In Memoriam

Albert L. Bellorini Jr., 87, of Ludlow, passed away on Thursday, September 9, 2021. Born in Springfield on July 16, 1934, he was the son of the late Albert and Alice (Morin) Bellorini.  A graduate of the former Springfield Technical High School, Al proudly served his country as an Aviation Electrician in the U. S. Navy. He received the National Defense Medal, serving on the maiden voyage of the U.S.S. Forestall, whose passengers included the newly married Prince Rainer and Princess Grace. He later served on the U.S.S. Champlain. Upon leaving the Navy, Al served the Town of Ludlow Police Dept. for over 33 years, retiring as Detective Sergeant.  While
working and raising his family, he earned his B.S. from Westfield State and his Masters in Criminal Justice from AIC.  Al was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church, member of the Unity Club, a life member of Ludlow BPOE 2448 and Polish American Citizens Club.  He loved raising and tending his roses, golf, playing the trumpet and organ.  He and Helen loved traveling both in the U.S. and Europe.

Al is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years Helen (Zalewa) Bellorini, his daughters Angela Bennett of Ludlow and her companion Dean and Jana Veo and her husband Brian of Shelton, CT; his sister Beverly Andersen of Durham, CT, as well as many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Jean Boucher.

The memories are many and love for him timeless. While we will all miss him dearly, we are glad he is at peace.

All services are private. Donations in Al’s memory may be made to Attn: Fr. Kazimierz Chwalek, Provincial Superior, Marian Fathers, 2 Prospect Hill Road, Eden Hill, Stockbridge, MA 01262.

Fernando Pina, 75, of Ludlow, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on September 9, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, he was the son of the late Mario Pina and Odete (Camacho) Antunes, and his step–father Jose Antunes, who raised him upon the passing of his father. In Portugal, he proudly served as a paratrooper in the Portuguese Army and then immigrated to the United States in 1969 upon marrying the love of his life. He settled in Ludlow where he was a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church, a member of the former PACC, The Rifle Association, and a 51 year member of the Gremio Lusitano Club. Fernando worked for many years at Dana Everflex and then Smith & Wesson from where he retired and was also a 32 year member of the Ludlow Special Police Force retiring as a Lieutenant, where was affectionately known by his fellow officers as ‘The Commander Lieutenant Pina“. In his spare time, he was an avid fisherman, electronic geek, scratch ticket junkie, and soccer fan, especially of Benfica; but his greatest joy in life was his time spent as a proud VoVo. His 7 grandchildren were everything to him and he never missed any of their sporting events, activities, or achievements. Fernando was the beloved husband of 51 years to Maria Teresa (Marques) Pina; a devoted father to Ann Pina Provost, and Dianne Goncalves and husband Joe, all of Ludlow; a proud Vovo to Nicholas, Tyler, Liliana, and Joseph Goncalves, and Mattingly, Angelina, and Isabella Provost; brother to Antonio Antunes in Portugal; and also leaves many loving extended family and dear friends including his mother–in–law Ana Marques, his former son–in–law Daniel Provost, and dear friends The Dias, Rodrigues, and Carvalho families.

Walk Through, No Contact Visiting Hours for Fernando will be held on Sunday, September 13th from 4:00-6:00pm in Ludlow Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held privately by his family.

Ofc. Lawrence R. “ Bud” Willette (Larry)

Lawrence R. “ Bud” Willette, 92, of Ludlow passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Born in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield, he was the son of the late Wallace and Viola (Chenaille) Willette. Educated in local schools, Larry proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps “China Marines” during World War II. He served as a police officer in the Town of Ludlow for over 30 years. He was a member of St. Elizabeth’s Parish in Ludlow, the Brigham Lodge of Masons and the Melha Shriners. Larry is survived by his two sons, Lawrence P. Willette (Richard Wells) of Tesuque, NM and Michael P. Willette (Francisco Gonzalez) of Ludlow and a sister Irene Gelinas of Marietta, GA. Sadly he was predeceased by his wife Stephanie (Kudlic) Willette in 1996 as well as his siblings Francis, Lena and Lorraine Family and friends are invited to gather for funeral services for Larry on Friday, May 31, 2019 at 8:45 AM at the Kapinos-Mazur Funeral Home, 64 Sewall St., Ludlow, MA followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in St. Elizabeth’s Parish. Rites of Committal with Military Honors in Island Pond Cemetery, Center St., Ludlow, MA. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be Thursday, May 30, 2019 from 4:00-7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made St. Elizabeth’s Parish, 181 Hubbard St., Ludlow, MA or to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104. For more information please go to www.kapinosmazurfh.com.

SPO Nicholas Anthony Verteramo

Nicholas Anthony Verteramo, 63, died September 11, 2019 surrounded by loving family. Nicholas was born in Springfield MA, to the late Stephen A. and Bertha (Beauchesne) Verteramo. After graduating college he became a Springfield Police Officer. Soon after he transferred to the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department. He retired from the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and the Ludlow Special Police in 2016. Nick had a great sense of humor, and he was a witty, loyal, and nurturing man to all his family and friends. He was a jack-of-all trades and was never afraid to tackle anything. He loved spending time with his wife and children, taking day trips all around New England and coaching his children’s soccer games. He was the host with the most, and will be fondly remembered for his pool parties and holiday feasts, and definitely his meatballs. He will be missed deeply by his loving wife of 9 years Patricia; his children Kurt Verteramo of South Boston, Monique Verteramo of Ludlow, and Maxine Verteramo of Boston; his step-children David Cummings of Ludlow and Alyssia Pacileo and her husband Tony of South Windsor, CT; his grandchildren Aislynn and Evan; and his brother David Verteramo and his wife Susan of East Longmeadow. We would like to acknowledge the support of our friends and neighbors. Calling Hours will be held Wednesday, September 18, 2019 from 4-7pm in the Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main Street, East Longmeadow MA. A funeral home service will follow at 7:00pm. Memorial contributions made in Nick’s name may be made to the Friends of Dana Farber, 450 Brookline Avenue, SW120, Boston MA 02215. To leave a message of personal condolence or for more information, please visit www.forastiere.com.

SPO Allan “Big Al” Vantangoli

Allan “Big Al” Vantangoli passed away on April 10th 2018 after a courageous fight with Pancreatic Cancer. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 16 1944, Allan was the son of Paul and Elizabeth Vantangoli. From a young age, Allan worked the family business of Sea Mossing and greatly cherished the memories of that time. He was a graduate of Silver Lake Regional High School, Class of 1962. Upon completing his studies, Al began his journey of adulthood. He was always a worker, and willing to work for what he had. Sometimes this meant working as he did for Western Mass Electric (Eversource) for many years in many capacities with the company. Sometimes it meant working as a police officer, a title that he held for fifty years with various departments. He was most proud of his family though, and he spent countless hours devoted to them. Vacations to Hampton Beach, fishing, music, playing Bocce, collecting jukeboxes and pinball machines, collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia, living life in “The Fast Lane,” that was Big Al. He never met someone that he didn’t have some connection with, whether it be that he knew their father or he had shut off their lights many years ago. His friends always joked that you could go to the moon and likely find someone that knew Big Al, he was noted through the neighborhood for his annual Christmas displays and always treated people with fairness and kindness, lessons that we could all learn from. He was a tough man, but a generous man. He had street smarts and that always served him well, even in the digital age. He was very proud to be named “Hometown Hero by the American Red Cross, he worked at the Big E for 50 years and was involved with the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade for 30 years always standing at Beech and Northampton Streets, know as “Big Al’s Corner”. He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife Karen (Ricardi), his sons Nicholas, Paul, and James, his brother Billy Mencer Ackerly, his Law Enforcement family, his many nieces and nephews, his many grandchildren, and a great grandchild and several extended family members and friends. Visiting hours for Allan will be held on Wednesday evening April 18, 2018 from 5:00-7:00pm at the Ludlow Funeral Home. His Funeral will take place on Thursday morning, family and friends are asked to meet directly at First Church in Ludlow, 859 Center Street, for an 11:00am service followed by a funeral procession to Island Pond Cemetery for burial. In lieu of flowers it was the wish of Al’s family that donations be made in his memory to: Special Olympics, @ www.specialolympics.org. For further information please visit ludlowfuneralhome@hotmail.com

Ofc. Basil Allen Crandell

Basil Allen Crandell, 87, died peacefully on June 1, 2018, just shy of his 88th birthday on June 11th. He was a life-long resident of Ludlow, having been born in the house where he lived. He was predeceased by his parents, Wenonah Webb and Allen Crandell, his wife, Joyce Hansen Crandell, his sisters Avery Mello (Donald), and Wenonah MacMaster (Archibald) and his sister-in-law, Carol Lawson. He leaves his four daughters: Rae Teed (Richard), Jo Condon (Gregg), Beth Marinaro (Steven) and Nona Purnell (Ronald).
He leaves five grandchildren: Heather Teed, Hillary Teed, Sara Spera, Amy Jo Hatch, and Benton Purnell. He also leaves his brother-in-law, Thomas Lawson and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Basil was a US Navy veteran and a police officer in the Town of Ludlow for thirty-five years. He was a member and Past Master of Brigham Lodge of Masons, a member of the Scottish York Rite Bodies and the Melha Shriners. He was a past District Deputy Grand Master for the former Chicopee 18th Masonic District, and member and Past Patron of the James W. Hannum Chapter 150 of the Order of Eastern Star. Basil was a life-long member of Union Church of Christ, Ludlow.