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 Roger F. Cirone, 70
 October 27, 2008
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Roger Francis Cirone, 70, of 25 Frenier Drive, died Monday, Oct. 27, 2008, in Williamstown. He was a longtime educator and coach.
Born in North Adams on Oct. 10, 1938, son of Dominick and Margaret Zocchi Cirone, he attended schools in North Adams and graduated from Drury High School with the class of 1957. He received his bachelor of arts in history from Brown University in 1961 and was a member of the football team for four years.
He was named to the All-Brown University Football Defensive Team of the 1960-1969 decade by the Brown Herald, the official university newspaper. He was also the leading scorer during the 1959 season and played a key role in the Brown victory over Harvard in 1959.
Mr. Cirone obtained his master's degree in education from the former North Adams State College in 1969. He took additional courses in education at Syracuse University, State University of New York and Harvard University and participated in the John Hay Fellowship Program at Williams College.
An Army veteran, he served from 1961 to 1963 and was a member of the National Guard from 1963 to 1965.
Mr. Cirone began teaching biology and chemistry at Drury High School in 1963 and continued his teaching career in social studies until 1976. From 1976 to 1977, he was assistant principal and, from 1977 to 1999, was principal.
He also coached the school's junior varsity baseball coach for three years and assistant football coach under Dan Rorke and Joe Llodra. He named head football coach from 1967 to 1977 and was the recipient of WBEC Sports Caravan Coach of the Year award in 1970.
He also was presented the Martin Luther King Jr. Peacemaker Award in February 1998 from the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition for his efforts in helping Drury address issues of diversity and tolerance within the school.
He was a communicant of Sts. Patrick & Raphael's Parish and was a past member of St. Patrick's Parish Council. He served on the Advisory Committee for the James and Robert Hardman Fund for North Adams and was a member of the Williamstown Municipal Scholarship Committee. He coached Williamstown Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball. He volunteered at the Milne Public Library and was a member of the Williams College Sideline Quarterback Club. He was an avid golfer at Waubeeka Golf Links.
He and his wife, the former Barbara Trabold, were married July 2, 1966, at St. Francis' Church in North Adams.
Besides his wife, he leaves three sons, John Cirone and his life partner, David Brannon, of Seattle, Matt Cirone and his wife, Kristin, of Cincinnati and David Cirone and his wife, Leslie, of South Hadley; a sister, Patricia Cirone of Seattle; six grandchildren, Mia Brannon-Cirone, Ella Brannon-Cirone, Kaia Cirone, Tyler Cirone, Nicholas Cirone and Nathan Cirone.
He was predeceased by a brother, Joseph Cirone, in 1959.
FUNERAL NOTICE — A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church in Williamstown. Burial will be private in the family plot in Southview Cemetery in North Adams.
Calling hours at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, are Wednesday from 4 to 7. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested for the St. Patrick's Food Pantry through the funeral home.
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| I was sad to hear about the passing of Mr. Cirone. He was my principal at Drury High School. Mr. Cirone was always a very fair person to me even when I got into a little trouble (like skipping school). I just wanted to send my prayers to his family. | | from: Colleen (Cowell) Passardi | on: 11-13-2008 |
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