Dante Salvatore DeFazio, 89, died at Newton-Wellesley Center for Alzheimer's Care after four years of declining health. Born in Pittsfield, MA on January 7, 1925, son of Vincenzo and Gilda (Paoletti) DeFazio, he was the second youngest of their ten children. He was predeceased by two infant brothers, an infant sister and by brothers Thomas, Victor, Ernest, Joseph, Gildo and sister Lucia. Dante graduated from Pittsfield High School. Upon graduation, he joined the Army Air Corp and served as a waist gunner in a B-17 bomber during WWII, flying many missions over Germany. His plane was shot down on his last mission and he and the crew were taken prisoner, and remained so until the war ended. He suffered injuries, and upon returning home after the war, spent some time at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. He enrolled in Boston College and graduated in 1950, then went on to receive his Masters Degree in English and Literature. He taught in high schools and middle schools, first in Charlestown and Watertown and then at Lincoln Junior High and Barbieri Middle School in Framingham. He taught for over 36 years before retiring in 1986. Dante married Dorothy Dunton from North Adams in August 1950. They were married for 64 years and raised five children; Paul DeFazio and his wife, Sandra, of Medford, MA, Laura Jackson and her husband, Lawrence, of Hopkinton, MA, Linda Koelbel of Sandwich, MA, Lisa Heras of Hopkinton, MA, and Louise Adair and her husband, John, of Millis, MA. They have 12 grandchildren, Rebekah, Alyssa, Erik, Emily, Stephanie, Lea, Jason, Kristina, Ethan, Mark, Lukas, Lexa, and five great-grandchildren. He also leaves many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind a sister-in-law, Rose DeFazio of Ashland. All will miss their Dad, Nonno and Uncle whom they loved very much. Dante and Dorothy lived in Newton and Watertown when they first married and bought a home in Ashland in 1954 where they lived for 44 years. They retired to East Falmouth on Cape Cod and lived there for 15 years, until moving back to this area in 2013. Dante was very active in local organizations through the years, particularly the VFW and American Legion in Ashland, serving as Commander in both places. He was also a member of the Shriners, the Mason's North Star Lodge in Ashland (serving as Worshipful Master), and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Ashland School Committee and as an Ashland Selectman, and was Chairman at both organizations during his membership. He also served as a substitute teacher in Mashpee, MA while living in East Falmouth. He worked part time for many years at the Huggins Company in Holliston as a truck dispatcher and also at the Ashland Public Market. He was a communicant at St. Cecelia's Church in Ashland and at Saint Anthony's church in East Falmouth. Anyone who had ever known Dante will remember him as a lifelong educator with an unwaivering committment to his community, friends and family - always setting an example to those around him. He will be dearly missed. Calling hours will be held on Thursday evening from 5-7PM at the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main Street in Ashland. A funeral Mass will be said Friday, September 26th at 9AM at St. Cecilia's Church in Ashland. Following cremation his ashes will be buried at a later date in Wildwood Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Dante's memory to the Ashland Emergency Fund, PO Box 112 Ashland, MA 01721.