Gerald “Jerry” DiFranza, an advocate for the disabled in East Boston and across the state, died unexpectedly on April 28, 2025, at the Everett Hospital.
DiFranza was well-known in the disability community and he often worked out of the East Boston Community Information Center on Marion Street, a nonprofit formed by a friend, the late Vincent Manganello.
DiFranza was a pioneer who worked on disability issues long before they became prominent in public policy.
Born on September 7, 1939 in Boston, MA. Gerald graduated from Jamaica Plain High School and received his Associates degree from Bunker Hill Community College.
Gerald then worked as a dietician at Boston City Hospital in the pediatric unit. Affectionately known by the children as the “Food Man”, Gerald took great pride in his work. Throughout his life, Gerald was an advocate for the physically and developmentally challenged and the elderly.
Among his many achievements, Jerry wrote and worked to pass the Lazy Eye Blindness Bill in 1969, requiring all children to be tested for lazy eye blindness. As a result, children in Massachusetts are tested for lazy-eye blindness, preventing vision challenges and saving sight for thousands of children each year.
“Jerry was such a great advocate for people with disabilities,” recalls David D. D’Arcangelo, the former commissioner for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. “He was a throwback and wielded more clout on Beacon Hill than half of the paid lobbyists.”
Jerry worked hard to make sure the voices of the disabled were heard at many East Boston meetings. Technology used to help the visually impaired had not yet arrived. So in 1982, Jerry put out a “call to action” for a volunteer typist.
It read: “A person who can type is needed to assist a blind gentleman at meetings every other Wednesday night from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The volunteer is needed to read material for the biweekly board meetings about half an hour before the meetings start, and help with last minute preparations. The volunteer would become a member of the board of this community organization, as well. If you can help, please call 567-3116 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and ask for Jerry DiFranza.” During numerous public hearings, Jerry reminded everyone of their legal obligations to provide support for the disabled.
Jerry was also instrumental in publicizing the work of the Talking Information Center (TIC) which provided a special receiver so that the disabled could hear printed materials read aloud from radio station WATD 96 FM. “The Boston Globe is read from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is repeated in the evening,” DiFranza told the East Boston Community News at the time. “In the literary section, Kramer vs. Kramer (a popular film) was read in two sections on a Tuesday and Thursday night.”
In addition to his parents, Gerald was predeceased by many aunts and uncles. Nephew of Patricia (Scarfo) Montana and Beverly Scarfo. He is survived by his twin sister Geraldine (DiFranza) McNamee and her husband James McNamee, his Goddaughter and niece Virginia Milano and her husband Edward Milano, nephew Joseph McNamee and his grandniece Isabella Fiorino, niece Emma McGrory and Theresa McGrory.
A service of remembrance will be on Monday May 5, 2025, 11 AM at the Ruggerio Funeral Home in East Boston, MA.
Those who wish to remember Gerald in a special way are encouraged to make a donation in his name to the Perkins School for the Blind.
Much of the groundwork for disability rights today was established by Jerry’s hard work at the State House and elsewhere. He is a great soul whose efforts will not be forgotten. Warm condolences to his family.
Material from Jerry’s obituary was used in this report.
Text of the Lazy Eye Bill Ch. 92 Acts and Resolves of 1969
ACTS AND RESOLVES PASSED BY THE GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS IN THE YEAR 1969
Chap. 92. RESOLVE PROVIDING FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND STUDY BY A SPECIAL COMMISSION RELATIVE TO THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING PUBLic SCREENING PROGRAMS FOR THE DETECTION OF AMBLYOPIA (LAZY-EYE BLINDNESS) IN CHILDREN OF THE PRESCHOOL AGE GROUP. Resolved, That a special commission, to consist of two members of the senate, three members of the house of representatives, the commissioner of public health, or his designee, and three persons to be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts Ophthalmological Society and one from the Massachusetts Society of Optometrists, is hereby established for the purpose of making an investigation and study relative to the feasibility of establishing public screening programs for the detection of amblyopia (lazy-eye blindness)in children of the preschool group, age three to six. –
Approved August 19,1969.
