Obituaries

Averill Edmund “Ed” Sparks, BPD Ret. of Quincy passed away at Quincy Medical Center on Monday, November 29, 2010 at age 86. Born in Boston where he was raised and educated, he lived in Upham’s Corner, Dorchester for many years before moving to Quincy 40 years ago. A WWII Army Veteran, Ed was a highly decorated 38-year member of the Boston Police Department, retiring as a Sergeant in 1997. During his career he worked with the Mounted Patrol Unit; with Mobile Operations; with the Bomb Squad and with the Harbor Police.

The beloved husband of the Rev. Clara (Rusk) Sparks and the late Winifred T. (Kelley) Sparks, Ed was the loving father of Edmund T. Sparks of Abington, Tish Alleva of Framingham, Ellen Kulp of Hingham, Kelly Gaffey of Stoneham, Stacey Preble of Weymouth and the late Michael Kevin Sparks, BPD of Norwell; beloved brother of Claire Connolly of Canton, Evelyn O’Brien of Arlington and Paul Sparks of Norwood and is also survived by 7 grandchildren.

Visiting hour will be held on Thursday, December 2 from 4:00 to 8:00pm at the Dennis Sweeney Funeral Home 74 Elm St. Quincy Center. Family and friends are invited. On Friday there will be a gathering at the funeral home at 9:00am followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00am at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church 227 Sea St. Quincy. Burial is at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery.

Donations in Ed’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701 www.cancer.org.