Obituaries

Obituary: Woburn Tanners Legend Ozzie Guilli Passes Away at 83

The voice of the Tanners passed away on December 31.

The following is an obituary courtesy of Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home

Oswald “Ozzie” Guilli passed away at Tufts New England Medical Center Tuesday evening the 31st of December with his beloved family by his side. The devoted husband of the late Louise (Lancellotta) Guilli, he was eighty-three years of age.

Born in Woburn, he was one of four children born to the late Victor and Florinda (Scearbo) Guilli. He grew up in the South End of Woburn, attended Woburn Schools, and officially graduated several years ago after receiving his diploma, as he had left school to enlist in the United States Air Force. Proudly serving his country as an Airman First Class, he also achieved his GED while serving during the Korean War.

“Ozzie,” as he was forever called, worked at Hewlett Packard for close to thirty years, where he worked as an Expeditor, retiring over fifteen years ago. 

“Ozzie” had the wonderful good fortune of having a very loving wife and two wonderful daughters and a son, to whom he was devoted. Being with his family meant the world to him. When his children married, he had the wonderful opportunity of becoming a very doting grandfather, “Papa,” and nothing gave him more pleasure.

Throughout Ozzie’s life, he dedicated himself to the youth of the city and the betterment of sports here in Woburn. Be it baseball, basketball, or football, batting, fielding, shooting, or running, he helped kids learn it all. He not only coached but would also serve on the various boards, to assist in bettering the organizations.

Well over twenty years ago he began working at the high school as the “Equipment Manager.” He took his role very seriously and again, like anything else he has done in his life, he was dedicated to doing the best job possible, which he achieved. Actually, he had worked the day before he was suddenly admitted to the hospital in early December. 

He kept organized all of the sports equipment for every sports team at Woburn Memorial High School. He was also “The voice of Woburn High School Sports,” announcing all of the home games for football, soccer, and basketball, and any other sporting venue where he was needed and always with great enthusiasm. Ozzie often had his granddaughter who took singing lessons sing the National Anthem at the beginning of many games, and he was more and more proud each time she sang. During the “home” Thanksgiving Day games, Ozzie would entertain the crowd at half time with his rendition of “My Melancholy Baby”. 

Amongst his colleagues he was highly regarded and had the respect of not only the coaches and athletes here in Woburn, but all around the Middlesex league, and of all the youngsters who passed through any sports team here in Woburn for over the last thirty years. “Ozzie” was truly a very dedicated man, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was fair, had very strong ethics and a belief that all kids are good kids. He enjoyed working with kids of all ages, little leaguers to varsity players in every sport! 

He invested himself in the youth of the city and had served on the Woburn Little League Board of Directors, where they dedicated the Snack Shack, now “Ozzie’s Place,” at Weafer Park to him several years ago, as a show of great appreciation for his dedication to even taking care of the snack shack; as a Coach and Board of Directors of Woburn Pop Warner Football, where he also announced the games; as a Coach of Woburn Babe Ruth; on the Board of Incorporators and Volunteers for the Woburn Boys and Girls Club; as organizer of the major golf fundraiser for Woburn Boys and Girls Club; and as a long-time Bingo caller at the Immaculate Conception Church in Winchester, Pop Warner Bingo, and Woburn Boys and Girls Club. 

Our city has truly lost a wonderful man. Dedicated, strong-willed, and meticulous in his job, he showed a great appreciation of all sorts of people, young and old and from all walks of life. He held a great love for his family, friends, and life, exemplifying the true characteristics of a man who chose to live his life to the fullest and sharing it selflessly with everyone. 

“Ozzie” was predeceased by his wife, Louise (Lancellotta) Guilli, his sister, Lena Milligan, his son-in-law, Peter Kairo, his brother-in-law, Freddie Frenzo, and his sister-in-law, Rosemary Guilli.

He is lovingly survived by his children, Rosey Guilli Sands and her husband Paul, and Joanne Kairo, all of Woburn, and William Guilli of ME, his sister, Pam Frenzo of Stoneham, his brother Daniel Guilli of Woburn, his grandchildren, Kim Sands Ciasullo and her husband Emilio, Eric Sands, Ryan Watt, and Nina Kairo, and his great-grandchildren, Alyssandra, Arianna, Emma, and Anthony Ciasullo, Hunter and Summer Sands, and Julian LaCasse, as well as many loving nieces and nephews and their families. 

Funeral from Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Monday, January 6th at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 10. Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. Calling hours on Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. Remembrances may be made in Ozzie's memory to the Boys and Girls Club of Woburn, 1 Charles Gardner Lane, Woburn, MA 01801.


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