Vincent (Jimmy) Puglisi

Vincent was born in East Boston and as a teenager worked in his father's barbershop until age eighteen when he volunteered for the US. Navy following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. During WWII, he survived the sinking of two naval destroyers and was assigned to a third destroyer, the USS Herndon, which led the first assault during the "D-Day" amphibious invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. This horrific battle was documented by novelist Thomas H. Wolfe who served as a correspondent on the USS Herndon.

Upon returning home after the war, Vincent met and married the late Pauline (Uccello) Puglisi, a local librarian, with whom he eventually shared 65 years of marriage and raised four children. For many years, they were both active in the Saint Patrick's church and prayer community in Stoneham.

Vincent was born with a paint brush in his hand and painted whenever he could find the time. For over twenty years, he hand painted the weekly movie marquee signs for Lowe's Theater in Boston and was able to free-hand paint the faces of dozens of movie stars of that era. He later became a senior graphic artist for the engineering firm of Stone and Webster where he worked until he retired at age 59.

For the next thirty years of his life, Vincent would use a variety of mediums – oil, water color, and acrylic- to paint landscapes, water scenes and portraits. His vacations usually inspired him to paint those regional scenes, and he especially loved the canals of Venice. He displayed and sold his paintings at galleries and flea markets on the North Shore. In the last years of his life, Vincent refused any payment for his paintings and literally gave away hundreds of his paintings to anyone who expressed an interest in his work. He painted every morning until a few weeks before his death.

Vincent is survived by his son Vincent and his wife Alison of Windham, NH, his son Philip and his wife Mirka of Lynnfield, MA, his daughter Rene and her husband David of Hampstead, NH, and his daughter Paula and her husband Steve of Epping, NH. He was the brother of Caesar Puglisi and his partner Mary Tassinari of Winthrop, MA and of the late Peter Puglisi and Millie DiBlasi. He also leaves behind his good friend and fellow artist Dennis Sheehan of Manchester, NH, and many wonderful nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren, all of whom loved him. His paintings hang in many of their homes and will be a constant reminder of Vincent's generosity and kindness.

A Funeral Mass Celebrating Vincent's Eternal Life will be held on Thursday, June 6th, at 10am in Saint Patrick Church, 71 Central Street STONEHAM. Family and friends are cordially invited to gather and share memories with the Family prior to the Mass from 8:30 am to 9:30 am in the Barile Family Funeral Home, 482 Main St. (RT 28) STONEHAM. Parking attendants and elevator are available. Interment with Military Honors will take place at Lindenwood Cemetery.

For more information, www.facebook.com/BarileFamilyFuneralHome