TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2020 Salem State’s loss is NSCC’s gain By Meaghan Casey a third time. FOR THE ITEM Pending approval by state Commission- er of Higher Education Dr. Carlos San- LYNN — The right place; the right tiago, Bryant will become interim presi- time. How often do we credit that combi- dent of North Shore Community College nation for success in life? For Dr. Nate Bryant, a respected leader (NSCC), effective in July when current in public higher education, the popular president Dr. Patricia A. Gentile retires. idiom can’t be overplayed. A Salem resident, Bryant has more “You never know when an opportunity than 30 years’ experience in higher ed- is going to arise,” said Bryant, who can ucation with senior level leadership in pinpoint two critical moments that led enrollment management, student sup- him to where he is today. The rst was port services, fundraising, crisis commu- when Coach Tom Thibodeau recruited nications, strategic planning and proj- him to Salem State University for bas- ect management. In his current role, he ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO ketball, and the second was when a Sa- serves as vice president and chief of staff Nate Bryant, formerly the vice president of Salem State University, is lem State admissions director offered to Salem State President John Keenan. expected to be named interim president of North Shore Community Col- him a job. lege. And now, opportunity has knocked for BRYANT, A3 Lynn eld Peabody is plans will approaching celebrate seniors a grim milestone By Gayla Cawley Elsewhere, Marblehead ITEM STAFF and Saugus reported addi- By Anne Marie Tobin tional virus fatalities and ITEM STAFF Peabody is one virus fatal- COVID-19 cases on Mon- LYNNFIELD — As students ity away from a gruesome day. of all ages begin the countdown milestone, as the city’s Four more Lynn residents to the end of the school year, death toll now stands at 99. have died since last Fri- school administrators, teachers Nine more people have day, but the city reported and parents are ramping up ef- died from the coronavirus its rst collective decrease forts to help high school seniors since last Wednesday and in new cases since the out- salvage what’s left of an unprec- the city’s total number of break began. edented year. con rmed cases is 842, ac- When factoring in the On Thursday at 1 p.m., a Pa- cording to Peabody Health number of residents rade of Seniors will wind its Director Sharon Cameron. who have recovered and way through the streets of Lyn- Lynn also reported addi- those who have died from n eld. The parade will feature tional deaths on Monday, as COVID-19, the city now cars decorated in Lynn eld col- its death toll has crept up ors or the colors of the colleges to 75. DEATHS, A3 they hope they will be attend- ing starting this fall. Lynn eld High science teacher Ernestine Struzziero, who is retiring at the end of the school year, will Civility is another serve as honorary parade mar- shal. “We haven’t yet determined victim of virus the nal route, but we will de - nitely try to go past elementary By Thor Jourgensen container, threw it against schools and the middle school, ITEM STAFF the wall and actually broke where so many of the students it. My son was completely A self-described mild-man- attended,” said Lynn eld super- unfazed,” Jackson said. nered man, Corey Jackson intendent Jane Tremblay. “We Almost two months spent are thrilled to have Ernestine could never imagine launch- balancing work and parent- lead the parade as she is the ing a full-scale assault on a ing at home with his wife, only teacher at the high school recycling bin — that is, be- Sarah, and their two young who is retiring this year, so this fore coronavirus. children, has made Jackson has been especially dif cult for The Boxford resident and “a little more ragey.” her.” Peabody Citizens Inn execu- He isn’t alone. While front Saturday, families celebrated tive director rushed to get his line and essential workers “Senior Day,” defying high winds trash to the curb on a recent ght coronavirus and keep and a snow urry or two to hon- cold morning only to nd his the country functioning, or the members of the Class of 5-year-old had followed him millions of Americans are ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK 2020 by decorating their front outside half-dressed without social distancing to halt the Decorations on a door honor the achievements of Lynn eld socks or shoes. LYNNFIELD, A5 High School senior Clayton Marengi. “I picked up a recycling CIVILITY, A3 Brotherton: Reasons to Study: Virus death toll in Trump faces virus at As countries restart, Risk of reopening U.S. be cheerful, Part One, A4 NYC worse than offi cial White House amid push WHO warns about lack of economy too fast: A tally, B3 to “reopen” country, B3 virus tracing, B6 W-shaped recovery, B8 Massachusetts deaths top 5,000 as Gov. Charlie Baker weighs staged reopening, A6 Not to worry: New park won’t impede view of classic mural By Bill Brotherton The city’s arts and culture community ITEM FEATURES EDITOR was concerned that the colorful 60-foot- by-60-foot mural paying homage to Lynn LYNN — A vacant lot on the corner of history that decorates the entire exterior Union and Exchange streets will soon be wall of 25 Exchange St. would be blocked transformed into a downtown park for all to enjoy. by a large structure. Construction has begun on what will Lou Minicucci, founder and president of likely be named Frederick Douglass Minco Corp., the North Andover rm that Park, a tribute to the abolitionist leader owns the lot and is developing the former who lived in Lynn in the 1800s. It will Beacon Chevrolet site on the waterfront, abut the Lynn Museum and Historical said the arts community need not worry. Society and LynnArts buildings, and in- “There will be a stage. It will be in front clude lots of grass, a performance stage of the mural, but the entire mural will be ITEM PHOTO | OLIVIA FALCIGNO and perimeter seating and benches. The visible. It will not have a roof,” he said. His site was most recently home to a weekly rm worked closely with Sen. Brendan Concerns by a group of city artists over construction on an Exchange farmers market, which has been relocat- Street lot blocking a mural which was partly designed by Lynn school ed. PARK, A5 students have been addressed by the lot’s developer. OBITUARIES ..............................A2 LOOK! .......................................A8 DIVERSIONS .............................B5 HIGH 57° VOL. 141, ISSUE 128 OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-2 CLASSIFIED ...............................B6 LOW 36° POLICE/FIRE .............................A5 COMICS ....................................B4 BUSINESS ................................B8 PAGE A8 $1.50 A2 THE DAILY ITEM TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2020 OBITUARIES Leo J. Walsh Jr., 68 Roberta Davis, 66 1951-2020 Leo Joseph Walsh Jr., age LYNN — Roberta “Birdie” 68, died peacefully on Thurs- (Barton) Davis, a lifelong Lyn- day, May 7, 2020 at his home ner who played an active role in West Bath, Maine, after a in community organizations three-year battle with cancer. with a mission of bringing He was the oldest son of the people together, passed away late Leo J. and Alice M. (Ru- May 7 at Brigham & Women’s binowski) Walsh. He was the Hospital in Boston, six weeks husband of Diane Marilyn after being diagnosed with (Merry) Walsh of Saugus. cancer. She was 66. Born in Lynn, Leo graduated The daughter of the late from St. Mary’s High School, Gordon “Bumps” Barton and Class of 1969. After serving Virginia Barton, Birdie was in the Army National Guard, a 1971 Lynn English High he was hired at GE Aircraft in School graduate. After attend- Lynn. He worked there for 38 ing North Shore Community years alongside other fun lov- College, she began working for ing men and women, many of New England Telephone Co., whom would become lifelong which later became Verizon. beloved nieces and nephews. daughter, Brooke Lynne Davis, friends. She retired in 2003 after 30 FILE PHOTO | ASSOCIATED PRESS He is survived by his brother and her adopted son, James Music, sports, and the out- years of service. Dennis Walsh of Gilford, Maine; “Smitty” Smith; two grandchil- Ben Stiller, left, and his father, Jerry Stiller, doors were a large part of In 2010, Birdie went to work and sister Theresa Walsh of dren, Alexander Barton Da- arrive at the Help Haiti bene t honoring Sean Leo’s life. He enjoyed playing for the Lynn Police Depart- the piano and creating music Lynn. Leo is joined in the af- vis-Reddy and Aubrey Virginia Penn hosted by the Stiller Foundation and The ment as a data entry operator with many friends over the terlife by his sisters, the late Davis-Reddy; her brother, J/P Haitian Relief Organization, in New York. assigned to the Criminal In- years. He was an excellent ath- Patricia Riley and Ann Daley Gordon “Buzzy” Barton; sis- lete who loved all sports, but of Lynn, and Barbara Irvine of vestigation Division. She loved ters Patricia Barton, Barbara played basketball and soccer Waterford, Conn. the job and her boys in blue Barton, Paulette Hartwell, Comedian and into his late 40s. Shortly after Service information: Fu- and enjoyed cooking her fa- Carol Brown and Donna Bar- retiring from GE, his passion neral services will be held at mous chicken wings for them. ton; her closest friends, Fran- for the outdoors led him to Oak Grove Cemetery in Bath, Birdie served on the board cella Adamson and Elizabeth his home in Maine, where he Maine, on Saturday, Aug.