Charles E. “Coach” Hazel
...former Coach and Athletic Director in Tewksbury; 94
TEWKSBURY - Charles E. “Coach” Hazel, 94, a member of the Mass Coaches Hall of Fame andformer Athletic Director and former long-time Coach for the Tewksbury School System, died Thursday morning, Jan. 31, at the Tewksbury Hospital.
He was the husband of Helen M.(Regan) Hazel, with whom he had celebrated a 63rd wedding anniversary this past July 6th.
He was born in Newton, April 26, 1907, a son of the late Walter and Jennie (Tarr) Hazel. He wasraised in Newton and Billerica, and attended Mt. Herman Preparatory School in Peterborough,NH. He later attended Boston University and Boston State Teachers College.
In his youth, he earned a position on the Lowell Butlers semi-pro football team in 1927-28, andwould later be named to the All-Star Team. While working at Tewksbury Hospital as achauffeur, he began his coaching career with positions at the former Keith Academy in Lowell,and later with the Tewksbury Hospital’s baseball team. He began as assistant coach in theTewksbury High School in 1935, and some 40 years later, retired as the Athletic Director for theTewksbury School Department. During his distinguished career, he coached virtually all of theTewksbury High sports teams for both women and men. He was honored by induction into theMass Coaches Hall of Fame in 1967, and was also among the first inductees of the TewksburyRedmen Hall of Fame. The town recognized his achievement by naming a Livingston Streetathletic field the “Charles E. Hazel Field.” Coach Hazel will also be remembered for heading theHigh School Drivers Education Program at TMHS.
He celebrated 50 years of membership in the A.F. & A.M. Freemason’s Wamesit Lodge in 1997.
Coach Hazel was a member of the Tewksbury Congregational Church community.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law; Charlene and her husbandKanu Patel, Donna and her husband Richard Damboskey all of Derry, NH, Debra and herhusband Wayne Beaulieu of Littleton, CO., four sons and daughters-in-law;Charles D. and hiswife Cindy (Fitzpatrick )Hazel of Plattsmouth, Neb., Tewksbury Police Lt. George W. and hiswife Carol (Sullivan) Hazel of Tewksbury, John M. and his wife Lynn (Zehnter) Hazel ofHollywood, Fla., Raymond F. and his wife Jannine (Carlton) Hazel of Alexandria, VA; 13grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren, a nephew; Duncan and his wife Evelyn (Gomes) Hazel ofBillerica, and two nieces; Barbara Voulgaris of Dracut, Sara Jane Paquette of Lowell.
He was also father of the late Marie Hazel, brother of the late Ada Jacobson and George Hazel,and grandfather of Colleen Hazel who died in 1980.
His funeral service was held Tuesday, Feb. 5, in the Tewksbury CongregationalChurch, followed by burial in Tewksbury Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers,memorials to the TMHS Redmen Football Club, Charles E. Hazel Scholarship Fund, 9 CleghornLn., Tewksbury, MA 01876, will be appreciated.