Philip Albert Tringale

Philip Albert Tringale, the loving patriarch of his family, passed away peacefully at home on September 18, 2024. Phil was 99 years old. He lived a long and fruitful life always surrounded by family. A true gentleman from the Greatest Generation.

Born in the old West End of Boston, the son of immigrants from Augusta, Italy, Phil graduated early from Boston English High School so he could serve in the US Marine Corps, in the 1St Marine Division at the onset of WWII. As a corporal, Phil participated in the South Pacific theater. He fought in the grueling battles of Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, the Philippines, Peleliu, and Okinawa.

Returning from the war, he worked at Revere Sugar Refinery in Charlestown where he was an Executive Board Member for Local Union No-P-400. This was where Phil met his wonderful bride and life-long partner, Helen Ann Potter. They married on November 5, 1950 and enjoyed over 47 years of marriage until Helen passed away on April 24, 1998, on Phil’s 73 birthday.

Together, Phil and Helen raised five children in Somerville, and dedicated their energies and love to their children, their extended families, their friends, and their Catholic faith.

As a passionate hobbyist, Phil loved building model airplanes in his youth, fishing with one of his many special rods, having fun with his short-wave radio, and listening to soft saxophone music while puffing on his El Producto Blunts. As a sports fan, there was always a radio or TV tuned into the current Red Sox or Patriots game. He loved gardening and growing his own fruit trees and vegetables and many types of roses.

Phil loved to paint, from scenes featuring his beloved dog Taylor, to waterfronts and landscapes near his and Helen’s Cape Cod retirement home in West Yarmouth. His paintings that hang at each of his children’s homes are reminders of the joy that painting brought him as well as his special appreciation for what captured his eye. In his later years, Phil moved to Wakefield to be with his daughter Marie and her family.

Phil had a strong work ethic and always strived to balance the needs of his family and community. Six days a week at Revere Sugar was always the norm. He became a Master Pipefitter while raising his family. Still, he made time for volunteering with the Knights of Columbus to raise funds for local charities and was an avid member of the Mercury Social Club. On many Sundays after church, there were family picnics at Walden Pond, and annually, there were family vacations to Cape Cod or New Hampshire. After retiring, Phil continued contributing to the community as a volunteer at the local VFW Post #6293 on Cape Cod. Phil and Helen’s once-in-a-lifetime trip was to Rome with local parishioners to see the sights and visit with the Pope, special memories of that trip lasted them a lifetime.

Phil was the second oldest of his large family. He is predeceased by his wife Helen Tringale and his maternal mother Rosa Ternullo and father Gaetano Tringali. He is also predeceased by his step-mother Maria Saia Tringali, who he loved dearly; his brothers Dominic Saia, James Tringali, and Sam Tringale and sister-in-law Mary Tringale; and his daughter-in-law Karen (Mahoney) Tringale. He is survived by his brother George Tringale, his sister Carmella Nardone, sisters-in-law Susan Saia and Maureen Tringali, and his five children Philip (Carol) Tringale, Guy (Jude Sides) Tringale, Thomas (Carla)Tringale, Ray Tringale, and Marie (Timothy) D’Olympio. 

Also lovingly known as Papa, Phil is also survived by his nine grandchildren Christine, Kathryn (Will), Adam (Jen), Alex (Kelly), Ashley, Leah (Curtis), Elise (Ryan), Lauren (Tommy) and Carolyn; Papa’s four great-grandchildren, Jack, Remy, Ada, and Renna; and his many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family.

They, and all the people he touched, will remember his kindness, his generosity, and his gentle outlook and will miss his warmth and smile. He wasn’t taken from us, he was given to us!

Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at McDonald Funeral Home 19 Yale Avenue, Wakefield on Wednesday October 2 from 4-7. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 173 Albion Street, Wakefield, MA on Thursday October 3, at 10:00am.

Phil will be laid to rest beside his wife Helen on Cape Cod. Burial will take place at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne following the funeral mass on Thursday at 1:30pm. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Phil’s memory to 

WWP – Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org

DAV – Disabled American Veterans at dav.org/ways-to-give/

For more on Phil’s military service, please visit https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/PHILIPALBERTTRINGALE/a7affa