OBIT: Robert McElroy, 71, Retired Watertown Police Lieutenant, Air Force Veteran

Robert “Bob” McElroy

Robert J. “Bob” McElroy of Millis, formerly of Watertown died on January 26, 2019 at the age of 71. McElroy retired as a lieutenant in the Watertown Police Department. He served in the U.S. Air Force during Vietnam. Beloved husband of Virginia “Ginger” (Burgess) McElroy. Loving & devoted father of Ashley M. Bailey & her husband Brent H. of San Diego, Madeline “Maddie” A. McElroy of Millis, and the late Brendan J. McElroy.

OBIT: Ethlyn Bleiler, 96, of Watertown, Mother of 3, Grand Mother & Great Grand Mother

Ethlyn Bleiler

Ethlyn Irene Bleiler of Watertown died on January 26, 2019 at the age of 96. Beloved wife of the late Joseph J. Bleiler. Devoted mother of Joseph J. Bleiler, Jr. & his wife Yvonne of Hudson, Stephen J. Bleiler & his wife Diane of Watertown, and the late Gayle Marie Bleiler. Loving grandmother of Joseph S. & James J. Bleiler and Meghan E. Lutz. Dear sister of Alice Richard of Duxbury, Dorothy L. Leslie of Stoughton, Nancy Lund of Billerica and the late Mildred MacLeod, George R., and Frederick Lund.

OBIT: Loretta Barba, 93, Raised Family in Watertown, Married More than 50 Years

Loretta Barba

Loretta Marie (Menelly) Barba of Watertown died on Jan. 22, 2019, at the age of 93. Beloved wife for 56 years of the late Michael V. Barba. Devoted mother of Janet B. Brown and her husband Richard of Gardner; Sandra Pacheco and her husband John of Washington, D.C.; Paul G. Barba and his wife Maureen of Gardner; Diane E. Neylon and her husband John and Richard J. Barba and his wife Theresa, all of Watertown; Vincent J. Barba and his wife Judi of Franklin; and the late Michael V. Barba, Jr.

Dear sister of the late Robert Menelly and his wife Carmen and Philip Menelly and his wife Connie. Also loved by 25 grandchildren (including the late Benjamin & Michael Pacheco) and 13 great-grandchildren.

OBIT: Mary (Herlihy) Russo, Served on Council on Aging, Past President of Sons & Daughters of Italy

Mary (Herlihy) Russo of Watertown and Boca Raton, Florida passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, November 14, 2018.Mary’s passion was her family, both immediate and extended, who will miss her energy, excitement and infectious laughter. She was the heart of our family. She is survived by her loving husband David A. Russo to whom she was married for 51 years. Devoted mother to her daughter, Rosemary Garside and her husband Paul of Watertown, son David J. Russo and his husband Matthew McNeff of Watertown, and daughter Sister Elizabeth Francis (Linda) of Quincy (Daughters of Mary of Nazareth). She was a loving grandmother to Katherine Garside and Daniel Garside of Watertown. She was the daughter of the late John and Evangeline Herlihy and sister of the late
Alice (Herlihy) Walker.

OBIT: Virginia Lewisohn Kahn, 90, Founded the Atrium School in Watertown

Virginia Lewisohn Kahn, an educator who founded the Atrium School in Watertown, Massachusetts, died on Sept. 21 at the age of 90 at her home in Cambridge. Ginny was born to a prominent philanthropic and banking family in New York City. Her parents were Sam A. and Margaret (Seligman) Lewisohn, both active community leaders well known for their collection of Impressionist and Early Modern painting. The youngest of four sisters, Ginny attended the progressive Lincoln School (Columbia University), where her lifelong commitment to innovative education was formed.

OBIT: Blanche Kasper, Worked as Teacher, Member of Conservation Commission

Blanche E. Kasper of Worcester, formerly of Watertown, August 25, 2018. Beloved wife of the late Andrew A. Kasper and the late Richard Hubbard. Like the planes she helped build in World War II, she was a Flying Fortress. Blanche was the loving  mother of Carol Airasian and her husband George, Gretchen Silverman and her husband Harvey, Roberta Gollogly and her husband John, Heidi Wilhelm and her husband Douglas and the late Andrew Kasper and his wife Mary. Stepmother of Jane Hubbard Wyman and her husband David.