Obituary of Vincent A Restivo

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Vincent A. Restivo a beloved teacher inside and outside the classroom passed away after a brief illness on Saturday, February 25, 2023. He was 81 years old. Vincent was born in Medford. He was the son of Sicilian immigrants, Vincenzo and Rose Restivo. He spent most of his childhood growing up in East Boston. He graduated high school from Arlington High. He went on to Boston College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Education, and later Babson College where he earned his masters degree in Business Administration. One of his first jobs was that of math teacher at Stoneham Junior High School. It only lasted four years, before switching career paths to computers. But during those four years, he met and fell in love with the home economics teacher, Ann Hughes. They were married on August 28, 1965 and settled in Burlington in 1969 to raise their three children. Vincent worked for many years as a salesperson and marketing manager for Digital Equipment Corporation, specializing in mainframe computers used in educational systems. He then went out on his own as a private consultant for smaller computer firms. He later returned to education, working for almost 10 years as a math teacher at Shawsheen Technical High School. Following his retirement from Shawsheen, he worked another decade as an adjunct professor at Middlesex Community College teaching personal finance and math classes. He had a great repertoire with his students to the point that his college students called him by his grandfather name, “Papa”. His passion for teaching extended beyond school into his whole life. He truly believed that every experience, situation, and event was a learning opportunity. He also volunteered his time at Score in Boston which connected business professionals like Vincent with young entrepreneurs to help them develop sustainable business plans.

Vincent was also very involved in his church and community. He was a parishioner of St. Malachy’s Church since moving to Burlington. He taught CCD, was the 4^th Grade religious education director, Eucharistic Minister, was a Pre-Cana instructor with his wife Ann, and present at all the church’s activities and events. He also served on the Ways and Means Committee for the Town of Burlington. As a member, he was able to give insight to the educational budget from his experience in the school systems.

Vincent was a man devoted to his wife, parents, children, and grandchildren. As a family there were many family summer vacations to Popponessett Beach on Cape Cod and with his wife trips to Aruba and St. Maarten. His parenting style was from his teaching viewpoint, and he wanted his children to be involved in the world around them. He loved when he became a “Papa to his seven grandchildren”. They were his entire world. There was nothing they could do wrong, and he cherished every moment shared with them. He was a little bit of a home body happy to read a good book or spend hours in his basement wood shop making furniture, bookcases, and even a cradle which are now family heirlooms.

Vincent was the beloved husband of Ann Restivo. He was the loving father of Maria Cogliano & her husband Richard of Lakeville, Vincent Restivo, MD & his wife Heidi of Austin, TX, and Jeanne Jacoby & her husband Peter of Belmont. Vincent was the cherished grandfather to Allison Cogliano Esq., Nicholas Cogliano, Samuel Cogliano, J. Maddox Restivo, Liam Restivo, Hannah Jacoby, and Caroline Jacoby. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends whose connections he always cherished.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Wednesday, March 1 from 4-7pm. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Thursday, March 2 at 9am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Malachy Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10am. Services will conclude with a burial in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington.

Memorials in Vincent’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

For obituary, online guestbook, and livestream of funeral mass see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net