Peter Alfred Gravallese
Retired Mass DPW Director of Equal Opportunity
Peter Alfred Gravallese of East Boston at 98 years young passed away at home on November 3 with his family by his side.
He was the beloved husband of Mary Ann (Testa) with whom he shared 70 years of marriage and son of Anthony (Milky) and Josephine (Dente) Gravallese.
At the age 18, Peter enlisted in the US Navy and served honorably during WWII. Upon his return to East Boston, he studied nights while working days and achieved his BS in Civil Engineering. He was employed by the Dept. of Public Works of Massachusetts for 40 years, working his way up from a surveyor of our Interstate Highway System to the Equal Employment Opportunity Director when he retired.
He fully enjoyed his retirement, improving his golf game, traveling, cruising with his wife and family, following his favorite performers at concerts or organizing the next party.
An avid sports fan from boyhood, he attended several World Series beginning with the 1946 Red Sox. As the family grew he always included his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at these events. The original “foodie,” he was always eager to try out a new recipe or restaurant, but he was happiest at his home dining table surrounded by his family with good food and wine.
He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2962, where he enjoyed the camaraderie, fun and support of his fellow Knights to his final days.
Peter leaves his four children: Peter and Patricia (Masucci) Gravallese, Paula and the late Giovanni Graziani, Stephen Gravallese, Nancy and David Coletti; his grandchildren: Mark and Lisa Gravallese, Michelle and Jon Bouley, Giancarlo and Heather Graziani, Giacomo Graziani, Peter and Anthony Coletti and his beloved late granddaughter, Jean Marie Gravallese and his great-grandchildren: Michael and Matthew Gravallese, Madalina Graziani, Julien Bouley and two Graziani players to be named later. He is also survived by his sisters and brothers: Angela DeDomenico and her late husband, George, Alice Meucci and her late husband, Gino, Richard and Marion Gravallese, George and Theresa Gravallese and many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Robert and his wife, Rina.
Family and friends honored Peter’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga Street, (Orient Heights) East Boston, on Sunday, November 6 and again on Monday morning November 7 before leaving in procession to Saint Joseph – Saint Lazarus Church, East Boston, for a Funeral Mass celebrating Peter’s life. Services concluded with Peter being laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. May he rest in peace.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to National Tay Sachs & Allied Diseases at www.ntsad.org or National MS Society www.nationalmssociety.org. To leave an online condolence visit ww.ruggieromh.com.