Nancy Fleury Orlando, daughter of Barbara Riley Fleury (1927-2015) and Richard B. Fleury, Sr.(1928-1992), drove away from Raytheon today after a long and successful career.
We won’t say how many working years Nancy gave to Raytheon. Let’s just say that, in this day and age, her longevity and commitment is a rarity. Job well-done, Nance, and happy retirement! We are all safer and more secure because of your dedication.
So here’s to you, Ms. Orlando. Choose your own commute, your own agenda, and maybe sleep a littler bit later.
Richard B. Fleury, Jr., was born on this day in Providence to Barbara (Riley) Fleury (1927-2015) and Richard Bernard Fleury (1928-1992).
Rick, as he is better known, grew up in the Darlington section of Pawtucket, right off Daggett Avenue. It was a great location. It had access to a couple of vacant lots perfect for sandlot baseball, an elementary school playground down the street with a basketball court, and just enough access to some wooded areas for an adventurous boy on a bike. The second born of Barbara and Dick’s four children, Rick was preceded by Cindy, then followed by siblings Tim and Nancy. He grew up in a family with wonderful parents and great siblings.
Rick’s life was spiced with dashes of St Leo’s Elementary School, CYO basketball and baseball, St Raphael’s Academy, both softball and golf, and then topped off with a degree from Northeastern University. While still at NU, Rick began his working career at Raytheon, where his efforts resulted in having his name attached to several patents – there’s a whole secrecy thing surrounding them, so don’t ask.
After college, Rick continued his participation in high level amateur sports, always trying to improve his footwork and moves with some success. It wasn’t until the Spring of ’78 that Rick completed his best move, when he married Darleen Fisher. Two children (Staci and Tim), four grandchildren and a beautiful restored mustang later, life has been pretty good for another kid from Pawtucket.
You know this kid never got in trouble in elementary school.Rick with his lovely bride Darleen
Bill Riley, son of William L. Riley (1912-1985) and Helen Manning Riley (1921-1994) handed in his papers today and retired after a long career in the grocery industry.
Thanks Bill for being one of the area’s essential workers. We appreciate your work and dedication.
Here’s to you Bill. Happy Retirement from all of us at the 19pondstreet corporate office and all our readers.
Sad news to post today. Connie Mulligan Welsh, daughter of Kathleen (Riley) Mulligan (1899-1988) passed away this past Wednesday, the 22nd of July.
Connie might have been petite, but her personality and warmth were enormous. You always felt special in her presence.
For years, Connie and her late husband Joe (1921-2003) hosted an annual Mulligan – Riley family cookout at their home in Foxboro. Grandma, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins and 2nd cousins, in-laws, and maybe an outlaw or two, all gathered for a noon to dusk party. Joe would liven up the group with pronouncements punctuated with creative usage of some Anglo-Saxon phrases, until Connie ruled the day with a “we’ll have no more of that” stare.
All who knew Connie will miss her charming ways and lovely manner.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to her daughters, Brenda and Beverly.
Constance M. Welsh October 18, 1924 – July 22, 2020
Constance Marie (Mulligan) Welsh of Foxborough, MA passed away on July 22, 2020 at home. She was the loving wife of the late Joseph D. Welsh, who predeceased her in 2003.
Born in Pawtucket, RI, she was the daughter of the late William and Kathleen (Riley) Mulligan. She graduated from Foxborough High School in 1942, received her Secretarial Certificate from Pawtucket Business School and was employed at the Foxboro Company. While raising her family, she assisted in the family business, Welsh’s Dairy. After her family was grown, she was employed at Foxboro State Hospital and Wrentham State School in the medical records department.
Of all the places she visited or things she had done in her 95 years, Connie’s greatest enjoyment was being with her family. She is survived by her daughters Brenda Fayed and her husband Toman of Glastonbury, CT, and Beverly Pini and her husband A. Ross Pini, Jr. of North Attleboro. Also, her grandsons: A. Ross Pini III and his wife Meghan of Roslindale, MA, Ryan Fayed and his wife Brianne of West Hartford, CT, and Timothy Fayed of Jamaica Plain, MA, and her great grandsons, Grant and Nolan Fayed.
Also survived by her sisters, Marjorie Pacelli of Franklin and Janet Cushing of Tiburon, CA. She was the sister of the late Wm. Russell Mulligan.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 AM on Tuesday, July 28th in Saint Mary’s Church, 58 Carpenter Street, Foxborough. Burial will follow in Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Foxborough. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the RJ Ross Funeral Home, 135 South Street, Wrentham Tuesday morning prior to Mass from 9:30-10:30 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Connie’s memory may be made to the Friends of North Attleboro Animal Shelter at www.fnaas.org
William Leo Riley, Sr. (1912-1985) was born in Pawtucket. With the exception of his 3 1/2 years in the US Army during WWII, Bill lived his life residing within a mile of where he was born.
He married Helen Manning in September of 1952. The couple had three children, Patricia, William L. (Bill), Paul, and later three grandchildren.
I always called him Uncle Bill. Smart, knowledgeable on many subjects, and ready to engage in conversation. When you’d see him come into the house on Pond Street, or the home on Wilton Avenue, he’d gently doff his soft felt Fedora hat, nod his head, say hello to everyone, and chime in on the news of the day.
Uncle Bill, a second generation Irish-American, was a hard working family guy and a combat infantry soldier in France and Italy. Here is my favorite picture of him in his soldier kakis.
Not sure where this was taken, maybe just before he shipped out to the European Theater.
Check out the April 28, 2014 blog entry to see a portion of a hand written letter Bill sent to my father from somewhere in France while conducting his combat missions.
Brian Lightfoot Brown, son of Patricia Riley Brown and Keith Romaine Brown, grandson of William Leo Riley (1912-1985) and Helen (Manning) Riley (1921-1994) was born in Westerly, Rhode Island but grew up in Pawtucket.#
Brian is now living in the Phoenix, Arizona area, but as you can read from a recent posting, Brian still feels Pawtucket’s strong emotional tug. I thought it would be nice to include his own words in today’s birthday acknowledgement. Brian’s words not only verify the adage, “A house is a home,” but are a loving reference to his grandfather, William, who was born 108 years ago on July 24th.
“So the house I grew up in is for sale. The house was perfectly placed between Memorial Hospital and McCoy Stadium. I grew up on Arch Street in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. My maternal grandparents bought this house in March of 1954, when my Mother was just 6 months old. Both grandparents were from Pawtucket, but this house was more in my Grandfather’s stomping grounds. My Grandparents added 2 sons to the household and raised their family at 81 Arch Street. I recall many visits to see my Grandparents. In 1979, my parents got divorced and my Mother moved back in with my Grandparents, but with my younger brother and I in tow. My Mom’s youngest brother still lived at home, finishing college at that time. This was my home, my Mother’s home before that. My Grandfather built a shed in the backyard, literally finishing it merely 2 weeks or so before his death in 1985. This was the house where I was raised. The backyard where I played baseball with friends and where my high school graduation party was held in 1992. My Grandmother held on to the house until her death in 1994. My Uncle then moved out, it was just my Mom, my brother and I in the house now. My brother and I were just getting into our young adult years, cracking into our 20s. But then in 1999, we had to give up the house and move. This has honestly disturbed me ever since. A few months after we moved out, a high school acquaintance of my brother’s bought the house. It was unnerving to see someone living there, but what could we do. Years later, it appeared that the owners moved out and were renting the home but made some renovations and yesterday, my brother showed me photos and that our childhood home is for sale. Oh how I wish I could afford it. I have vowed that if I ever come into enough money, I will buy this house back. It will be a chip on my shoulder until the day comes when my family owns this house, or until I take my last breath on this earth. There is no “getting over it, I will always long for reconnection to this house, end of story.”
Happy Birthday, Brian! May you be blessed with a powerful air conditioner. In Phoenix, the high temp is expected to be 100 with a low of 85 on your special day.
A proud Narragansett, Brian Lightfoot Brown at Scorpion Gulch, Phoenix, AZ
Emerson Arthur Fleury was born on this date in Providence to Karen Serpa Fleury and Timothy Fleury. On Emerson’s paternal side, his grandparents are Richard “Rick” and Darleen Fleury; great-grandparents the late Richard B. Fleury (1928-1992) and Barbara (Riley) Fleury (1927-2015) and his great great-grandfather, Patrick J. Riley (1900-1985).
Emerson can trace his Riley bloodline back 6 generations to 1862, which just happens to be the same year that his namesake, Ralph Waldo Emerson transcended into the afterlife.
Happy Birthday, Emerson! May your life be as sweet as your birthday cake and may your adventures be as rich as its frosting.
May Emerson always have some Irish luckPrepping to color those Easter eggsEmerson proudly showing off his little brother Eliot
Paul Christopher Riley came into this world in Providence, but lived his younger years in Pawtucket within earshot of the cheers and jeers of McCoy Stadium.
Paul is the third child born to William Leo Riley (1912-1985) and Helen Frances Manning (1921-1994). His paternal grandparents were Patrick Leo Riley (1875-1955) and Marguetta E. Greenhalgh (1876-1962).
A double Saint and a Friar (St Joseph’s, St Ray’s and Providence College), Paul could, and probably still can, play an effortless second base. Just about everyone of a certain age in Pawtucket knows this “Riles.” The type of guy who stands with you, stands for you and stands by you.
Have a good one today, Paul!
Here is Paul (on the left) with his sister Patricia and brother Bill.
Caroline Ricci was born on this date in La Jolla, CA to Maryanne (Daley) Ricci and Robert Ricci. Caroline’s maternal grandparents were the late Joan (Riley) Daley (1929-2019) and the late Frederick (Nick) Daley (1927-1991).
Although growing up a Southern Californian girl, CC, as she is known, has plenty of Pawtucket and Little Rhody running through her veins. Aunts, uncles, and cousins galore are scattered throughout her East Coast family tree. Her dad is a Pawtucket guy and her paternal grandfather, Robert L. Ricci holds a commanding position with the Rhode Island State Senate.
Competitiveness in both academics and athletics have been CC’s hallmarks since she was in elementary school. In high school Caroline was a member of the National Honor Society, as well as a varsity field hockey and lacrosse player. In her senior year, she was captain and led her teams to the number 1 ranking in California. Following high school, Caroline graduated from Marist College where she continued with lacrosse and studied abroad in Florence, Italy.
Happy Birthday Caroline! Keep enjoying life amongst the vineyards.
19 Pond Street 