Joseph D’Alfonso of Medford, formerly of Cambridge and Somerville, died on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was 90.
He was born and raised in Lettomanoppello, in Abruzzo, Italy, the son of Concetto and Anna (Giusti) D’Alfonso, and played French horn professionally with a traveling orchestra there. He came to the United States in 1956, lived in Cambridge and then Somerville, and moved to Medford in 1993. He worked for many years in the maintenance department at MIT, played with the Roma band at North End feasts, grew vegetables he was proud of and followed every Boston team.
He leaves his wife, Yolanda (Cafarelli) D’Alfonso; his daughter, Anna Quadri and her husband Michael of Somerville; his grandchildren, Iliana Quadri and her husband Fabrice Devaris, and Alex Quadri; his brother, Mario D’Alfonso and his wife Margaret; his sister, Antonette Forte; and many nieces and nephews here and in Italy. His sister Santa Severi and her husband Edgardo died before him.
Visiting hours are Thursday, October 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main Street, Medford, and again Friday, October 30 at 9 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Catherine of Genoa Church, 179 Summer Street, Somerville, and entombment at Woodlawn Mausoleum, Everett. The family suggests donations to Mass General Brigham in his memory.
Compiled from information published by Dello Russo Funeral Home. Photograph courtesy of the family via Dello Russo Funeral Home. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.
