Everette W. Knowles

Everette Woodrow 'Eddie' Knowles Age 67, of Wellesley, died peacefully on September 23, 2016. Devoted brother of Julia Knowles and her husband, Laurence Bloom of Winthrop, and the late Mary Ann Knowles of Newton, uncle of Lars Knowles of Wellesley and Nora Zaldivar, and her husband, Jonathan of Norwood; granduncle to Dante and Livia Zaldivar. Eddie had a wonderful sense of humor and was always ready to help out whenever he could. Eddie always had a humorous story that would keep people riveted and laughing heartedly. Everette, also known as Eddie, had a life-changing moment in 1962 at age 12, when he and several friends jumped a freight train after school as a quick ride home. Everette did not see a protruding abutment, his arm was separated from his shoulder and he fell to the ground. He was dazed but walking along the tracks when he was spotted by a worker taking a break at the back of her building. At Mass. General Hospital, Everette's arm was reattached in a series of operations, headed by the late Dr. Ronald Malt of Wellesley. The successful surgery made medical history. Magazines such as Life, Look and Popular Science published articles about this first successful reattachment of a human limb. Everette survived the surgery and was forever marked in fame. Everette grew up and remained active and would never accept being treated as someone who needed assistance. Despite having limited use of his right arm and hand, Everette was a natural handyman around the house, drove trucks, taxis, and school vans and was a crossing guard for the Wellesley schools. Everette lived in Wellesley for ten years and in that short time made many friends. Everyone loved Everette and they always liked to hear the stories, he had the way of telling a story. Everette donated his time and labor at the Wellesley RDF Recycling Center at the Take and Leave area. Everette worked very hard and would never back away from the heavy lifting that is required. While the media referred to him as a hero, Everette often stated he didnt believe that making the bad decision to jump on the train was in anyway heroic but that the folks who saved his life that day were the true heroes. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, November 3, from 2-4 PM at the Community Center room of his Washington Street apartment complex. All are welcome to attend. Funeral and interment services will be private.