Alice DelRossi

Alice F. (Fitzgibbon) DelRossi, age 90 of Stoneham died Saturday September 2 in Wakefield after a long period of failing health Alice was born in Stoneham on April 4, 1927 and was the daughter of the late Richard and Louise (Nagle) Fitzgibbon.

She was raised in Stoneham and was a graduate of Stoneham High School. In her 40's when most women have slowed down, Alice became a trailblazer. She had potential to make changes, a characteristic her friend June Mc Taggart, both recognized and encouraged. Beginning in 1962 she addressed a Congressional committee to support bills for the aid to the elderly. She later received a personal commendation from President Kennedy for her devotion to the cause. The following year she spoke in front of the U.S. Senate which led to her being instrumental in submitting the G.I. Bill of Rights. Passed in 1968, Alice was the original sponsor of the Massachusetts Bonus Bill for Vietnam Veterans. Many in Stoneham will know and remember Alice as the first female Chairman of the Board of Selectman in 1967 and re-elected three consecutive years. In 1968 she ran for State Representative and topped the ticket in the Primary with more than 19,000 votes. Later the family was told, by many, that she would have won if redistricting hadn't occurred before the election. On November 11, 1982, the Vietnam Memorial Wall was dedicated. Alice soon learned that only her nephew, Richard Fitzgibbon Jr., but not her brother Richard Fitzgibbon (also killed in Vietnam) was honored on the wall. Her mission in life was to correct this grave injustice. Years of phone calls, research and petitions did not go unnoticed. In 1999, with the assistance of Edward Markey, Richard Fitzgibbon took his rightful place on the memorial. Though she may have stepped back from lime light of politics, Alice could debate and back up her claims during any political discussion, usually with her brother Jack.

She met and married Richard DelRossi, and together they raised four wonderful children. Danny DelRossi, wife Suzanne of Texas, Richard Delrossi Jr., wife Leone of Florida, David DelRossi of Wakefield, Nancy Delrossi, husband Frank of Stoneham. Between them, they provided her with 8 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. . She was also the sister of Jack Fitzgibbon, Nancy Delong, Pat Busta and the late Richard Fitzgibbon, Louise Bradshaw, Dorothy Murphy, Marie & Eleanor Alger.

Her Funeral will be held from the McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home 322 Main St. Stoneham on Thursday at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Patrick Church 71 Central St. Stoneham at 10:00. Interment will follow at Lindenwood Cemetery in Stoneham. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the Funeral Home Wednesday 4-8pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, 17 Court St. Boston, MA 02108.

September 06, 2017
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

McDonald - Finnegan Funeral Home
322 Main St.
Stoneham , MA 02180
(781) 438-0405

September 07, 2017
10:00 AM

St. Patrick Church
71 Central St.
Stoneham, MA 02180