Robert A. Tacconi

MILFORD Mr. Robert A. Tacconi, 87, of Milford, died Tuesday morning, Nov. 18, 2008, at his residence, after an illness. He was the husband of Emmelina L. (Piscia) Tacconi. Mr. Tacconi was born in Milford, the son of the late Quinto M. and the late Alma J. (Pettenati) Tacconi. He attended Milford public schools as a young boy and was a graduate of Milford High School, Class of 1939. He then went on to graduate from Worcester Trade School. Mr. Tacconi was first employed as a young man as an architect for Wendell T. Phillips Architects, in Milford. From 1957 to 1995, he was employed as an architect at Shepley, Bullfinch, Richardson & Abbott Architects, in Boston. As an associate of the firm, he specialized in college building projects on the campuses of Harvard College, the College of the Holy Cross, Middlebury College, Providence College, Northeastern University and others throughout the country. Additionally, he was instrumental in the Massachusetts State House Renovation Project. Mr. Tacconi was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, having served with the 357th Infantry Regiment in the European theater and landed on Utah Beach on June 7, 1944. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, and had attained the rank of staff sergeant while assigned to the Officer Training School at Fontainebleau. Mr. Tacconi was a lifelong resident of Milford and a longtime communicant of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. He was a longtime member and past-president of the Milford Lions Club and a longtime member of the VFW. He was also a Milford town meeting member, a past member of the Town of Milford Library Board, and had served as a member of the Town Hall Renovation Committee. Along with his wife of 61 years, he is survived by his three children, Dr. Lorraine J. Tacconi-Moore and her husband, Dennis Moore, of Ashby, Dr. Linda J. Tacconi-Garman and her husband, Lowell Garman, of Garching, Germany, and Robert Q. Tacconi and his wife, Ann, of Medfield; five grandchildren, Gina Tacconi-Moore of Lowell, Gregory Tacconi-Moore of Ashby, Juliann Tacconi of Medfield, Elise Tacconi-Garman of Garching, Germany, and Jessica Tacconi of Medfield; three sisters, Mrs. Marie Flanagan of Northborough, Mrs. Edna Ragaini of Upton and Mrs. Anne Hazard of Barnstable; and many nieces and nephews. His funeral, with military honors, will be held Saturday, Nov. 22, at 8:30 a.m., from Edwards Memorial Funeral Home, 44 Congress St., Milford (www.edwardsmemorialfuneralhome.com), followed by a Mass of Christian burial, at 9:30 a.m., in Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (upper church), 7 East Main St., Milford. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Friday, from 5 to 8 p.m. Donations in his memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Benedict Center, 254 Still River Road, Still River, MA 01467, or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham MA 01701.