Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, December 6, 2019 FOR ALAN | from page 1 Saugus High School freshman died unexpectedly last Saturday (Nov. 30), leaving family members, classmates and friends heartbroken. But today – when a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass was to be held in Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Summer St., Saugus, followed by burial in Riverside Cemetery, Saugus – a special celebration of Alan’s life was planned. “This Friday, December 6, wear your Red Sox apparel in memory of beloved Alan Silipigni,” implored his cousin Krista Silipigni in a message posted this week on social media. “On behalf of the Silipigni family and Alan’s parents, we would love if everyone could spread his memory around because he was the best. Always positive, always happy, always smiling. Wear Red Sox for him and keep his smile around,” she added. Headed for Red Sox Heaven Joseph Silipigni said in a telephone interview Wednesday night that his son would be laid to rest in a casket, wearing a Red Sox necktie and a Red Sox World Series ring. “Alan had big dreams. He wanted to be the owner and general manager of the Red Sox,” the boy’s father said. “He was an avid sports fan who loved all Boston sports. But he loved the Red Sox the best. And his favorite player was Mookie Betts. Alan got to a couple of opening days, and he got into quite a few games. He’s had quite a few good memories in a short 14 years,” he said. Cogliano, a close friend of the family, said the Red Sox organization made arrangements to have one of the World Series trophies on display during yesterday’s wake at Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home in Saugus. Efforts were also underway to have Wally the Green Monster, the Red Sox official mascot, in attendance at tonight’s annual tree lighting ceremony and festivities. The event was scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. in front of Saugus Town Hall. Tonight’s attractions include a petting zoo, hayrides, face painting, hot cocoa and cookies, popcorn, a moon bounce and trackless train rides – with the main event being a visit from Santa Claus, who will pose for free photos with the children. Alan will be remembered best as a prolific Red Sox fan, according to his father. But he was also a conscientious student who got good grades (“All A’s and B’s and one C in Biology”), a dedicated altar server at the Blessed Sacrament Church and an enthusiastic member of Saugus Boy Scout Troop 61 and a member of the Saugus High School Golf team. A bonding experience for dad Joseph Silipigni, a Saugus native and member of the Saugus High School Class of 1988, said he got to share a special time of bonding with his son this year during Boy Scout summer camp. “It was quite an eyeopener. He made me proud. He did wilderness survival and slept outdoors. He amazed – whatever he did,” Joseph said. “It was a great memory. I was so thankful I did that. I put aside a whole week of vacation to be with him. I still plan on going to summer camp next summer because Alan had planned for me to do that. And I’m not going to let my boy down,” he said. “Anybody who met him loved him. He touched so many lives. He was the type of person who was always giving – never receiving – and he never complained. Every time he talked to my mother or myself, he would end the conversation – ‘Alright. Love you. Bye’ – all in one breath.” Alan loved to worship at his church and especially loved serving Mass at all hours – sometimes several times a day, according to Joseph. It was at the 8 a.m. service last Sunday (Dec. 1) that the grieving father drew some strong support from fellow members of the tiny Troop 61. “They all went to Blessed Sacrament Church with their parents and family members,” Joseph recalled. “They took up three or four rows. It was very touching and heart-warming to see. It was just amazing,” he said. “We actually had some former members show up, too. That really highlighted the true scouting family that we have. It was not even 24 hours later that we showed up,” said Troop 61 Scoutmaster Kevin Wildman, who said he’s a close friend of the family and has watched Alan grow up. “I’ve known Alan his entire life. His dad is only one year older than me. We used to play baseball together when [Joe’s] dad was the coach. We’ve been friends for many years. And Alan is the type of scout I would love to have a thousand of in my troop,” Wildman said. An honorary Eagle Scout At the time of his death, Alan was close to finishing his First Class rank requirements. “He was a great kid … who would have earned his Eagle Scout CAMPING WITH DAD: Alan Joseph Silipigni and his father, Joseph, of Saugus Boy Scout Troop 61, share a lifetime experience at summer camp this year. Joseph said the trip turned out to be a memory he will cherish for the rest of his life as he mourns the loss of his son, who died last Saturday. (Courtesyphotos to The Saugus Advocate) badge. And the troop has decided he will be made an honorary Eagle Scout because he was an Eagle Scout in everybody’s heart. He was a core member of the troop who everybody looked up to.” As the scouts prayed last Sunday for their late troop member, Wildman said the Gospel selection for that day’s service was fitting, because it was actually titled “the unknown day and hour.” “So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come,” Wildman said, reading from the final verse of Matthew Chapter 24. “Nobody expected Alan to be called home last Saturday morning.” Joseph Silipigni said he will be forever grateful to the town for the outpouring of support for his family as it mourns Alan’s death. “The people in town have reached out tremendously,” he said. “There have been so many tributes on social media. I want to thank everybody in town for all of their support. Thanks to all of the scouts. Thanks to my wife Pam and thanks for my family. Alan loved all his cousins, especially Jenna, Krista, Elizabeth and Matthew,” he said. “Krista, who is a senior, went into the school to decorate Alan’s locker. They’re like brother and sister. She loves him so much.” A SHRINE AT THE LOCKER: Krista Silipigni, a Saugus High senior, decorated the locker of her cousin, Alan Joseph Silipigni, who died unexpectedly last Saturday. Alan was a 14-year-old freshman who had a prolific passion for the Boston Red Sox.
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