix of Smithfield, Maine, and John L. LaCroix and George F.
LaCroix of Greenfield; a daughter, Sharen Clough of Wendell; three stepdaughters, Hazel Dierlam of Long Island, N.Y., and Barbara Kern and Whillamina Johnson of Wallingford, 13 grandchildren, and three greatgrandchildren. The funeral will be on Saturday morning i in St. James's Episcopal Church, with burial at the family's convenience. Calling hours are on Friday evening, and McCarthy Funeral Home is in charge. Memorial contributions may be made to the Survival Center, Fourth Street, Turners Falls, 01376, or the Grapevine, Chapman Street, Greenfield, 01301.
Wendell C. Phillips; was at Elbe linkup PALMER Wendell C. Phillips, 74, of Breckenridge Street, who took part in one of World War II's historic events, died on Wednesday at the University of Massachusetts Hospital in Worcester. He was a 34-year research worker at American Optical Corp. in Southbridge, and retired in 1980.
Born in Ludlow, he was a graduate of Palmer High School, and lived in this town from 1936. An Army veteran of World War II, he served in the European theater. including Germany. He took part in the historic linkup of British, U.S. and Russian troops at the River Elbe in April 1945.
EARL J. NOTHE Earl J. Nothe; was custodian MONSON Earl J. Nothe, 80, of Stafford Road, a former employee of A.D. Ellis Mills, and a retired custodian at Zero Manufacturing died Wednesday at Wing Memorial Hospital in Palmer.
He worked at both companies for 30 years, and retired last year. He was a lifelong resident of this community, and a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church. His wife, the former Elizabeth Braden, died in 1985. He leaves a daughter, Phyllis A. Allen Springfield's Indian Orchard section; four brothers, Melvin of Trenton, Ohio, and Frederick, William and Gilbert of Monson; a sister, Margaret Stacy of Monson; two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be Saturday morning at Lombard Funeral Home, with burial at the convenience of the family. Calling hours will be on Friday afternoon and evening. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fire Department Ambulance Fund, PO Box 335, Monson, 01057, or Special Olympics. Clara A. Staelens CONWAY Clara A.
(Germain) Staelens, 84, of 377 Delabarre Ave. died on Wednesday in a Greenfield nursing and extendedcare facility. Born in that town, she was schooled here, and was graduated from Conway High School. She lived here most of her life, and worshipped at St. Mark's Church.
She was a former member of its Women's Guild. Her husband, Henry Staelens, died in 1982. Mrs. Staelens leaves a daughter, Anne LaCoe of Conway; a brother, Arthur of Conway, and two grandchildren. The funeral will be on Friday morning at Wrisley Funeral Home and the church, with burial in Howland Cemetery.
There are no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen Framingham, 01701-4680, or the church, in care of the Rev. Julius Jutt of Conway, 01341. A Mary Emily Hegarty SPRINGFIELD Mary Emily Hegarty, the infant daughter of Patrick and Linda (Lacharite) Hegarty of Whittier Street. died Tuesday in Wesson Women's Hospital.
She was born here. Besides her parents, she leaves a brother, Daniel P. at home; two sisters, Laura C. and Caitlin C. at home; her paternal grandfather.
Charles Hegarty of Springfield; her maternal grandmother, Marjorie Lacharite of Belchertown; her maternal great-grandmothers, Edith Depot and Blanche Day, both of Belchertown. The funeral Mass will be said Friday morning in St. Francis's Church, with burial at the South Cemetery in Belchertown. Calling hours will precede the funeral. Beers Story Funeral Home of Belchertown is in charge, and memorial contributions may be made to Massachusetts Citizens for Life, PO Box 96, Ludlow.
01056. Savina M. Gratton He was a member of the Palmer Senior Center and the American Association of Retired Persons. He was a woodworker. He leaves his wife of 45 years, the former Janet O.
Smart; a son, Paul W. of Shrewsbury; a daughter, Pamela Phillips-Santere of Middle Village, Queens, N.Y.; two sisters, May A. Ewen of Cape Coral, and Louise M. Wilbur of Orlando, and three grandsons. The funeral will be on Thursday evening at Beers Story Funeral Home, and calling hours are this evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Second Congregational Church roof fund at 29 Pleasant Palmer, 01069. PITTSFIELD Savina M. Gratton, 86 of 48 Adams St. died Tuesday at home. Born and schooled in Cadyville, N.Y., she moved here in 1929.
She was a communicant of Notre Dame Church, and a member of its Ladies of St. Anne Guild. Her husband. Anthony J. Gratton.
died in 1980. She leaves two sons. Alphonse W. of Hinsdale and Stephen D. of Pittsfield; two daughters, Martina C.
LaVardi of Pittsfield and Jeannine A. Macchi of Englewood. a brother. Gerald of West Chazy. N.Y.; a sister, Anna Carou of Plattsburgh.
N.Y., 16 grandchildren; 10 greatgrandchildren, and five greatgreat-grandchildren. The funeral will be Friday morning at Dery Funeral Home and the church. with burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours are late this afternoon through the evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Central Berkshire Hospice. in care of the funeral home. Edward J. Rogers, area projectionist DALTON Edward J. Rogers, 84, of 80 Daly a retired movie projectionist.
died on Monday at home. He worked at several area theater, including the former Cameo, Strand, Union Square, Capitol, Palace and Colonial Theaters. He also worked at the Pittsfield Boys Club and the Berkshire Museum. Born in Adams, he moved to Pittsfield in 1912, and was graduated from the city's St. Joseph's High School.
He also was graduat- Albert L. Stuart Jr. SALEM Albert L. Stuart 58, of 37 Liberty Hill a retired truck driver for Seaboard Products, died Wednesday at home. Born in Beverly, he lived here most of his life.
He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War. He was member of Hibernian Division 18, AmVets Post 12 in Chicopee, and Elks Lodge 1409 in Peabody. He was also a life member of American Legion Post 260 in South Hadley, and an honorary member of the Polish Legion of American Veterans Post 55. He leaves his wife, the former Vivian Ledoux, formerly of Chicopee; a son, Michael; three daughters. Debra Gatto, Barbara Bush and Theresa Medeiros, all of Peabody; his mother.
Mary (Monahan) Cole of Salem; three brothers, Robert of El Paso, Texas, Richard of Wilmington, and John F. of Florida; two sisters, Mary LaPointe of Sandown, N.H., and Patricia Weinberg of Salem; three stepsons, Mark Mousette of Agawam, Brad Mousette of Springfield, and Wayne Mousette of Westfield; two stepdaughters. Dawn Mousette of Salem, and Ronna Mousette of Chicopee; seven grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren. The funeral will be on Saturday morning in Full-Spychalski Funeral Home at 84 Washington Square, and Immaculate Conception Church, with burial in Greenlawn Cemetery. Calling hours are on Friday afternoon and evening.
and memorial contributions may be made to the North Shore Hospice. 12 High Danvers, 01923. Gladys I. Terrill GREENFIELD Gladys I. (Donah) Terrill, 79.
of 250 Conway St. died Wednesday in a local nursing home. She was self-employed home cleaner in the area for many years. Born in Bridport, she attended Richmond, schools. She moved here from Colrain in 1963.
Her husband, Kenneth Terrill. died in 1990. She leaves a son, Everrett a daughter, Janet B. Brooks of Greenfield; four grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. The funeral will be on Friday afternoon at McCarthy Funeral Home, with burial in the Green River Cemetery.
A calling hour will precede the funeral, and memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin Nursing Home recreational fund at 329 Conway Greenfield, 01301. ed from the Coyne Electric Institute in Chicago. and moved here 10 years ago. He was a former communicant of St. Mary's Church in Pittsfield.
and worshipped at St. Agnes's Church here. He was a member of Motion Picture Operators Union Local 452. His first wife, the former Emma Parras, died in 1962, and his second, the former Olive M. Russett, in 1981.
He leaves two sons, Edward J. Jr. of Pittsfield and Gary J. of Liverpool. N.Y.; a daughter, Barbara J.
Benham of Baldwinsville. N.Y; five grandchildren, and three great The funeral will be on Friday morning at Dery Funeral Home in Pittsfield, and St. Mary's Church, with burial at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Pittsfield. Calling hours are late this afternoon through the evening, and memorial contributions may be made to the Jimmy Fund.
in care of the funeral home at 54 Bradford Pittsfield. 01201. Edgar R. Moisan CHICOPEE Edgar R. Moisan, 72.
of 66 Front a retired truck driver for Gore Trucking died Wednesday i in the Holyoke Soldiers' Home. Born in Canada, he lived here most of his life, and was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a communicant of Assumption Church. His wife, the former Louise Suddarth, died in 1988. He leaves two daughters, Nancy Holland of Georgia.
and Brenda Cole; three sisters, Jeanne Dandurand. Yvette Reed and Emiline Gravel of Chicopee, and four grandchildren. The funeral will be on Friday morning at Grise Funeral Home and the church. with burial in the Calvary Cemetery. Calling hours are this afternoon and evening, and memorial contributions may be made to the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, Cherry Street.
Holyoke. 01040. Hazel M. Hanco*ck THOMASVILLE, Ga. Hazel M.
(Brook) Hanco*ck, 70. of 310 West Pinetree died Monday at home. Born in Ludlow, she lived in Springfield, before moving here 47 years ago. She served in the Navy WAVES in 1943-46. She was a member of the Tallyho Garden Club and the First Baptist Church in Thomasville.
She was the widow of Frank Hanco*ck. She leaves a Guy of Charlotte, N.C.; a brother. Earl of Niagara Falls, N.Y.: two sisters. Violet Moore of East Longmeadow. and Shirley B.
Wrenn of Agawam, and several nieces and nephews. The was on Wednesday in the church. with burial in the Laurel Hill Cemetery. Kirkland-Croy-Hugh Home for Funerals was in charge. Memorial contributions may be made to the Southwest Georgia Hospice, 943 South Broad Thomasville, 31792..
