Charlie...
Charles L. Raffi Jr. (Charlie) was born in 1927 to Florence (Catani) and Charles Raffi. The Italian immigrant family lived on Craigie Street in Somerville, Mass and together began building a growing chemical brokerage business located at 22 Custom House Street in Boston. The company soon became known as Raffi & Swanson, Inc. Their products empowered recording innovations at Grey Gull Records and expanded into manufacturing multiple chemical products for the consumer and automotive industries. In the 1930's the family built a new home in Arlington, Massachusetts. Charlie attended Arlington High School and after serving in World War II he graduated form Harvard University in 1948.
Charlie married Rita Viola Curtin, an early flight attendant for Northeast Airlines in 1951, and they settled in West Medford to raise a family. In 1955, Charlie and Rita built a new home on Ginn Road in Winchester. In 1961 they moved a few hundred yards purchasing the former Beggs estate at 2 Everett Avenue where they lived until retiring to Quail Run in Woburn.
Charlie was an avid golfer, sales leader and teacher of the Dale Carnegie course. He would later go on to become a board member for BayBanks and president of the Winchester Country Club.
A gentle father, iconic gentleman and devoted husband, Charlie was a gift to all who encountered his generosity and kind spirit.
Charles L. Raffi Jr. (Charlie) was born in 1927 to Florence (Catani) and Charles Raffi. The Italian immigrant family lived on Craigie Street in Somerville, Mass and together began building a growing chemical brokerage business located at 22 Custom House Street in Boston. The company soon became known as Raffi & Swanson, Inc. Their products empowered recording innovations at Grey Gull Records and expanded into manufacturing multiple chemical products for the consumer and automotive industries. In the 1930's the family built a new home in Arlington, Massachusetts. Charlie attended Arlington High School and after serving in World War II he graduated form Harvard University in 1948.
Charlie married Rita Viola Curtin, an early flight attendant for Northeast Airlines in 1951, and they settled in West Medford to raise a family. In 1955, Charlie and Rita built a new home on Ginn Road in Winchester. In 1961 they moved a few hundred yards purchasing the former Beggs estate at 2 Everett Avenue where they lived until retiring to Quail Run in Woburn.
Charlie was an avid golfer, sales leader and teacher of the Dale Carnegie course. He would later go on to become a board member for BayBanks and president of the Winchester Country Club.
A gentle father, iconic gentleman and devoted husband, Charlie was a gift to all who encountered his generosity and kind spirit.
Christmas Lights
Charlie loved Christmas and his story wouldn't be complete without mention of his perfectly spaced, "old school" Christmas lights. They were known throughout New England and in the images below they were featured in a New England calendar from 1987.
It started early... Charlie's letter to Santa in 1934.
Charlie's home for nearly 5 decades, 2 Everett Ave. (without Christmas lights)...