Tony V. Fedele dies

Former SHS headmaster mentored generations of Somerville kids
By George P. Hassett

Even in his most popular days as mayor, Eugene C. Brune hated to be the speaker following Tony V. Fedele at Somerville High School events.
“The kids would cheer for him so much I’d be drowned out,” Brune said. “He was truly one of the most beloved Somerville characters we had.”

Fedele who for more than 40 years mentored generations of Somerville students as a history teacher, administrator and ultimately headmaster of Somerville High School, died this week.
“He believed in giving kids the best shot at life and getting Somerville kids off to college,” said Dan Macero who taught with Fedele at SHS.
The son of Italian immigrants, Fedele held education and knowledge in the highest esteem, Macero said.  Fedele graduated from Somerville High School in 1954 and went on to graduate from Boston College in 1958 and obtain a master's degree from Brown University. Through his travels, he always returned to Somerville.
“He was Somerville,” said Macero. “He cared deeply for all the kids and all the people in the city. He was Somerville through and through.”
David Mangan graduated from SHS in 1980 and considers Fedele one of his most important mentors.
“A word of advice from him meant a lot to me. He pushed me to take the SAT’s and get my grades up for college,” he said. Mangan, who described himself as “not being too interested in hitting the books in high school” today has three degrees in mechanical engineering and works as a tactical manager at Hanscom Air Force Base.
Mangan said he spoke to Fedele only weeks ago and Fedele, years retiring from SHS, still expressed concern for the city’s youth.
“He was concerned the children of the more recent immigrant populations like the Brazilian and Salvadoran families. He was worried that these kids weren’t getting the programs they needed to be successful in school,” Mangan said.
One piece of Fedele’s legacy that lives on is the Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation, Brune said. The foundation awarded scholarships to graduating SHS seniors each year.
“A lot of children went on to college because of Tony,” said Brune. “But that’s how he was. He was everybody’s father, uncle or brother. He cared for all the kids in Somerville like they were his own family.”    

Comments

[somervilleboy]

tony, we will miss you!

for those who want to pay respects, i believe that the Cota funeral home will have visiting hours on thursday afternoon.

the scholarship fund does great work and will continue to do so in tony fedele's name.

[Andy Solberg]

This really is sad news. Mr. Fidele was a wonderful teacher.

[a great tribute]

congratulations to the teachers, staff & students of Somerville High for the tribute they gave Mr. Fedele today. In the pouring rain, they waited 1/2 hour with an arch and banner for the funeral procession to drive through the concourse. The hearse paused at the entrance of SHS and the band played Somerville Leads the Way. Then a moment of silence, and the entire procession drove through the concourse. It was touching, perfect, and very impressive.
Hat's off to all.

[bob d]

the fedele family would like to thank the entire city for the show of support for anthony fedele. the way the teachers and students waited in the rain for the procession to come by. the police for the escort during the procession, for the 100's of people that paid their respects to tony, for all the blogs with their kind words. it means alot to his entire family and we are honored that "somerville pride" is alive and well. thank you somerville from the fedele family

[Daphnee.M]

Mr. Fedele you will be missed. Thank you for leaving a legacy.
Daphnee Class of 98

[Michelle (Paquet) MacIntosh]

Mr. Fedele thank you for giving all you had to all of us.
Michelle - Class of 75!

[Pat V - class of 80]

I just came across this and was saddened by it.

Mr. Fedele was a wonderful man who would see only the good in you. I wish there were more people in the world like him!

Thank you for being an influence in my school years!