MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020 Deborah Smith Walsh was ‘a strong advocate’ By Thor Jourgensen mittee between 1981 and 1991 and served as Center executive director from 1996 to 2017. ITEM STAFF a councilor at-large from 1991 to 2003. Berry said Walsh worked as the Center’s com- “She instilled in us a passion for public ser- munity relations director, drawing on her deep LYNN — Former City Councilor at-large vice. She looked at policy through the lens of Lynn roots and countless connections across Deborah Smith Walsh is being remembered the most vulnerable which meant she never the city to help expand Center initiatives. by family and friends as a passionate ghter for people who needed a voice. lost sight of what was most important — help- Former council colleague and Lynn Eco- Walsh, 72, died Friday night at Kaplan Fam- ing people. Working for the common good was nomic Development & Industrial Corporation ily Hospice in Danvers following a 5 1/2-year her vocation,” said Steven Walsh. (EDIC/Lynn) Executive Director James M. battle with cancer, said her brother, former Walsh used her public voice to advocate for Cowdell recalled how Walsh and Berry came state Rep. James E. Smith. the underserved. Friends and colleagues said to him in 2010 with the vision for the Center’s “She was an incredible warrior. She battled the crown jewel of that crusade was Walsh’s expansion. back several times,” Smith said. instrumental role in Lynn Community Health “They had no land or money but she (Walsh) Walsh, wife of John Coleman “Coley” Walsh Center’s 2012 expansion. was such a strong voice for the expansion and and mother of former state Rep. Steven M. “I am convinced the new building would not the people the Center served,” said Cowdell. Walsh, Marissa Walsh and Joseph Walsh, have been able to be developed without Deb- served four terms on the Lynn School Com- bie,” said Lori Abrams Berry, who served as WALSH, A3 Deborah Smith Walsh Lynn eld unites with lights THROW IT AWAY, DON’T FLUSH IT Lynn Water & Sewer issues warning; Swampscott has experienced backups By Gayla Cawley ITEM STAFF The Lynn Water & Sewer Commission and Swampscott Public Works Department have seen an increase in sewer backups from resi- dents improperly disposing of sanitary wipes and non- ushable products. The problem appears to be two-pronged. As more people are staying home amid statewide coronavirus restrictions, their use of disinfecting wipes, paper towels and cooking grease has in- creased, of cials from both Lynn and Swampscott say. However, instead of properly discarding those products in the trash, residents are ushing san- itary wipes and paper towels down the toilet, and pouring cooking grease down the drain, which has led to an uptick in clogged pipes and sewer back- By Anne Marie Tobin “It is also the hope that these lights, shin- The town of ups. ITEM STAFF ing from our historic town centerpiece, will Lynn eld has The main culprit, of cials said, appears to be the be a symbol of strength, community and placed candles improper ushing of sanitary wipes, which along LYNNFIELD — The Town of Lynn eld is hope for all the residents of our town,” said in the windows LWSC, A3 showing its solidarity with those affected by Board of Selectmen Chairman Phil Craw- of the Meeting the COVID-19 pandemic with a simple dis- ford. House in mem- play of light on the Town Common. One of those residents who died this week ory of Steven The Lynn eld Board of Selectmen and was Steven Richard. Richard, who was one Richard, who Lynn eld Historical Society announced last of the rst persons to test positive, was an died this week week that the windows of the Meeting House active member of the Historical Commis- due to compli- will be decorated with electric candles in sion and Historical Society, volunteering cations from memory of the two Lynn eld residents who countless years maintaining and preserving COVID-19. succumbed to coronavirus, as well as all cit- the Meeting House. He was also active in izens who have been adversely affected by many other capacities as a volunteer. He ITEM PHOTO | the ongoing pandemic. The lights were in- SPENSER HASAK stalled on Friday morning. LYNNFIELD, A3 MORE COVID-19 COVERAGE As many as 200,000 Legislatures meet re- motely, limit public. A6 U.S. deaths foreseen In virus times have By Matt Sedensky Trump extended federal guidelines rec- Americans found a and Michael R. Sisak ommending people stay home for another shared experience? A6 ASSOCIATED PRESS 30 days until the end of April to prevent spread of the virus. NEW YORK — The coronavirus out- Disease threat makes break could kill 100,000 to 200,000 Trump’s extension of the original 15- it harder for campaigns Americans, the U.S. government’s top day guidelines was a stark reversal just to ask for money. A7 infectious-disease expert warned on Sun- days after he suggested restarting the day as smoldering hot spots in nursing economy in about two weeks and came No masks, sanitizer as homes and a growing list of stricken cit- after Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the Last week, high water ows from heavy virus spreads behind ies heightened the sense of dread across National Institute of Allergy and Infec- rains coupled with scum from cooking bars. A7 the country. tious Diseases, made the dire prediction grease and an abundance of wipes, paper Faced with that grim projection, the of fatalities, adding that millions in the towels and rags clogged up the Lynn Re- Fenwick baseball possibility that even more could die in U.S. could become infected. gional Wastewater Plant’s screening sys- adjusts to coronavirus the U.S. without measures to keep people tem, which catches products that need to delays. B1 away from each other, President Donald DEATHS, A3 be moved to a dumpster. Lynn principals strike a balance between home and school work By Steve Krause And then there were their own Tube and the Internet are my best ITEM STAFF children. Both Dunn and Karakae- friends.” dos have school-age children, and all Dunn has three children, all LYNN — Last Wednesday was have individualized lesson plans for school-age. a test for Classical principal Amy which they are responsible. “Right now,” she said, shortly after Dunn and her Lynn Tech counter- “I’ve never been an elementary the phone meeting with Tutwiler part Carissa Karakaedos. school teacher,” said Karakaedos. wrapped up, “I have my teacher hat There was the 10 a.m. teleconfer- “I’ve only taught older kids. Now, I’m on.” ence with Lynn School Superinten- doing faculty adjunct work for Fitch- “I have three children sitting dent Dr. Patrick J. Tutwiler. Then burg State. around the kitchen table with me as there was the general business of “I’m learning interesting lessons we go over lessons. I’m going back to running their respective schools — too,” she said. “The way math is be- my roots.” empty of staff and students because ing taught today is different than Carissa Karakaedos of the COVID-19 threat — remotely. how I learned it. Right now, You- PRINCIPALS, A3 Amy Dunn LOOK! .......................................A8 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 HIGH 45° VOL. 141, ISSUE 93 OPINION ...................................A4 CLASSIFIED ...............................B6 POLICE/FIRE .............................B3 LOW 35° COMMUNITY CALENDAR ............A5 HEALTH .....................................B8 $1.50 COMICS .................................. B4- PAGE A8 A2 THE DAILY ITEM MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2020 OBITUARIES Edward J. Brady, 82 Barbara A. Frawley, 87 John R. Gness, 77 1933-2020 LYNN — Edward J. Brady, age Barbara Ann Frawley passed John R. Gness, age 77, be- 82, of Lynn, died Friday at his away peacefully on March 27, loved husband of Toni (Shute) home after a lengthy illness. 2020 at the age of 87. She Gness, died Saturday, March He was the husband of Made- was the beloved wife of Arthur 14, 2020, at Gulf Coast Med- line J. (Connolly) Brady, with Frawley Jr., with whom she ical Center in Ft. Myers, Fla., whom he shared 57 years of shared 63 years of marriage. after a brief illness. marriage. Barbara was born on Feb. Born in Lynn, he was the Born in Lynn, he was the son 28, 1933 to Thomas and Vera son of the late Oscar and of the late Killian and Anna McGarry of West Roxbury. Margaret (Cleary) Gness. He (Casey) Brady. A lifelong Lynn A graduate of Notre Dame was raised in Lynn and grad- resident, he was a graduate of Academy in Boston and uated from Lynn English High Lynn Vocational and Technical Emanuel College, Barbara School, Class of 1961. Institute, and Bentley College, worked as a teacher before John was employed at East- where he earned three mas- dedicating her life to raising man Gelatin Corporation as an ter’s degrees. her four children. Barbara and evaporator from a young age Edward worked as a her family lived in Lynn for until his retirement in 1991. self-employed CPA as well as many years before moving to Following his retirement, he for the City of Lynn. He was Lynn eld, a community she worked for Greater Lynn Se- the treasurer for the Lynn Wa- nior Services and at Pediatric as well as many other nieces loved being a part of. For the dition to her husband Arthur, liam Libby and his wife Re- ter and Sewer Commission past several years, Barbara Health Care Associates as a and nephews, and his beloved Barbara is survived by her part time courier, a position becca Melius of North Read- at the time of his retirement.