Al was the son of the late Emanuel and Michelina Monaco of Medford, MA. He was born on March 4, 1930 in Medford, MA, the youngest of seven children. He graduated from Medford High School in 1948 and several years later was on his way to becoming a priest when he met Julia at an insurance company where they both worked. She captured his heart and as a result, his plans changed. He did however remain extremely devoted to his Catholic faith throughout his life.
Al and Julie married in 1952 and started their family. Al was in the insurance business and worked as an account manager for Johnson & Higgins and later, Marsh & McLennan. Al’s job required frequent transfers so the family left South Boston in 1960 moving first to Rochester, then Buffalo, then Scituate, next Hartford, before finally settling in Scituate in 1971.
When Al was in his twenties he served his country as a member of the National Guard. He was also a member of the Scituate Knights of Columbus for over 40 years and served as the Grand Knight for one year.
Al was an avid reader (he had so many books that he had to sneak them into the house) and also an incredible artist who loved to paint and draw cartoons. He wasn’t a material guy but he loved his collection of watches, pens, pipes and cameras as well as his Apple computer and German cars. He was also an incredible sports fan as was his wife, Julie. He followed all of the Boston teams as well as Notre Dame football. He was always a bundle of nerves before Notre Dame games and sad whenever they lost.
Al and Julie spent many years in retirement wintering in Belle Aire Beach, FL. In his later years, Al made two bucket list trips with his daughter Karen, first to Italy to visit the family and then to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon and the Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Navajo country.
Al was always smiling and had a very positive attitude. He loved Julie, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren beyond measure.
Al is survived by his children, Mary and her husband, John Lake, of Osterville, MA, Karen Monaco and her pups, Frankie and Maddie, of Scituate, Thomas Monaco of Brookline, MA, and Michael and Elizabeth Monaco of Scituate, MA. In addition, Al had four grandchildren, Kimberly Conrad (and husband, Corey) of Scituate, MA, Robin Gutierrez (and husband, Sebastian) of Scituate, MA, Michael Monaco and his partner Casey Repasy, of Jersey City, NJ, John Lake III (and wife, Elizabeth ) of Marshfield, MA and three great grandchildren, Mairead Conrad, Corey Michael Conrad and John Lake IV. Dear friends include Patricia Hanratty and Cheryl Bancroft of Punta Gorda, FL.
Family and friends are invited to attend the wake on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 from 8:30 AM-10:30 AM at Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home, 382 First Parish Road, Scituate, MA followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Mary of the Nativity, 1 Kent Street, Scituate Harbor, MA at 11:00 AM. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to Sunset Point Camp via the Archdiocese of Boston at https://www.ccab.org/ways-to-give/donate/
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