Charles E. Termine

Charlie Termine, of Stoneham, formerly of Boston's North End, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Born and raised in Boston's North End, Charlie was proud of his Italian roots and carried the values of hard work, loyalty, and family with him throughout his life.

From a young age, Charlie had a passion for music, especially Motown. As a teenager, he worked hard learning to play the drums and became so talented that he formed a band, The Charades, in his late teens, and performed at clubs throughout the Boston area. His love of music stayed with him throughout his life.

After graduating from English High School in Boston, Charlie proudly served in the Army Reserves during the Vietnam War before beginning the next chapter of his life.

Charlie met the love of his life, Joann D'Amore, in true North End fashion. Their love story first began on Parmenter Street when Charlie spotted Joann sitting on the steps of the North End Union while driving his grandfather's red-and-white Buick Century. Immediately smitten, he pulled over, looked at her, and called out, "You! Get in!" and invited her for a ride.

Years later, fate brought them together again at the Four Winds Lounge on Commercial Street, where they picked up right where they had left off. Three years later, they married in 1973 and began building a beautiful life together.

Charlie and Joann began married life in a small apartment on Parmenter Street, where they welcomed their first daughter, Erika, before moving to Wiget Street, where they welcomed their second daughter, Danielle.

In those early years, Charlie balanced tending bar at Flicks with long, late evenings at D'Amore's Italian Restaurant, where he worked alongside his father-in-law, helping build the family business. In 1976, Charlie officially became co-owner of D'Amore's, serving as head cook while wearing just about every other hat imaginable—manager, host, waiter, busboy, and unofficial therapist to anyone who needed him. Charlie would have been the first to tell you he hated just about everything to do with cooking, but anyone lucky enough to sit at his table knew he was one of the best—and he knew it too.

In 1979, Charlie and Joann purchased their first home in Stoneham, welcomed their youngest daughter, Cristen, and created a home where their family would gather, grow, and make memories for more than five decades.

Together, Charlie and Joann built more than a home—they built a place where everyone wanted to be. One of Charlie's greatest acts of love was making Joann's dream of having a backyard pool come true. From that moment on, their backyard became the heart of countless summer weekends, where family and friends gathered, memories were made, and everyone always felt welcome.

Outside of work, Charlie discovered a love of golf thanks to his brothers and sisters-in-law, loved a good cigar, listening to Motown and Sinatra, a comfy baseball cap, and never outgrew his appreciation for Jeeps, a passion that began during his time in the Army Reserves. His unmistakable whistle was uniquely his own, almost always carrying the tune of a favorite song. Somehow, he seemed to know the artist and every word to just about every song ever written.

In 2005, Charlie retired from D'Amore's Restaurant, looking forward to a slower pace of life. Retirement, however, didn't exactly slow him down. Before long, he was back in the kitchen preparing elaborate four-course meals for his family—often starting at 10 o'clock in the morning.

With more time on his hands came a newfound ability to notice every little imperfection around the house. We'd often find him on his hands and knees scrubbing tiny scuff marks off the floor or wall, proudly asking, "Do you see that?" The answer was almost always no...but to Charlie, it might as well have been flashing in neon lights. His home, like everything else he cared about, was something he took great pride in.

Charlie's greatest accomplishment was raising his three daughters, but it was his grandchildren who brought out his biggest smile and filled his later years with laughter and joy. Nothing brought him greater happiness than becoming "Papa." His grandchildren quickly became the center of his world, and he treasured every moment spent with them, taking immense pride in watching them grow.

Charlie will be remembered for his quiet strength, his generosity, his unwavering devotion to his family, his dry sense of humor, and his genuine, kind-hearted nature. He believed in working hard, telling it like it was, and taking care of the people he loved. He was, in every sense, one of the last of the old school.

His memory will live on in the traditions he created, the laughter he brought, the songs he whistled, the stories that will continue to be told, and in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know and love him.

Charlie is the beloved husband of Joann (D'Amore) Termine. He is the cherished father of Erika Love, Danielle Termine - McKinnon and her husband John and Cristen Doherty and her husband Keith. Loving grandfather of Skylar McPherson, Sydney Love, Saige Love, Avery McKinnon, Michael McKinnon, Cameron Doherty, Owen Doherty and Quinn Doherty. Dear brother of Linda Orsini and her husband Raymond, Mark Termine and Edward Termine. He is also survived by many loving nieces and extended family members.

Funeral services will begin from the Barile Family Funeral Home, 482 Main Street (Rt. 28), Stoneham, on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Service celebrating Charlie's life at Holy Cross Mausoleum, 175 Broadway, Malden, at 12:00 pm. Interment with Military Honors will immediately follow.

Family and friends are kindly invited to gather, share memories, and celebrate Charlie's life with his family on Thursday, July 30, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Barile Family Funeral Home. Parking attendants and an elevator will be available.

Please consider making a donation in Charlie’s memory to Mission MSA, a non-profit research organization dedicated to supporting people with MSA by visiting https://missionmsa.org/