Wenham Man Remembered as 'One of a Kind'

Donald Costin of Wenham, known for the coffee shop he owned, his truck collection and distunguished dress, passed over during the weekend.

Donald Costin, who became one of Wenham's most well-known residents during the past 40 years, died over the weekend. He was 82. Costin has been sick recently and last week hundreds of people came through Costin's cafe to visit him on the patio behind the cafe, according to Nick Katsoulis, who runs Henderson's Cafe, which Costin owned. "He was one of a kind," said Jay Burnham, a local real estate agent who got coffee at Henderson's every morning. Phyllis Perkins of Wenham said he would always say hi to everyone in the cafe - many by first name. Costin served one term of the Wenham Board of Selectmen, was a member of the Board of Health and served as the town representative to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority for more than 20 years. …

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Jay Burnham

7:19 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Irreplaceable as a friend and local personality.   more ›

Obituary: Virginia L. (MacKenney) Hill, 83, worked at Hill's Family Store, Ran Antique Store

Virginia L. (MacKenney) Hill, 83, of Hamilton and Ipswich was a lover of animals, worked at Conley's Pharmacy and worked at Hill's Family Store and ran her own antique store.

Virginia L. (MacKenney) Hill, 83, longtime resident of Alan Road, Hamilton, died Saturday, April 27, 2013, in her home following her long illness. She was the wife of the late Howard R.“Taffy” Hill. Born in Ipswich May 6, 1929, daughter of the late Horace and Lillian (Russell) MacKenney, she was raised in Ipswich and was a 1947 graduate of Ipswich High School. For many years she was employed at Conley’s Pharmacy. Married in 1959 in the First Church in Ipswich, the Hill's soon made their home and raised their family in Hamilton. With a grown family she went to work with her husband at the family’s clothing store, the former Hill’s Family Store in Ipswich. Mrs. Hill was also a collector and dealer of antiques. For several years during the …

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William Joseph Whelan, 82, Avid Golfer, Business Owner, Grandfather to 19

Obituary for William Joseph Whelan, 82, of Hamilton and Vero Beach, Fla.

William Joseph Whelan, 82, born and raised in Lynn and a 55-year-resident of Hamilton died peacefully Saturday evening, Feb. 9, 2013 in Vero Beach, Fla. surrounded by family. He leaves behind his cherished wife of 59 years, Jean (Mullen). He will be deeply missed by his six children, their spouses and his adoring grandchildren: William J. Jr. (Natalie), and their children Amanda, Kevin, and Jack; Terrance (Michele), and their children Alexandra, Christopher and Megan; Ellen Shaughnessy (Keith), and their children Megan, Michael and Kari; James (Francine), and their children Allison, Annie, William and Kailee; Mari Schoder (Thomas), and their children Katie, Thomas and Ginny; and Thomas (Jule) and their children Molly, TJ and Teddy. He also…

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Rex Trailer Dies at 84; Share Your Boomtown Memories, Photos

Boston TV icon hosted a children's show in the 1950s-1970s. Do you have any photos from back in the day?

Rex Trailer, a Boston TV icon who had been recovering from pneumonia recently, has died. Trailer hosted “Boomtown,” a children’s show with a Western theme on WBZ-TV from 1956-1974.  How did a Western cowboy make his mark in Boston? According to Wikipedia, his corporate overlords gave him a choice of Cleveland or Boston. But he's remembered for more than his cowboy get-up.The Boston Globe wrote in an editorial last year: Kids adored Trailer’s rodeo tricks. But mostly they adored him for his consistent kindness and competence. He also inspired a local cowpunk band to name itself "Tex Railer's Doomtown." Trailer was 84. A funeral is being planned, but no date has been set yet, according to his website.  Meantime, what are your memories of Rex…

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Obituary: Bridgit Lee (Grimes) McKeough, 39; Owned Clipper Cottage

Obituary for Bridgit Lee (Grimes) McKeough, 39, of Middleton.

Middleton - Bridgit Lee (Grimes) McKeough, 39, of Middleton, died unexpectedly in Lahey Clinic Burlington on Oct. 17. Born in Beverly, the daughter of Jacquelyn (Garvey) Grimes of Peabody and the late Edward Grimes, she was raised in Salem. For three years, Bridgit attended at Essex Agricultural and Technical School where she pursued what has been a lifelong passion of animals.  She then returned to and was graduated from Salem High School. For several years she had worked with animals at Richardson’s Dairy in Middleton until her liver illness. With tremendous gratitude to her brother’s liver donation, Bridgit’s life was enhanced and she has owned and operated Clipper Cottage in Hamilton for the past 10 years. Bridgit is survived by a …

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Jay Burnham

6:02 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012

Bridgit always displayed a positive image, even as she was experiencing a life or death illness and she was indeed passionate about animals and was an adoring mother to Danica. We will miss her here in Hamilton.   more ›

Obituary: Chet Pruszynski, 94, Longtime Former Hamilton Resident

Former longtime Hamilton resident Chester C. "Chet" Pruszynski died on Tuesday in Florida.

Mr. Chester C. "Chet" Pruszynski, 94, died Sept. 25, 2012 at Sebastian River Medical Center in Sebastian, Fla. Mr. Pruszynski was born in New York, N.Y. and lived in Sebastian for 21 years coming from Hamilton, Mass. He served in the US Army 322nd Fighter Control Squadron (Flying Tigers). Chester was employed as an Engineer with Varian Associates in Beverly, retiring after 20 years of service. He was a member of VFW Post 10210, Sebastian, Fla. and VFW Post 8164, Hamilton; the American Legion Post 0194 and member of the 14th Air Force Association "Flying Tigers." Survivors include his daughter, Janet Johnson and her husband, Norman of Pawcatuck, Conn.; daughter-in-law, Harriet Diamond of Delray Beach, Fla.; 4 step-grandchildren; 1 …

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Obituary: Stephen J. Murphy, 46, of Hamilton

Stephen J. Murphy, 46, of Hamilton died unexpectedly, Monday, Sept. 3 in Winchester.

Mr. Stephen J. Murphy, 46, beloved husband of Beth (St. Pierre) Murphy, died unexpectedly, Monday, Sept. 3, 2012 in Winchester. Born in Cambridge, he was the son of Robert and Jane (Cronin) Murphy of Gloucester. Stephen was raised and educated in Wakefield and graduated from Wakefield High School, class of 1983. He continued his education at the University of Lowell where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree and at Northeastern University in Boston where he earned his MBA. Stephen had most recently been employed at CPI Industries in Beverly where he loved his job and the people he worked with. He had a passion for music and played his guitar every day. He enjoyed Irish music and playing pool with his father-in-law. Most of all, he enjoyed being…

Locals Join in Wednesday's Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day

What's your take on the comments by Chick-fil-A's CEO, and reactions by local officials, which has generated a lot of heated reaction in recent days?

A Wenham man was one of thousands who turned out at fast food chain Chick-fil-A on Wednesday for Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day. The company's president Dan Cathy has been both vilified and idolized in recent days because of the company's stance on gay marriage. And both dueling sides in that argument linined up at Chick-fil-A's across the nation today to either support the company or protest, including at the franchise at the Northshore Mall in Peabody. In Burlington, the line stretched around the food court. And that line included Lancelot Ball of Wenham, who held a sign in support of Chick-Fil-A for a Boston Herald photographer on Wednesday. In recent interviews with news outlets, Cathy acknowledged his company does not agree with nor …

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Retired Wenham Postmaster Was 'Loved by the Community'

The former co-workers and customers of retired Wenham Postmaster Mary Ring recalled her on Wednesday as a caring, helpful person.

As Wenham postmaster for 10 years, Mary Ring is remembered for her selfless, helpful attitude. Ring died on Tuesday night, succumbing to cancer after a 2-1/2 year battle. “She’s going to be missed by almost everyone in this town,” said Carleen Robidoux, the officer-in-charge at the Wenham post office who took over after Ring’s retirement in 2010. Before becoming postmaster on Nov. 18, 2000, Ring worked as a clerk under Postmaster Don Luxton. “Mary was indeed a kind and generous person and will be missed by us all,” Luxton said in an e-mail to family and friends on Wednesday. Ring also worked as a postal carrier in Merrimac and Topsfield before coming to Wenham. Even after retirement, “she was in and out of here all the time,” Robidoux said…

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: April 18

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Wednesday, April 18. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Sun: There’s more sun in store for Wednesday, continuing our streak of some truly beautiful spring days. The temperature should get close to 60 degrees with light wind from the north. 2. Vacation: Wednesday marks the midpoint for April vacation week for Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District students…..and what a great week it has been so far. Students head back to school on Monday, April 23. 3. Rock Climbing: Looking for something fun and different to do with the kids close to home during vacation week? The rock gym at Gordon College has expanded open gym hours at La Vida Rock Gym this week. Daytime hours through Friday will be from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Gordon provides…

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