As pallbearers descend the stairs at St. Agnes Nov. 28, current and former Select Board members watch. / Bob Sprague photo
UPDATED, Nov. 28: Kevin Greeley, a member of the town Select Board since 1989, and a former chairman, has died. He was 68.
An email sent to members of the Finance Committee said he had died of a heart attack.
Greeley attended his 50th reunion for Arlington Catholic the night before he died.
A news release issued at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, says: “It is with great sadness that we report that Select Board member Kevin Greeley passed away …. Our hearts are with his family in their time of mourning. We feel his loss dearly, and we extend our thoughts and support to all who are affected.”
Select Board Chair Dan Dunn told ACMi in a phone interview that Greeley died of natural causes. Dunn called his passing an “end of an era.” Dunn went on to tell ACMi that Greeley “did so many things for the town, being on the Select Board was his most visible role, but he did so much more than that.”
Greeley
Kevin’s father, Joseph, was a selectman before him, and Kevin and his siblings carried on that legacy of volunteerism, the releases says. “Kevin volunteered countless hours to his community, supported innumerable events and committees, and served the town for almost 30 years as a member of the Select Board. The town will greatly miss his service.”
Select Board meeting postponed
The Select Board meeting for Nov. 26 has been postponed and was rescheduled for Dec. 10, the release from Dunn and Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine said.
His brother Bobby, chairman of the Boards of Assessors, had been scheduled to present data supporting a new tax rate.
A-List Facebook comment, photos remembering Kevin
8 years as chairman
According to Legendary Locals of Arlington (Arcadia, 2015), Greeley won his first election to what was then known as the Board of Selectmen in 1989, just two weeks after his father died. He served eight years as chairman.
Initially known as the most shy of the Greeley children, he was inspired by his father’s ability to captivate an audience. He attended Emerson College, earned a position on the debate team, competing in the United States and Europe. After earning a master’s degree in business communications, he worked for a private corporation and in 1999 formed his own company.
Greeley Communications provides training in public speaking and sale for corporate executives.
As a public official, Greeley helped lead several campaigns to pass budget overrides to maintain town services and rebuild Arlington’s seven elementary schools, the first in 1998. He is also known for his support of the business community.
In 1991, Greeley founded the Selectones, an ad hoc group of town officials who volunteer to sing at the Senior Center, public housing facilities and local churches. Last December, the group performed at the Arlington High School Winter Concert. The group also sang at the celebration of Town Hall’s 100th year in 2013.
Transition
Last year, local speculation suggested Greeley might be stepping down from the board after he put his Mystic Street home up for sale. Asked at the time, Greeley told YourArlington he was merely downsizing and staying in town.
The Select Board and town moderator are expected to appoint within 30 days a member to fill the vacancy until the April town election. The board plans to discuss the deadline for the application and confirm the process at its next meeting, Dec. 10.
From the DeVito Funeral Home
An obituary at the DeVito Funeral Home website says:
Husband, Father, Brother, citizen of Arlington. Beloved husband of Anny M. (Tierney) Greeley.
Devoted father of Katherine Mary and Sean Patrick.
Son of the late Joseph P. and the late Elizabeth F. (Flanagan) Greeley. Brother of Robert E. and his wife, Nancy of Arlington, and the late Mary Anne, John K., and Brian R. Greeley.
Brother-in-Law to Carol Greeley of Arlington. Favorite Uncle of Kristin Greeley of Arlington.
Also survived by many nieces and nephews and his dogs Abby and Molly.
Proud servant of the Town of Arlington; longest-serving Selectmen in town history, 30 years, (8 times as Chairman), 30 years as Arlington Town Meeting member, past board member of the Arlington Boys & Girls Club, member of the Arlington Touchdown Club, member of Arlington Rotary Club, and inductee of the Arlington Catholic Hall of Fame.
Also served as professor and associate dean at Emerson College for 11 years where he received his B.S. and master’s degrees in communications, as well as three years of doctoral studies at Kent State University.
President & CEO of Greeley Communications Inc.
Visiting hours
Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours on Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 2 to 7 p.m. in Town Hall Auditorium, 730 Mass. Ave.
Mass of Christian burial on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Agnes Church.
Interment at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
In lieu of of flowers, donations in memoriam can be made to the Arlington Boys & Girls Club.
Traffic information
Traffic and parking impacts Tuesday, Nov. 27, 1 to 8 p.m. (from the town website):
– No parking on Mass. Ave. eastbound from Academy Street to Peg Spengler Way (library).
– There will be limited handicapped parking in front of Town Hall. See detail officer at barricade.
– The MBTA will detour bus traffic, eastbound, not picking up at Town Hall and the Library.
Word on the Street, Nov. 25: Video of Greeley supporting Mass. Ave. project in 2013
March 14, 2011: Brian Greeley, a patriot at heart, dies at 55
This news announcement was published at 1:10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, and updated.
