Henry Margarita

Henry Robert "Bob" Margarita , 87, passed away peacefully in his home in Stoneham on July 28, surrounded by his children.

Born in Boston on November 3, 1920, he was the son of the late Antonio and Elena (Brun) of Italy.

Mr. Margarita was a graduate of Medford High School (1939), Scarborough-on-the-Hudson (1940) and Brown University (1944). He served in the Army Air Corp during World War II.

He played for the Chicago Bears from 1944 to 1946 and was the News First Team All-Pro running back in 1945.

He was the assistant football coach for Harvard, Yale and Boston University and Head Football coach at Georgetown University from 1949 to 1950. He was the Head Coach at Stoneham High School from 1964 to 1973 and also a teacher from 1964 to 1987. He was the Stoneham High Equipment Manager until 2002.

Mr. Margarita was a charter member of the Medford High School, Brown University and Stoneham High School Athletic Hall of Fames and a 1986 inductee to the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

He was married to the late Miriam (McGillicuddy), daughter of famed Boston Globe sports cartoonist Eugene (Gene Mack) McGillicuddy, he is survived by his children James Margarita and his wife Judy of Hampton, NH, Jean Conlon and her husband John of Concord, NH, John Margarita and his wife Kandi of Gardner, Mimi Margarita of CA and Daniel Margarita of Stoneham. His first child, Robert "Bobby" Margarita died in early childhood. He was the loving grandfather of David Margarita of Hampton, NH, Dayna Margarita of Gardner, Ryan and Allie Volpe of San Ramon, CA, Thomina Montville of Winchendon, Tonya Hagelberg of Athol and Tamela Deveikis of Athol.
Mr. Margarita was predeceased by brothers, Al, Tilo, Peter and Sonny and sister, Connie.

His funeral will be held from the McDonald- Finnegan Funeral Home, 322 Main St., Stoneham on Thursday at 9:00 A.M. followed by a funeral mass in St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St., Stoneham at 10:00 o'clock. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4 to 8 P.M. Interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Bob and Miriam Margarita Scholarship Fund, 4 Drury Lane, Stoneham, MA 02180.

Read Henry Margarita's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Visitation

McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home
322 Main Street
Stoneham , MA US 02180
Wednesday, July 30, 2008, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Service

St. Patrick Church
71 Central Street
Stoneham , MA US 02180
Thursday, July 31, 2008, 10:00 AM

Cemetery

Oak Grove Cemetery
Lowell Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Thursday, July 31, 2008, 11:30 AM