Obituary of Roy Ciotti, Jr.

Leroy Clement “Roy” Ciotti, Jr. passed away at his home, with his beloved wife Catherine by his side, on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, he was 82 years old.

Roy was born and raised in Everett.  He was the son of the late Leroy and Phyllis (Cogliano) Ciotti.  Roy was a 1959 graduate of Everett High School.  After high school he served his country in the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1964, where he achieved the rank of Airman Second Class and was the recipient of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.  Roy worked as an automotive repairman in the Air Force, a role that would shape his future.  After leaving the Air Force he had a career with the Post Office where he would work as a mechanic at the South Postal Annex.  Roy retired at the age of 56.

Roy met his future wife, Catherine Gillespie, through a mutual friend.  They married in February of 1973 and would have celebrated their 50^th anniversary in February of 2024.  They welcomed two sons, Chris, and Shawn, and settled in Everett.  As a family they enjoyed summer vacations at Hampton Beach. 

Roy was a “jack of all trades” and had two passions: automotive and construction.  He shared his skills with his sons and the three of them always had a summer project that they worked on together. Every day was a “life lesson” for his sons. Chris and Shawn each inherited one of their dad’s skills: Chris automotive and Shawn construction. 

Roy and Catherine had a wonderful life together.   They enjoyed traveling and had vacations to Bermuda, Oklahoma, Florida, and the Boston to Bermuda Cruise.  After their children started lives of their own, they moved from Everett to Peabody.  Roy and Catherine then downsized and bought a condo at Martins Landing in North Reading where they would both become beloved members of the 220 community.  Roy would connect with his next-door neighbor Bill Shaw, and they became the best of friends.  They would start each day together having coffee at a local coffee shop. Then would sit in the lobby of the 220 building sharing words of wisdom and stories with their neighbors.  They were inseparable, if you saw Roy, you saw Bill. 

In recent years Roy’s greatest role in life was being “Granddad” to Emmett and Paige.  He loved watching Emmett play lacrosse and Paige dance.  The week before he passed, Roy was able to watch Paige dance over facetime and he was so proud of Emmett as he played in a lacrosse tournament this past week in Florida.

Roy will be remembered as a kind and gentle “good guy” whose greatest love was his family.

Roy was the beloved husband of Catherine (Gillespie).  He was the loving father of Chris of Boise, ID and Shawn & his wife Rachel of Reading.   Roy was the proud granddad of Emmett and Paige.  He was the brother of the late Domenic.  Roy was the brother-in-law of Gloria Ciotti of North Reading and loving uncle of Cheryl Ciotti and Wayne Ciotti.  Funeral Services will be private.  In lieu of flowers memorials in Roy’s name may be made to St. Jude Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/give.html