Berry Joins Development Team at Northeast Arc

Former state Sen. Fred Berry has joined the development team at Northeast Arc in a part-time capacity.

Berry Bids Fond Farewell to Senate

Fred Berry, a Peabody native born with cerebral palsy, wrapped up his 30th consecutive year in the Mass. Senate on Thursday with a farewell speech.

State Senator Fred Berry, accompanied by family members, bid farewell to his colleagues and the State House Thursday evening in an emotional speech in the Senate chambers. Berry, the Senate majority leader and a Peabody Democrat, is retiring after 30 consecutive years representing his hometown, along with Salem, Beverly, Danvers and Topsfield. The Salem News reports that Berry, while sentimental, injected some levity and his ready wit into his remarks Thursday, even poking fun at the fact that his cerebral palsy has made his speech difficult to follow oftentimes. The Salem News reports that Berry told one story of how his wife, Gayle, who is a physical therapist, suggested she could help improve his speech. “Honey, I’ve won ten elections …

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Senator Berry to Deliver Farewell Speech Thursday

Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Fred Berry of Peabody will deliver his farewell speech in the Senate Chamber at the State House on Thursday evening.

Retiring state Senator and Tanner City native Fred Berry will deliver his farewell speech on the Senate floor Thursday evening, concluding three straight decades in office. Beth Mullen, Berry's deputy chief of staff, made the announcement on Wednesday. Berry, a Democrat from Peabody, serves at the Senate Majority Leader. Mullen said colleagues, friends and family will gather on Thursday to hear Berry deliver his farewell speech at the State House.   "This will mark the final time that Senator Berry will speak on the Senate floor, concluding his 30-year career in the legislature," Mullen said. Last week, Berry was one of eight local residents awarded a Distinguished Leadership Award by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce during the chamber'…

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Berry to be Honored as 'North Shore Distinguished Leader'

Retiring Peabody Senator Fred Berry has been named a North Shore Distinguished Leader and will be honored at the North Shore Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner this week.

Peabody native Fred Berry, who is retiring after 30 years in the Massachusetts Senate, is one of eight winners of this year’s North Shore Distinguished Leadership Award. The award is one of many similar recognitions Berry has received in his tenure -- in fact, awards are given out by local organizations in his name. This, however, is the first time Berry will receive this particular honor. The winners were announced earlier this month by the North Shore Chamber of Commerce. They will be honored on Wednesday, Nov. 28 from 5-8 p.m. during a dinner event at Danversport Yacht Club. The award is designed to honor “distinguished leaders in business, industry, community and profession” on the North Shore, using such criteria as demonstrated …

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Friends, Family, Colleagues Recall 'the Berry Best' of Years

Hundreds gathered to celebrate outgoing state Senate Majority leader Fred Berry's work.

Unique, masterful, loyal, hilarious, inspirational, compassionate, admirable, generous, committed, and "the Berry best" were just some of the words used to describe outgoing state Sen. Fred Berry at a celebratory night in his honor Thursday at the Danversport Yacht Club.  Led by Master of Ceremonies Nelson Benton, a longtime former editor at the Salem News, Berry's praises were sung by Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, alongside hundreds of state and local officials, friends and family members. They all remembered Berry's 30 years on Beacon Hill. In a video presentation, members of the community expressed their gratitude for Berry. Speakers included representatives from North Shore Elder Services, HAWC, North Shore Community …

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John Castelluccio

1:56 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012

You've all more than thoroughly expressed your shared opinions of Senator Berry on this point, which also has nothing to do with this particular article or the event itself that was covered, so let's move on. Nothing new or constructive is being expressed here -- the endorsement and the primary election were two weeks ago and you all had ample opportunity to comment on it at the time.   more ›

Berry to be Feted at Soldout Event in Danvers Tonight

Outgoing state Senate Majority Leader and Peabody native Fred Berry will be honored at an event at the Danversport Yacht Club on Thursday night.

Outgoing state Senator and Peabody native Fred Berry will be honored at a soldout event at Danversport Yacht Club on Thursday night. Berry, a Democrat who was born with cerebral palsy, was first elected to the state Senate in 1982. In recent years, he has served as the Majority Leader. Over his 30 years in office, among other accomplishments, Berry has been considered a champion for fellow residents with disabilities. He announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection to the Second Essex District seat this fall. The district includes Peabody, Salem, Beverly, Danvers and Topsfield. Berry graduated from Bishop Fenwick High School and Boston College. Before he was elected to the Senate, he served two terms on the Peabody City Council…

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Berry Endorses Lovely for Senate

Sen. Fred Berry says Lovely is best choice to take over his seat.

Sen. Fred Berry had endorsed Salem City Councilor Joan Lovely for his senate seat. “I will cast my vote for Joan Lovely,” Berry said in a statement that was leaked to the press two days before planned, according to an article in the Salem News. “As an eight-term city councilor and longtime community leader, Joan knows what local communities need from the state government. She has demonstrated both compassion and political courage in dealing with tight municipal budgets and providing vital services to her community.” Joan Lovely said she "had no clue" of the endorsement until she was informed by a reporter, according to the Salem News article. Berry has been senator of the 2nd Essex District — Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, Salem and Topsfield…

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Bill

10:19 am on Friday, September 7, 2012

Tom - Don't you mean Klassy? You must be a true Dem, not really interested in Democracy, just your way or the highway   more ›

You Ask...Patch Answers

Who Was There With Fred?

State Sen. Fred Berry has represented his hometown of Peabody and the rest of the 2nd Essex District for three decades. Do you know who served with him who's still on Beacon Hill now?

Here’s a bit of election trivia for you that goes back 30 years or more. As you know, Peabody native Fred Berry is retiring from the Senate after this year, which is his 15th term. How many sitting state senators were in office on Beacon Hill when Berry was first elected to represent the 2nd Essex District, do you know? As the Dean of the Senate with 30 years, you’d think the answer was “none,” but it’s not. The correct number is two…but they didn’t actually serve with Berry in the Senate until years later. Senators Tom Kennedy (D-Brockton) and Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) were both in the House of Representatives at the time, along with four other representatives who are still sitting in the House. Rep. Angelo Scaccia (D-Readville) was …

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Berry, in Hospital With Pneumonia, on the Mend

Peabody native Sen. Fred Berry has been hospitalized with a bout of pneumonia, but his staff says he is expected to make a full recovery.

Peabody native Sen. Fred Berry has been hospitalized with a bout of pneumonia, but his staff says he is expected to make a full recovery, reports the Salem News. The paper reports that Berry's staff have not elaborated on the seriousness of the illness, when he was initially admitted to the hospital or when he is expected to return home, but have said he is on the mend and should fully recover in the coming weeks. Berry, 62 and who has cerebral palsy, has experienced some health complications in recent years that did send him to the hospital for a stretch. He indicated in his announcement last fall that his impending retirement from the state Senate was partly due to health concerns. The longtime senator is retiring after three decades in …

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Berry Adds 10 Amendments as Part of $32B State Budget

Sen. Berry tacked on several additions to the Senate's version of the FY13 state budget, which is more than $32 billion. The amendments address everything from helping increase municipal recycling programs to creating a safety symposium for mental health