Medeiros, always colorful and often bombastic in his service to the city, served as city councilor for 32 years
Long-time city councilor Charles W. Medeiros, while serving as acting mayor in 2009, speaks during a press conference.WESTFIELD – Long-time city councilor Charles W. Medeiros died early Thursday in his beloved city after a short illness.
Richard K. Sullivan Jr., former mayor, called Medeiros “one of the best street politicians I had ever met.”
Medeiros was always colorful and often bombastic during the course of his 32 years as city councilor, but Sullivan stressed his relationship with the man was always marked with honesty and respect.
Sullivan said his colleague and friend “was bigger than life” and that his death marks the end of an era for the city.
During his tenure, Medeiros served with seven mayors, more than 200 city councilors and was elected council president eight times.
Sullivan said Medeiros passed away about 4 a.m.