Published in the July 1, 2015

WAKEFIELD — The WSSC Fourth of July Committee is proud to honor two members of the West Side Social Club at this year’s July Fourth celebration.
The 2015 Honorees will be in Memory of Past President Dan Curran, who passed away in November of 2014, and Club Member Fred Martin, who passed away in June of 2013. The two were the best of friends for many years before their passing.
Dan Curran was a lifelong resident of Wakefield. He was the son of the late John T. Curran and Ardis Curran-Lavoie. He had seven siblings; Patricia, Linda, Jack, Eddie, Gerry, Paul and Kevin.
Dan went to the Montrose Elementary School, Wakefield Jr. High School and moved on to Wakefield Memorial High graduating in 1971.
In 1972 to 1974, Dan served as a SPEC 4 U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
After returning from the service, Dan married and had a daughter, Sarah Curran, now age 30.
Dan served as president of the West Side Social Club in 1996.
Dan was a self-employed carpenter. He also worked for Pepsi and Purity but up until his passing, he worked at the West Side Social Club and the Wakefield Elks as a bartender.
Dan was known as the “Float Master.” He was able to create some of the West Side Social Club’s floats that were known to win First Place in the Fourth of July Parade. His ability to put his idea down on a napkin and make that idea a reality was a true testament of his artistic ability. Dan spent countless hours creating floats with the late Mike Ledoux. And after Mike’s passing, he carried on the tradition for years to come.
Fred Martin, also a member of the West Side Social Club, was born in Stoneham but took up his residence in Wakefield.
He was the son of the late Fred and Marjorie Martin and has one sister, Wendy Jarek.
Fred attended the North Elementary School in Stoneham and graduated from Stoneham High School in 1964.
Fred was employed as a truck driver of Electronic Equipment.
In March of 1965, Fred married his wife, Diane. Together they raised their son Craig, now age 49. Craig is captain on the MIT Police Department.
Fred served as on the Board of Directors for the West Side Social Club and in 1993 as a co-chair for the Fourth of July events. He helped build and always drove dozens of floats for the July Fourth Parade. Fred, along with Dan, put their heart and soul into creating the most remarkable floats ever but the Indy Car in Memory of Mike Ledoux was their prized possession. Fred always said “nothing could top that one!”
And Danny certainly agreed.