Paul James Cifrino

Paul James Cifrino COHASSET Paul James Cifrino died on Sunday, August 30, 2009 at his home in Cohasset after a long illness at the age of 88. Mr. Cifrino was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1920 of Italian immigrants who had come to America as young children: his mother Mary Ferroli from Tramonte de Mezzo in northern Italy; and his father, Paul Cifrino, from Prepezzano in Campagnia, southern Italy. Mr. Cifrino attended Boston College High School and was a 1941 graduate of Harvard University. While attending Yale Law School, his father became ill and Paul returned home to help run the family business founded by his father and Uncle John in Uphams Corner, Dorchester. Paul and his brothers expanded the business, which became Supreme Markets, with numerous locations in Boston, Cambridge and the South Shore area of Boston. After merging with the Purity Save-Mor stores in 1970, Mr. Cifrino became Chairman of the Board of the newly formed Purity Supreme Markets. A short time later, at the request of the U.S. State Department, Mr. Cifrino was asked to work with the Agency for International Development to help develop a food distribution program for the country of India. After serving in India for two years, Mr. Cifrino returned to become Director of the Massachusetts Retail Grocers Association for a number of years. He also became involved with the Carroll School for the Blind serving on its Board of Directors. Having always been interested in dyslexia he also taught at the Landmark School in Beverly, MA and later served on its Board of Directors. During all this time he also managed the family's real estate and business interests. Mr. Cifrino always maintained close ties with his many relatives in Italy and was a strong supporter of the Assilo, an orphanage founded by his uncle John Cifrino in Prepezzano, which continues today as a primary school. On one of his last visits to Prepezzano he was greeted by a brass band as the village turned out to honor him. Mr. Cifrino is survived by his wife Judith Chute of Cohasset and his former wife, Dolores Cifrino of Westwood with whom he had six children - Mark Cifrino of Boston, Margaret Souaiaia of Seattle, WA, Andrew Cifrino of Tucson, AZ and Elizabeth Polky of Brunswick, ME. His two sons, Peter and Paul, predeceased him. He is also survived by a stepdaughter, Pamina Brassey of London, England, seven grandchildren: Mohammed, Mourad, Munya and Moncef Souaiaia; Sylvanus, Santina and Maria Polky, as well as two stepgrandchildren George and Vaishnavi Brassey, in addition he is also survived by his siblings James Cifrino of Cohasset, Mary Roever of Hingham, Elizabeth Cifrino of Braintree and Eleanor Flynn of Chevy Chase, MD. He also leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, September 3 in St. Anthonys Church, Cohasset at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours Wednesday, 4-8 p.m. at the McNamara Sparrell Funeral Home, 1 Summer St., Cohasset. Interment St. Michaels Cemetery, Roslindale. In lieu of flowers, donations in Pauls memory may be made to Hospice of the South Shore, 100 Bay State Drive, Braintree MA 02184 or Italian Home for Children, 1125 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. mcnamara-sparrell.com