Published in the January 11, 2017 edition
THE VILLAGER’S first baby of 2017 winner, Mina Caterina Leach, is a true New Year’s Day baby. She was born on Jan. 1 at 2:39 p.m. to Luisa and Charles Leach and is the baby sister of Silvio, 2. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
LYNNFIELD — For only the second time in the 10-year history of the Lynnfield Villager’s First Baby of the New Year contest, the winner is a true New Year’s Day baby.
Lynnfield natives Luisa and Charles Leach of Juniper Road welcomed their daughter, Mina Caterina Leach, into the world on Sunday, January 1 at Beverly Hospital. She weighed a healthy 8 lbs., 6 oz. and measured 21 inches at birth.
MINA CATERINA LEACH is only the second baby to be born on New Year’s Day during the first decade of the Lynnfield Villager’s First Baby of the New Year contest. Also holding that honor is Elizabeth Lee Riester, born on Jan. 1, 2013. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
At just five days old during her press debut, Mina was the picture of contentment, whether being held by her mom or dad or being given kisses by her big brother, Silvio, 2. She sleeps well at night and was wide awake during her photo session, taking in the sounds and all the activity swirling around her without a care in the world.
Mina was officially declared the winner at noon last Friday, Jan. 6 when the deadline to enter the newspaper’s contest had passed.
Charles and Luisa both grew up in Lynnfield and their parents both still live in town as well.
Luisa is a 2000 graduate of Lynnfield High School and Charles is a 2005 graduate of St. John’s Preparatory School. They’ve been together for nearly 11 years and both obtained their undergraduate degrees from Northeastern University.
“My best friend and his best friend are siblings, so we met through them,” Luisa said of their friends, Christina (Iacapino) Itzkowitz and Fabio Iacapino.
Luisa joked with Charles, “You were always around but we never spoke to each other. Then they started putting the idea in our head and it was history!”
After college, Luisa went on to obtain her master’s degree in counseling and psychological services at Salem State and she is presently a licensed mental health counselor specializing in pediatric and family counseling with a Peabody practice. Charles majored in criminal justice and subsequently served four years of active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, which included a nine-month tour of duty in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.
LOVING big brother Silvio Leach, 2, gives his newborn sister Mina a gentle kiss. He loves to talk to her and hold her hand. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
They criss-crossed the country during his time with the Marines. “We lived in Quantico, Virginia and then we moved to North Carolina at Camp Lejeune. And then we drove cross-country to Camp Pendleton in California,” Luisa said. She worked as a family counselor with the Marine Corps during their time at Camp Pendleton.
The couple returned to their hometown when Luisa was eight months pregnant with Silvio in the fall of 2014, driving cross-country again from Camp Pendleton. Charles was honorably discharged with the rank of lieutenant and he remains a member of the Marine Reserves and is employed with a cyber security firm in Waltham.
The couple’s son arrived the day before Halloween in 2014 and they are thrilled to be raising their two children in Lynnfield and beginning their life anew in their hometown.
“We finally found our dream house and we got our little girl too. Life is really good. It’s amazing,” Luisa said.
Charles agreed. “It’s touching to sum it up like that. When you can put your life in a paragraph it becomes so much more profound,” he said.
“We wish for these things and the fact that it happens is mind-blowing,” Luisa added.
The couple enjoys spending time together with family and friends most of all. “We like to cook nice meals. We both like sitting by the fire, whether it’s outside or inside,” Luisa said as a fire blazed in the livingroom fireplace.
Charles also enjoys the strong ties he has developed in civic affairs in town. He is very active with the Lynnfield American Legion Post, helping to update its website and social media presence. He is a member of the town’s War Memorial Committee, which is actively pursuing plans to either restore and expand or replace the existing war memorials on the town common.
An Eagle Scout, Charles is also giving back to his former troop, Boy Scout Troop 48, by mentoring Life Scout Nicholas Alphen as he pursues his own Eagle Scout project in the coming year to establish a flag drop off program and educating others on proper flag etiquette.
Mina is the beautiful granddaughter of Salvatore and Caterina Colucciello of 9 Liberty Lane and Gary and Maria Leach of 3 Northway.
The baby is also blessed to have Vincent Tagliamonte of Melrose, Ernestine Leach of Sunrise in Lynnfield, Luisa Macolino of Castelvenere, Italy, and Maria Consalata Colucciello of Paternolopi, Italy as her great-grandparents.
Both of the couple’s children are named after their great-great paternal grandparents who were the mother and father of their great-grandfather, Vincent Tagliamonte.
“Mina was due on Dec. 28. She came a couple of days late. I love that Silvio’s birthday was near a holiday, the day before Halloween and I thought it would be so great if she was a New Year’s Eve or a New Year’s Day baby, and it happened. I thought it was going to be on Christmas and I was a little nervous about how that was going to pan out, but I love that it’s New Year’s Day,” Luisa said.
Winning the newspaper’s contest was a surprise bonus to becoming parents for the second time to a healthy and happy baby.
First decade of winners
Mina Caterina Leach completes the first decade of winners in the Villager’s First Baby contest. She is also the sixth baby girl to win the contest. The previous contest winners were: Matthias Philip Ogren, born Jan. 12, 2016 at 12:06 a.m.; Karley Kathleen Murphy, born Feb. 3, 2015 at 10:28 a.m.; Henry Joseph Morton, born Jan. 4, 2014 at 2:14 p.m.; Elizabeth Lee Riester, born Jan. 1, 2013 at 9:22 a.m.; Sydney Tate Weyler, born Jan. 5, 2012 at 7:12 a.m.; Sebastian Reardon Garcia, born Jan. 3, 2011 at 11:42 a.m.; Amelia Sophia Xavier, born Jan. 4, 2010 at 6:49 a.m.; Mia Shawn Daley, born Jan. 5, 2009 at 3 p.m.; and Rocco Max Scenna, born Jan. 3, 2008 at 4:02 a.m.
Extensive prize package
The local businesses that donated prizes to this year’s winning family are: Photography by Corinna, 451R Broadway, Lynnfield – free photo session and one 8×10 ($195 value); Village Pharmacy, 590 Main St., Lynnfield – gift basket; The Savings Bank, Lynnfield branch, 584 Main St. – $25 savings account; Wakefield Co-op Bank, Lynnfield Branch, 596 Main St. – $25 savings account for baby; Baubles Fine Jewelry, 1 Post Office Square, Lynnfield – $25 gift card for mom; The Farm Land, 415 Main St., Wakefield – $50 gift certificate; and the Lynnfield Villager – one-year gift subscription or extension of subscription to the newspaper for the parents.
