Anthony 'Jim' Temmallo, 87

BEDFORD — Anthony “Jim” Temmallo, 87, a resident of Bedford, and formerly of Gilford and Chelmsford, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at Bowman Place Assisted Living Community in Bedford on Oct. 12.

He was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, on June 3, 1936, the son of the late Anthony and Angelina (Marcolongo) Temmallo. He was the beloved husband of his wife of 66 years, Carolyn B. Tamasi Temmallo, who recently predeceased him, as well as two brothers, Paul and Joseph Temmallo.

Jim grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and held the distinction of being a Triple Eagle, graduating from Blessed Sacrament, Boston College High School, and Boston College, earning both a Bachelors in English and a master’s degree. He then attended Simmons College and earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in educational leadership.

In 1955, while attending Boston College, Jim met the love of his life, Carolyn, at Revere Beach. They fell in love and married on Dec. 29, 1956.

Jim embarked on a career in public education that spanned four decades. He taught English in Winthrop, Andover and Newton, Massachusetts, and Plastow. He also worked for 10 years as the K-12 curriculum coordinator for the Chelmsford school system. Here he was instrumental in implementing a program instructing teachers how to integrate basic skills programs into their curriculum. Jim served as a consultant to the Fitchburg School District in a project designed to improve students’ writing skills. He was recognized nationally by the National Association for School Principals and was commended by the Chelmsford School Committee for instituting a flow chart for compositional writing. Jim also obtained his real estate license and was an adjunct faculty professor at Suffolk University.

Many of his students wrote him letters attesting to his superior teaching skills. We treasure these letters, as they are testimonials to the many young lives he impacted. Excerpts include: “When I finally visited Europe, it meant so much more to me, understanding the Greek mythology you taught. I could actually hear your voice explaining it.” Another stated “I became an English teacher because of your influence.” And yet another, “I never thought I would enjoy reading William Shakespeare, but you brought it to life for me in class.”

Jim was a dynamic public speaker and was gifted with an extensive vocabulary. He studied Latin, and the family loved to quiz him, throwing out words for him to define — 100% of the time he could provide a dictionary definition.

Jim and Carolyn loved to travel and visited many countries. Many trips were cruises with Carolyn’s brother, John, and his wife, Rosemary. Jim and Carolyn were award-winning jitterbug dancers. They had a very memorable 50th wedding anniversary renewing their vows. They celebrated with 30 of their family members and close friends on a cruise to Bermuda.

Jim and Carolyn loved football and one of their favorite activities was to create elaborate tailgates at all of the Boston College football games. Jim was a season-ticket holder for many years and loved visiting the college as an alumni.

Jim loved the outdoors and was a dedicated daily walker. He also enjoyed cross country skiing, snowshoeing, biking and walking the beaches of New England with Carolyn. Their favorite place was in Camden/Rockport, Maine, where they spent countless weekends with lifelong friends, Ken and Mary Gricus and Jack and Suzie McCormick. He also loved Broadway musicals and always had the music from them playing on the stereo.

Jim and Carolyn were very close with their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Carolyn’s siblings, and their nieces and nephews. They spent weekends cross country skiing in Vermont visiting Carolyn’s brother, Paul, and his wife, Pam. While living in Punta Gorda, Florida, for a few years, they enjoyed living next door to Carolyn’s sister and brother-in-law, Elaine and Al Gillis, and being together almost daily.

Jim wrote this passage to be read upon his passing: “Now, when the time of our particular sunset comes, our things and accomplishments won’t really matter a great deal. However, the clarity and care with which we have loved each other will speak with vitality of the great gift of life we have been for each other.”

Jim is survived by his daughters, Linda (Daniel) Kalloger of Manchester, Laura (Dave) Cormier of Merrimack, and Lisa (Bruce) Cole of Gilford; several grandchildren, Lisa (Joe) Ward, Robert and Ryan Schweizer, Brett, Laurissa and Brandon Cole; and two great grandchildren, Cameron and Bryce Ward.

The memorial service and interment will be held privately with his family. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to St. Mary Church of the Holy Rood Collaborative, 115 Middlesex St., North Chelmsford, MA 01863. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Funeral directors are Paul A. Hardy Jr. and Jennifer Lebaropoulos Hardy. For online guestbook, visit chelsfordfunderhome.com and find them on Facebook.