Guido P. Lauranzano, 93, died Sunday, June 5, 2022 following a brief illness. He was the husband of the late Alice (Palmquist) Lauranzano who died in 2005.

Born on West Dane Street, Beverly on May 10, 1929, he was the son of the late Natale and Colomba (Marcucci) Lauranzano. He was the ninth of ten children born to a baker (Columbus Bakery). A lifelong resident of Beverly, he was a graduate of Beverly High School, where he played football with his friend, Micky Abate. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving at the Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, where he was an Airman First Class, trained as a Photo Interpretation Specialist; Oberammergua Germany and Columbia, South Carolina. When on leave from the Air Force he met the love of his life, Alice Palmquist of Rockport and they married shortly thereafter. He was honorably discharged in February 1954.

Guido was employed as materials engineer at General Electric in Lynn, where he held many positions. Most significantly, was the development of Composite Materials, which are currently used for airfoils for aircraft engines.

His many interests included making pizza for his family, the “old” way, the opera, and classical music. He especially enjoyed playing cards with his siblings, running, and lengthy discussions of current events.

A local activist, Guido organized peaceful demonstrations to support ending the Vietnam War. He was arrested twice for civil disobedience, once on the steps of St. Mary’s Church, advocating peace, and then on the steps of the State House. He marched on the mall in Washington, DC during the “Not So Silent Spring” demonstration with his son, Christopher. He also worked with other Boston organizers to advocate the passage of legislation, Chapter 766, special education law, which formed The Office for Children and was the President of the first Cape Ann Community Counsel. He helped open the first food cooperative located in Ryal Side. Lastly, he held a yard sale with the proceeds to benefit Cesar Chavez, civil rights activist from CA, with his homemade pizza as the main attraction.

In retirement, he enjoyed being a Big Brother, volunteering as a boxing coach at the Beverly YMCA and working at Appleseed’s. He picked up playing the flute again, and landed a recording deal with his son-in-law, Ray, playing the flute solo on a recording of Elvis Presley’s, “American Trilogy.” He also loved donning his black tuxedo to sing with the Chorus North Shore and singing with the St. John the Evangelist Choir with Robin, where he reunited with many childhood friends. A longtime member of the ICC, he enjoyed Thanksgiving morning breakfasts with family and friends and the monthly meals. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, birthday parties, family cookouts, tutoring his nieces and nephews, Wednesday afternoon tea with Camille and Aubrey, Friday lunches with Chris, Joey and Barbara and Sunday dinners with Robin, Ray, and Dean. He had several trips to Italy to visit his family, particularly his beloved cousin, Franco and his wife, Sandra, and the town where his father grew up, Verzino, Calabria.

Following the death of Alice, Guido was blessed to find another love of his life, Barbara. Together, they traveled to Bermuda, Marco Island, New York, and Memphis with family and friends. They loved dancing every weekend, following Ray’s band, Boston Rockabilly and the Reminisants.

He is survived by his daughter, Robin Gillette and her husband, Raymond of Beverly; two sons, Christopher Lauranzano and his wife, Katherine (Mahoney) of Beverly and Marc Lauranzano and his husband, Keith Silva of Lynn; daughter-in-law, Kristine (Murray) Lauranzano of Beverly; his fiancée, Barbara Campbell of Peabody; two sisters, Sr. Frances Lauranzano, Sisters of Mercy and Phyllis Willey; three sisters-in-law, Donna Lauranzano, Donna Toppan, and Claire Franklin; eight grandchildren, Matthew Lauranzano and his wife, Kelly, Peter Lauranzano and his wife, Ashley, Regina Naboshek and her husband, Matthew, Gregory Lauranzano and his wife, Sadie, Andrew Lauranzano and his wife, Dana, Dean Gillette and Trisha Carpenter; ten great-grandchildren, Camille, Aubrey, Michael II, Olivia, Evelyn, Silas, Sunny, Callan, Max and Maggie and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his son, the Hon. Michael C. Lauranzano, three sisters, Mary Pinciaro, Yolanda and Joanna Lauranzano and four brothers, Joseph, Natale, Enrico and Rafaele Lauranzano,

His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, June 13th in St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 253 Cabot St., Beverly at 10 A.M. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody from 2 – 6 P.M. (masks kindly requested)

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to The Hon. Michael C. Lauranzano Scholarship Fund, c/o Robin Gillette, 18 Exeter Rd., Beverly, MA 01915. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Beverly.