Westfield Patch remembers those who died during the year. All passed away far too soon.

Firefighter Danny Maglione passed away in March following a 15-month battle with an unknown primary cancer. Maglione, a married father of two daughters, ages 14 and 12, had been waging an aggressive battle, including traveling to Tennessee to seek treatment.

Franklin School lost first grade teacher Kelly Finkel in April after a battle with cancer. Finkel left behind her husband Darren, an English teacher at Westfield High School and their young daughter. 

Westfielders mourned the loss of beloved Westfield High School consumer science and family life teacher Barbara Philpot, who passed away at the age of 54 from lung cancer.

WHS class of 2011 graduate Kyle MacKechnie was killed in a car accident on Dec. 20. Nearly 200 mourners filled the Presbyterian Church in Westfield for a memorial service in which he was remembered for his kindness and bright smile.

Anthony Grasso, who spent 23 years as WHS's beloved biology teacher, passed away after a brief illness on Dec. 22. Grasso was remembered as a loving husband, father, teacher, coach and volunteer firefighter.