Christopher J. Fuccione – 60, of Salem, MA, and formerly of North Reading, passed away on July 14, 2026 at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington.

Born in Boston, MA, on October 9, 1965, he was the son of the late Thomas F. and Emily G. (Johnson) Fuccione. He was raised in North Reading, and graduated from North Reading High School, Class of 1983.

Chris overcame addiction and adversity to dedicate his life to working tirelessly for the homeless and disability community as a fearless activist, ensuring everyone was treated with dignity, respect, and compassion. He most recently spent much of his time volunteering with The League of Mercy in Salem, MA to help the homeless community on the North Shore.

Chris worked with the Salem Democratic Committee to support community members in registering to vote, especially advocating for Salem’s homeless community to do so. He also volunteered with many political campaigns, served as the Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator for the Salem Democratic Committee, and ran for City Council in Salem, MA in his beloved Ward 2 neighborhood. Chris worked closely with his neighbors and friends in the Greater Endicott Street Neighborhood Association. He also worked with his friends Jess Tower and Caitlin Tricomi on distributing KN95s, N95 masks, and COVID tests to community members. He volunteered with members of the St. Peter/San Pedro Church in Salem, MA to give out winter jackets annually.

He served on the board of North Shore Community Health Center up until his death, often joining meetings from his hospital bed. With his history of homelessness, living with disabilities, and experience working with the unhoused residents of Salem, he brought a unique perspective to NSCH’s mission of providing health care to the Northshore community. Chris gave up smoking when he joined the board, but with a twist: “At the last board meeting I attend, I’ll light up a cigarette AS SOON as it’s over.”

Chris worked in restaurants in the past, most notably as a dishwasher at The Barnside, Danielas, and Kitty’s. He also worked at Lil Peach, from where many people fondly remember him. More recently, he did online survey work, worked with Tufts CTSI, and worked on various clinical trials to ensure marginalized communities were centered in clinical research. Chris also often entered online contests, and the biggest prize he won was a free celebrity cruise to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In the past, Chris volunteered at animal shelters, including the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA, and with various animal rights groups. Chris was also a member of the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in North Reading, participating in Aldersgate Church Mission trips. 

Chris was a genuine human rights advocate who gave with all of his heart, and cared about the underdog, including, but not limited to animals, immigrants, and the homeless community. He made friends everywhere he went, including with many dogs. In his spare time, he loved watching musicals, listening to Radio Caroline, and Celtic music, as well as Lofi Girl, and many other musical artists. Chris was an avid coin collector. He often watched Jackie and Shadow, the Eagles in Big Bear Valley on YouTube, and tended to leave them on in the background while he was doing his survey work. He was deeply funny, ate like a child, and loved his Zero Sugar Mountain Dew!

Family members include his loving brothers Thomas Fuccione and his wife Lori, Joseph Fuccione and his wife Danielle, his sister Joanne M. Fuccione, nephews Jacob T. Dillon and Thomas R. Fuccione, and nieces Kristina M. Fuccione, Julia G. Dillon and Jaclyn R. Dillon. He also had close friends including, but not limited to Caitlin Tricomi, Jessica “Jess” Tower, Theodore “Teddy” Reale, Pastor Barbara Otto, Pastor Rachel and Pastor Sam Fisher, and Jill and Robb Wilkinson. He was also honored by Jess Tower and Teddy Reale, who named their kitten Muffy Fuccione to honor Chris’s “greatness” (in Chris’s own words). He also had a beloved stuffed teddy bear named Robert who joined him everywhere.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 31, from 4 to 7 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. The memorial service led by Pastor Barbara and Pastor Rachel will be held on Friday, August 7, from 6 to 7 PM at Riley Plaza, 1 -21 Margin Street in Salem, MA 01970. Feel free to share a story, poem, or memory of Chris. In lieu of flowers, cash donations may be made in his memory to The League of Mercy, a group he was a part of that helps the homeless on the North Shore.