The Item's obituary for Wally Moccia, Jr.

'Wally' Moccia Jr. dies at 88

Longtime selectman

WAKEFIELD — Longtime local politician John W. “Wally” Moccia Jr., who died Friday at the age of 88, knew how to get things done. Operating out of his Wally’s Cleaners, Moccia — who served 25 years as a selectman — would welcome anyone to his shop to talk about the town he lived in his whole life. If they had a problem, they knew Moccia was one guy who would listen. And help. He was elected to eight consecutive terms on the Board of Selectmen, beginning in 1960. He decided not to run for a ninth term in 1985. Asked that year what his recipe for political success was, Wally said, “Work hard for the people, make yourself available and try to (solve) their problems.” Admittedly, Wally was not the most polished politician to ever sit on the board, but he sure was effective. “My main concern has always been to serve the citizens. ... We (selectmen) owe them. It’s been a pleasure and an honor to serve the town. “I’m happy the people gave me the opportunity,” he explained. In times of trouble, people didn’t have to go any farther than the dry cleaner’s he ran on first on Water Street, then Albion Street and most recently on Princess Street with his late sister Marion LaFrance. Wally would lend his ear and, if he thought it justified, he’d throw all he had into rectifying the situation. He smiled as he told the Daily Item 21 years ago about an old saying among those seeking his guidance at the cleaner’s: “Get your number and stand in line.” People could count on Wally and, in turn, he could count on their vote on election day. They’d stroll into the shop daily or ring him on the phone at home, seeking advice or help. He said many requests actually were outside the selectman’s purview but Wally was very successful acting as a liaison between residents and town departments. “They don’t know how town government works but they do know Wally’s a selectman and they call,” he said. “Many of the old timers never accepted the fact there is a separation (between the selectmen and other town boards and departments). They came to me many times because they thought the selectmen were the boys to see when they wanted results.” A product of the town’s public school system, Wally served with Company E, 182nd Infantry, Americal Division during World War II in the Guadalcanal campaign. He was honorably discharged and married Wakefieldian Jeanne Evangelista in 1947. They enjoyed 51 years of marriage; she died May 3, 1998. He opened his dry cleaning shop in 1945, which was managed by his sister. They moved it to Albion Street in 1956 and to Princess Street in 1965. He was an active member of the Wakefield Chamber of Commerce. Wally served as president of the Woodville School PTA. He was on the then-newly formed Capital Outlay Expenditures Committee from 1954 to 1959. For three years in the 1950s he was on the Recreation Commission. In 1957-58, Wally served as president of the Lions Club, an organization with which he enjoyed a 55-year affiliation. Wally was also on an earlier version of the town’s Traffic Committee. He was a life member of the Elks Club, a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Florence Church, and was a founding member and past president (1950) of the Crystal Community Club. In 1959, he made his first attempt at elected office, losing to Tom Morse by 10 votes in a contest for selectman. The next year, he became a selectman, winning election to the then one-year term. For the next 25 years he would be a political fixture here. Wally was active in both the Middlesex County Selectmen’s Association (president in 1969) and the Mass. Selectmen’s Association. In 1967, Wally was named the Crystal Community Club’s first “Outstanding Man of the Year.” He was the Chamber of Commerce’s “Wakefieldian of the Year” in 1978, and the West Side Social Club’s “Citizen of the Year” in 1979. Last September, the Wakefield Lions Club presented him with an award for his 55 years of dedication to the organization. He is survived by his sons John “Wally” Moccia III and James Moccia, both of Wakefield, and his six grandchildren. The funeral from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., will be on Wednesday at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass in St. Florence Church at 10 a.m. Calling hours at the funeral home will be tomorrow from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.