Medfield Suffers ‘Great Loss’ with Passing of 4 Longtime Residents

UPDATE (Friday, May 18, 8:01 p.m.): Community members are asking the community to help pay tribute to Kelly outside Lord's Department Store on Saturday at approximately noon. Funeral procession is expected to go by Lord's some time between 12 and 12:30 p.m. (note there was an earlier communication that had the incorrect time).

It has been a sad week in Medfield as four longtime members of the community passed away.

MaryRita Hutt, Roger Hardy, William “Bill” Kelly and Paul Halloran passed away in a span of six days, leaving the town at a great loss. As town historian Richard DeSorgher said of Hardy’s passing in this week’s Uniquely Medfield column, “Medfield lost another important piece of its fabric with the death of Roger Hardy.”

The same can be said for the loss of Kelly, Halloran and Hutt.

“We had a record number of sad things this week,” said Medfield Board of Selectmen chair Ann Thompson at Tuesday’s selectmen meeting. “Several deaths of people who meant a lot to the community. … “Bill Kelly, who will be forever missed. Roger Hardy, one of my old friends – he gave so much to the town over the years. Paul Halloran, a member of the Lions Club and MaryRita Hutt. Sympathies to all the families.”

Hutt passed away Tuesday, May 8 at the age of 87. She worked for many years at the cafeteria, according to her obituary and was a “loving and caring mother of 10 and grandmother of 24 and great grandmother of 10.” She was not only caring and loving to her family but to everyone she met, her obituary says. Hutt was laid to rest at Vine Lake Cemetery on Saturday, May 12.

Hardy passed away Friday, May 11 at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston after a brief illness. He was 87. Hardy, according to his obituary, “considered himself a lifelong resident of Medfield. Having been adopted into the Hardy family as an infant, he attended Medfield schools until his early teen years when he transferred to the farm and trade school on Thomson's Island in Boston harbor. There he fell in love with the sea and boats and all things to do with them. From there he served in the Merchant Marines in WWII.” To read more on the life of Roger Hardy, to read DeSorgher’s column: “The Incredible Adventures of Roger Hardy.”

Hardy was never happier than when he was surrounded by his family and friends, his obituary says. “He looked for the good in all of those he met and would extend himself to help anyone who expressed a need. … “His family and friends will miss him deeply.”

A service of remembrance will be held at the Emanuel Baptist Church, 54 Rockwood Rd., Norfolk on Saturday, June 16 at 11 a.m.

Superintendent of Schools Bob Maguire had the following to say about Hardy at Monday’s School Committee meeting.

“He was a good friend of our schools,” Maguire said. “He was a Merchant Marine and he’s actually been in to talk to the students in our social studies program. He has done a lot of work with cable documenting the history of Merchant Marines. The stories that man could tell about his service and the things he would do to give time to our schools and our kids was tremendous. It was really disturbing to learn of his passing suddenly from an illness.”

Kelly, a lifelong resident and owner of since 1953, passed away Sunday, May 13 at the . He was 89.

Kelly’s influence on his hometown became overwhelmingly evident in the reaction to news of his passing. to see what the community had to say about Kelly as they mourned the loss of one of their own and shared fond memories of the Lord’s owner.

Kelly was also an avid supporter of the schools, especially music in Medfield. Members of the Medfield Music Association and other community members are asking the community to help pay tribute to Kelly outside Lord's Department Store on Saturday at approximately noon. Funeral procession is expected to go by Lord's some time between 12 and 12:30 p.m. (note there was an earlier communication that had the incorrect time).

To read Kelly’s obituary, click here.

Halloran passed away Monday, May 14 at the Newton Wellesley Hospital. He was 80 years old.

Halloran was a resident of Medfield for 45 years, according to his obituary. He was a member of the Medfield Lions, and . In his later years, Halloran enjoyed golf, fishing and traveling with family and many friends.

“Known as a kind, compassionate and positive man, he treasured the time spent with his wife, children and grandchildren,” his obituary says.

Halloran was a veteran of the Korean War and served with the US Navy from Oct. 1952 until his honorable discharge in Jan. 1955.

A funeral Mass was held for Halloran Friday at St. Edward’s Church and he was buried with military honors at Vine Lake Cemetery.

As these longtime community members are laid to rest, the community mourns, remembers and celebrates all they have done to make Medfield the special and unique town it is. These individuals will be forever missed but never forgotten.

“To have the caliber of these folks passing away in such a short period is really overwhelming to me personally,” Maguire said. “There were just great people.”