LYNNFIELD — The coronavirus has continued to make its way through the local communities with Lynnfield suffering its second death in less than a week, and Nahant reporting its first fatality.
Lynnfield’s loss brings the death total to four in the small community of approximately 12,000 people.
One of the victims, who died Sunday, was World War II veteran, Earl Richard. Hospitalized at Winchester Hospital, Richard was the 99-year-old father of Steven Richard, who succumbed to coronavirus earlier in the week. Steven Richard’s wife, Karen, is still hospitalized with the disease. Her condition is unknown.
“This pandemic has really hit home here in Lynnfield with the latest two deaths,” said Town Administrator Rob Dolan. “It’s a tragedy whenever you lose someone, let alone two in the same family. But this crisis is happening in every community. As a town, we are doing our best to prioritize the health and well-being of everyone and all we can do is make sure our first responders and town officials are freely engaged 24 hours a day every day to make sure that happens.”
Nearby, the Town of Nahant has suffered its first loss from the coronavirus.
Town Administrator Tony Barletta said the town has been notified that one of its residents died over the weekend due to complications from COVID-19.
The person tested positive for the illness after their death, but a town website posting reads that no other information is being released about the deceased at this time.
Along with being the town’s first death, the person was the first to test positive for the coronavirus in Nahant.
Deb Murphy, the town’s public health nurse, has investigated a second confirmed case of the virus, but concluded that the person does not live in Nahant. She’s been in contact with health officials from the community where that person lives, according to the town website.
The Richard deaths hit the Centre Congregation Church especially hard as both generations of Richards were longtime members of the church.
“Earl and (his deceased wife) Edie were such important figures during their many generations as members,” said church pastor, Rev. Nancy J. Rottman. “They held many positions in the church and community. While I knew it was a certainty that I would share the news that Earl Richard had died probably sometime in the not-too-distant future as he was 99, for his death to be a part of this crisis and in the wake of Steven’s death is beyond comprehension. It’s just such an overwhelming time for the family.
“What a legacy Earl left, he led a well-done and good and faithful service and life and has been a huge figure in not only our church but in the community as well.”
Rottman said she was unsure when services would be held.
Last week the Town honored its first two victims by placing lighted candles in the windows of the Meeting House. Rottman invited the members of the community to do the same by lighting candles in their windows.
“The idea came from several sources. I just heard that someone had suggested the candles and I invited the whole community to join in solidarity,” she said. “Lynnfield for Love picked up on it and now it seems that everyone is putting candles in their windows, or chalking their walks or putting the teddy bears in their windows. All of those activities draw the community together and that gives people hope of being a community again, one in which you actually know your neighbors.”
Board of Selectmen Chairman Phil Crawford said he woke up to the sad news Monday morning.
“It’s extremely sad and all I can say is we all send our hearts and prayers to the two families who have lost loved ones,” he said. “I hope this is the end of the deaths in Lynnfield, but only time will tell.
Crawford confirmed that the number of Lynnfield residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 jumped to 11 as of Monday. Crawford also said a statement with further details about the latest deaths in Lynnfield will be issued by the town sometime this week.
The names of the other victims have not been released.
(Gayla Cawley also contributed to this story)
