CHARLES F. "HONEY" LANZILLO Sr.

1920 - 2021

LANZILLO, Charles F. "Honey" Sr. WWII Veteran and Devoted Family Man Charles F. "Honey" Lanzillo, Sr., a lifelong resident of Chelsea, and a member of The Greatest Generation who served the nation with unwavering fortitude, died peacefully at home on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at the age of 101. Charles was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Dorothy D. (Beaulieu) Lanzillo, who died in 2010. A member of the Chelsea High Class of 1939, he was a proud "39er." Charles answered the call to fight in WW II, enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps on September 11, 1942, serving until his honorable discharge on Nov. 25, 1945. Charles earned certification in airplane mechanics, specializing in maintenance and repair of B-17 aircraft, a critical component of the arsenal that defeated the Axis powers on three continents. His training took Charles to Amarillo and Delhart, Texas, then to McCook Air Base in Nebraska. There he advanced to the position of flight engineer receiving training on B-17 and B-29 bombers. In 1943, Charles was promoted to Technical Sergeant and sent to the Pacific theater, where, as crew chief, he was responsible for keeping B-17s and B-29s battle-ready. He was assigned to the Mariana Islands and Tinian Island, from which the historic, war-ending flights that dropped atomic bombs on Japan were launched. For most of the war, Charles served in the 1st squadron of the 9th bomber group (HV) as crew chief for the B-29 named "Dinah Might." Illustrative of his value to the war effort, Tech Sergeant Lanzillo was brought on a special flight from Tinian to Iwo Jima in the winter of 1945, where one of the bloodiest battles of World War II was raging to repair a B-29 that had made an emergency landing and was unable to return to Tinian. For his exemplary service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal and the Certificate of Appreciation for War Service. After the war, Charles went to work in the composing room of The Chelsea Record. With a knowledge of the community only held by true "Chelsea guys," he was a quiet, unerring source of help and inspiration to reporters who joined the editorial staff through the years. Charles retired from the newspaper in 1981. Subsequently, he worked at printing companies in the Chelsea-Everett-Revere area. Where some in the printing business saw old and troublesome equipment, he saw marvelous machines needing the touch of an experienced hand and the mind of a mechanic who loved the industry. Survivors include son, Dr. Charles F. Lanzillo, Jr. and wife Sharon of Florida, daughters Susan DeSantis and husband Andrew of Saugus; and Joan Hahesy and husband David of Revere; grandchildren Dr. Charles F. Lanzillo, III, Richard Marotta, Jr. and Mathew Marotta; great-grandchildren: Mason Marotta, Max Marotta, Alexis Fyfe, Sylvie Lanzillo and Tippi Lanzillo. Charles was predeceased by parents, Louis Lanzillo and Catherine (Smith) Lanzillo, and siblings: Anthony Lanzillo, Angelina (Dolly) Cimino, Louis Lanzillo, Jr., Lorraine Beaulieu, Richard Lanzillo and Grace Giannantonio. Visiting Hours: will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, CHELSEA on Thursday, Nov. 11th "Veterans Day" from 4 - 8 P.M. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. In order to protect the public health, we advise that all visitors wear face masks while in the Funeral Home. Funeral from the Welsh Funeral Home on Friday, Nov. 12th at 9:00 A.M. Followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Rose Church, 600 Broadway, Chelsea at 10:00 A.M. Services will conclude with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Should friends desire, contributions in Charles' name may be made to Chelsea Jewish Life Center, 201 Captain's Row, Chelsea, MA 02150. Late WW II, T/Sgt. US Air Force Veteran. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFH.com Welsh Funeral Home Chelsea, MA

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