Donald DePina Laid To Rest In Bourne

A New Bedford veteran and former Veterans Agent for the city was laid to rest on Monday.

Sixty-six year old Donald DePina was killed on November 28th during a robbery while he was driving a taxi cab in the city's North End.

DePina served as the Veterans Agent for the City of New Bedford during the administration of Mayor Fred Kalisz.

Ervin "Tootsie" Russell, former aide to Congressman Barney Frank, was a good friend of DePina's and also a Vietnam veteran. "Donald was a proud Vietnam veteran, and was very accomplished. He received a rank of Sgt. First Class, and that's not very common." said Russell.

DePina's funeral service was held at the Saunders Dwyer Home for Funerals on Park Street. He was buried at the Mass. National Cemetery in Bourne.

Leading the procession were members of the Massachusetts Patriot Guard, providing a motorcycle escort to honor the deceased veteran.

Also part of the procession were drivers from BlueBird Transportation, the cab company DePina worked for when he was killed.