THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 1, 2023 Page 5 Malden Firefighter Gary Lopresti Jr. succumbs to line of duty illness, was 48 A 19-year Malden FD veteran and Malden HS, Class of 1993 By Steve Freker T he members of the Malden Fire Department and many in the city and the region are mourning the passing of longtime Malden Firefi ghter Gary J. Lopresti, Jr., who passed away on Sunday, August 27 following a lengthy battle with occupational cancer. He was 48 years old. Firefighter Lopresti was the father of two daughters and one son and leaves his wife, Karla (Turilli) Lopresti, with whom he shared nearly 25 years of marriage. He lost a long battle with pancreatic cancer and succumbed at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers on August 27. Malden Fire Commissioner Emery Haskell, Malden Fire Chief Steve Froio, Malden Firefi ghters 902 and the Massachusetts Association of Professional Firefi ghters this week announced Firefi ghter Lopresti’s passing as a line of duty death. Funeral services were planned for today at noon in St. Joseph Church, 790 Salem St., Malden. Uniformed fi refi ghters both local and from across the state as well as local and state Fire Department Honor Guards will be in attendance along with family, friends and local residents. Firefi ghter Lopresti was born on April 2, 1975, in Winchester, to the late Gary Lopresti, Sr. and Marlene (Knowlton) Lopresti. He graduated from Malden High School in 1993. Shortly afterward he met the love of his life, Karla (Turilli), and they were married in 1999. Together they raised three children: Ava Grace, Josh Chet and Liv Violet. “They were the world to him and his inspiration,” according to his family. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2016 from Boston University, and over the past few years Mr. Lopresti owned his own business in fi re restoration. He served as a Mally. His sisters and brothers from the fi re department worked tirelessly to make sure Gary and his family were never fi ghting this battle alone,” his family said. The following was included in his online obituary notice. “Although Gary had a successful In memory of Malden Firefi ghter Gary Lopresti, 1975-2023. professional career, his true success lies in the legacy of his children. He took pride in being the most supportive father he could IN MEMORY | SEE PAGE 8 JOHN MACKEY & ASSOCIATES ~ Attorneys at Law ~ Family, friends and the Malden Fire Department mourn the passing of Firefighter Gary J. Lopresti, Jr. in a line of duty death due to an occupational illness. den Firefi ghter for 19 years. According to other Malden fi refi ghters, he was respected and admired. They say he loved being a part of the S.A.F.E. Program in Malden, which involved educating young children and the elderly about fi re safety. “It was at the fi re station where Gary inherited another famiSABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Sabatino Insurance is proud to welcome the loyal customers of tino I sur nce is p the l yal c st ers o d t welcome PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * LANDLORD/TENANT DISPUTES 14 Norwood Street Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.JMACKEYLAW.COM
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