Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 18, 2026 OBITUARIES Margaret A. (Theide) McLeod cer) Theide. Lake Winnipesaukee (you know the lake that is too wet) was her home away from home and where she met Ralph. Together they spent much of their retirement travelling back and forth to Florida for the winter, making them true snowbirds. Whether she was in MassaO f Saugus. Peggy, as she was known as to her friends, age 88, died on Tuesday, September 8th at Brightview in Wakefield. She was the wife of the late Ralph W. McLeod. Born in Boston and raised in Stoneham, Peggy was the daughter of the late Francis and Edna (SpenREQUESTS | FROM PAGE 2 Saugus and Town Manager Crabtree over the Essex Landing real estate development project. TB Holdings claims that the town and Crabtree have violated various constitutional and statutory rights by subjecting it to arbitrary and discriminatory treatment. The Town and Crabtree, in turn, asserted in their counterclaim that in order to obtain regchusetts, Florida or somewhere else, Peggy never came across a store or sale that didn’t entice her to shop. After retirement, Peggy developed a lovehate relationship with slot machines; she loved playing them, though they rarely returned the affection. Her family lovingly looked forward to her weekly games of running through everyone’s names before landing on the right one when talking with you. A sweet and endearing habit that supplied hours of endless fun. Peggy is survived by her three children, Ann Marie Vieira and her husband Durval of Wilmington, Mark McLeod (partner ulatory approval for its development, TB Holdings engaged in a campaign to intimidate and coerce the defendants by initiating litigation and disparaging Crabtree’s reputation, according to the judge’s ruling. A source of this conflict involved a $200,000 check that TB Holdings made out to the Town. In February 2022, TB Holdings sought a meeting with town officials, including Crabtree, to disFURNISHED ROOM FOR RENT EVERETT Adriana DeSouza) of Malden and Gail McLeod (partner Tim Burnham) of NH and four grandchildren, Jacob and his wife Rachel, Alexia and her fiancé Justin McGonagle, Madison (partner Robert Gendron) and Ashlee. She was predeceased by two sisters, Barbara and Dorothy “Dolly”, her brother, Francis “Frankie”, and her son, Ronald “Ronnie” McLeod. Relatives and friends were invited to attend visitation in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, Saugus on Monday, September 9th. Interment at Riverside Cemetery in Saugus. Donations in Margaret’s memory may be made to the Dementia Society of America at dementiasociety.org. Robert E. Pizzano O f Sau - gus. Age 87, died on Wednesday, September 9th at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Dancuss the proposed assisted living facility on the undeveloped lots. The Town claims that this check was a voluntary donation to support the Town’s Parks and Recreation Program, and that the payment was not related to, nor would it benefit, TB Holdings’ development at Essex Landing. TB Holdings, on the other hand, claims that Crabtree requested the check in exchange for removing obstacles to the Essex Landing development and to receive approval for building the assisted living facility on the undeveloped lots. After making the $200,000 1 bedroom, 1 bath furnished room for rent. $275. per week rent. Two week deposit plus 1 week rent required. Call: 617-435-9047 - NO TEXT payment, TB Holdings continued to face regulatory hurdles in connection with the Essex Landing development, including requirements imposed by the Town to obtain peer reviews and special permits in advance of a Planning Board meeting in January 2025 on TB Holdings’ application to freeze zoning on the site. TB Holdings alleges Crabtree instructed board members not to attend the meeting, and the present members voted to deny the application. After making the $200,000 payment to the Town, TB Holdings began telling others, including John O’Brien, the chairman of the Town’s Planning Board, vers. He was the beloved husband of Rachel “Bunny” Pizzano with whom he shared 63 years of marriage. Born and raised in Everett, Mr. Pizzano was the son of the late Ernest and Margaret (Bevilacqua) Pizzano. A graduate of Everett High School and a resident of Saugus for the past 60 years, Bob owned and operated Pizzano Rug Company for over 50 years. He was also a U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and was a member of the Saugus Lions Club for almost 60 years. that Crabtree had embezzled $200,000. TB Holdings made similar statements to local reporters, including representatives of The Saugus Advocate and Boston.com, and distributed its legal complaint through a professional publicist before it was served on the Town and Crabtree. As a result, local media covered the allegations, and Crabtree was asked about the payment and whether he had in fact embezzled money, according to the judge’s ruling. The Town believes that TB Holdings attempted to embarrass, intimidate and undermine town officials, including Crabtree. “The defendants have not met their heavy burden,” the judge said. “They have submitted no evidence through affidavits or otherwise that could give rise to a strong inference that TB Holdings’ lawsuits, statements to municipal board and commission members, and statements regarding Crabtree’s alleged extortion lacked reasonable factual support or an arguable legal basis. The only sworn facts before the Court — those contained in TB Holdings’ verified complaint — suggest otherwise.” “The defendants maintain that TB Holdings alleges mere conspiracies in order to insinuate In addition to his wife, Mr. Pizzano is survived by one son, Robert E. Pizzano, Jr. and his wife Lisa of Stoneham; two daughters, Catherine M. Pizzano of VA and Laurieanne Pizzano Joyce and her husband David of Stoneham; six grandchildren, Calvin and his wife Ody, Luke, Eddie, Gabriela, Joseph and Alexander; one sister, Lorraine DiMilla of Saugus; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one brother, Ernest Pizzano and one sister, Loretta Steeves. Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., Saugus on Friday, September 18 from 4-7 p.m. A funeral will be held from the funeral home at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral mass in Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Summer St., Saugus at 10 a.m. Interment at Forest Glade Cemetery in Wakefield. In lieu of flowers, donations for eye research in Bob’s memory may be made to the Saugus Lions Club, P.O. Box 1121, Saugus, MA 01906. that Crabtree had control over municipal boards and commissions. But the defendants “do not actually provide evidence that contradicts” TB Holdings’ factual “Averments regarding Crabtree’s influence over the Planning Board and his role in directing the Special Municipal Counsel’s involvement in municipal board decisions,” the judge noted. “And although the parties dispute the purpose behind the $200,000 payment, there is “reasonable factual support” for TB Holdings’ petitioning activity criticizing Crabtree... The defendants have failed to carry their burden to show that TB Holdings’ exercise of its petitioning rights was devoid of any reasonable factual support or any arguable basis in law. Accordingly, TB Holdings’ special motion to dismiss the defendants’ abuse of process counterclaim will be granted.” In its lawsuit filed last year in Federal District Court in Boston, TB Holdings, Inc. seeks damages, all attorneys’ fees, expert fees, costs and other expenses incurred by TB Holdings in addition to an award of punitive damages against Crabtree individually. The court complaint also alleged that the town and Crabtree have violated the state Public Records Law and should be fined $5,000.
13 Publizr Home