Obituaries & remembrances Archives - Page 13 of 13

The Jeopardy! answer is… Natick

November 17, 2020 by Bob Brown

Here’s a bit of a belated tribute to Alex Trebek, the longtime Jeopardy! game show host who passed away earlier this month.

Jeopardy! fans have created a database, the J! Archive, of more than 400,000 clues, and Natick shows up twice, sort of.

via GIPHY

Clue: This largest deer’s name is from the Natick Indian language, not the cows’

Answer (in the form of a question): What is a moose?

No one got it right.

Clue: Priestly, Watt & Wedgwood were in a scientific club of “Lunaticks” whose meetings were set for each one of these

Answer: What is a full moon?

Hey, don’t blame for that one. That’s what shows up in the search engine.

Six Natick residents are listed as having played on Jeopardy:

Alex Rubington, a marketing communication coordinator from Natick, Massachusetts	Season 21 1-time champion: $6,800 + $1,000.
Sharon Rozines, a solutions support engineer from Natick, Massachusetts	Season 17 player (2001-07-04).
Cinnamon Stetler, a research technician from Natick, Massachusetts	Season 16 player (2000-06-08).
Elayna Kotsaftis, a treasury associate from Natick, Massachusetts	Season 19 player (2003-05-23).
Toby Crew, a commercial pilot from Natick, Massachusetts	Season 29 player (2013-07-12).
Terri Evans, a writer and editor from Natick, Massachusetts	Season 35 player (2019-06-11).

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Natick Historical Society recalls Jim Morley

October 19, 2020 by Bob Brown

Natick Historical Society earlier this month posted a tribute to Jim Morley, a longtime board member and the group’s former president, who passed away in late September at the age of 99.

The Society wrote in part: “He was a tenacious researcher, with a remarkable depth of knowledge of Natick history. A compelling storyteller, he made history accessible, weaving together the threads of Natick’s story for countless audiences.”

Eliot Church in Natick celebrated Mr. Morley’s latest book, Natick 1651-2000: The Many Lives of a Storied New England Town, in early March, shortly before Massachusetts declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic.

Natick Pegasus has reposted a talk Mr. Morley delivered in 2014 about historic homes of Natick from the 1800s that gives you a sense of what the Historical Society meant in its tribute.

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Natick mourns passing of Mysore (Ravi) Ravindra, a man the town relied upon

September 9, 2020 by Bob Brown

Mysore (Ravi) Ravindra passed away peacefully at the age of 80 at his home in Natick on Aug. 15, leaving behind a legacy of good works in the town.

A longtime structural engineer, Ravindra shared his knowledge in helping the town develop buildings such as Kennedy Middle School, Natick High School and the Community-Senior Center. He played a key role in helping the town get big projects done on time and under budget.

Natick Select Board Chair Jonathan Freedman shared remembrances of Ravindra following a general moment of silence near the start of last week’s meeting. “Ravi was one of the people this town relies on to get things done in the way that it does,” he said.

Ravindra was a strong cricket player as a youth and young man growing up in India and England. He switched to tennis after moving to the United States, where he became a citizen, and enjoyed years of playing the sport.

The tennis courts at Natick High were named after Ravindra in 2015. A MetroWest Daily News story at the time included this fun fact: “[Ravindra is] credited with recognizing a flaw in the preliminary design for the high school tennis courts. The original plan had the baselines facing east and west rather than the preferable north and south. The plan was adjusted and Ravindra’s contribution is now acknowledged for all to see.”

Ravindra is survived by his wife Judy and daughter Jyothi.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Natick Service Council in his name.

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Natick mourns John Crisafulli, decorated U.S. Marine, longtime educator & generous volunteer

July 23, 2020 by Bob Brown

Natick mourns the passing this month of Agostino John Crisafulli, 88, a man whose contributions to his country, town, family and friends are immeasurable. He is survived by five children, all of whom live fairly close by.

Mr. Crisafulli’s formal obituary states that he graduated from Natick High in 1950, then served in the U.S. Marine Corps. during the Korean War, earning a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with valor. He graduated from Boston College and went on to teach and serve as an elementary school principal in Natick. He served the town as a Town Meeting Member, School Committee M]member, and a member of the Natick Service Counsel, and volunteered for numerous organization, including veterans groups.

Natick Director of Veterans Services Paul Carew, a close friend, shared a statement of remembrance about Mr. Crisafulli near the start of this week’s Natick Select Board meeting. He expressed thanks and relief that Mr. Crisafulli was honored with the dedication of Agostino John Crisafulli Square at the intersection of Cottage and Cross Streets just last November.

“Thanks God that we got it done when we did,” Carew said. “He was so proud of that.”

You can hear from Mr. Crisafulli in his own words through the Natick Veterans Oral History Project interview embedded below.