Dear Hundred Club Family,
It is with great joy that I welcome you to a new chapter of the Hundred Club’s newsletter. While this is not our very first edition, it is the first in quite some time — and we are excited to return to your inbox with stories that reflect the heart of our mission. For decades, this organization has been a quiet source of strength for families of fallen first responders. Today, as we continue to grow and reach more families, we are proud to share our work more openly and invite you closer to the impact you help make possible.
This newsletter will be a place to celebrate stories of resilience, honor the families and heroes we serve, and highlight the generosity of those who stand with us. Above all, it will be a reminder that no family carries their loss alone — and that the Hundred Club is here for the long road ahead.
Tracie A. Hines
Executive Director
Family Spotlight: Kristen Tracy
Kristin Tracy, the surviving spouse of Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracy, who was killed in the line of duty on December 6, 2023, shared how the Hundred Club stepped in during the darkest moment of her life.
“That day was the worst day of our lives. The Hundred Club immediately stepped in and provided emotional and financial assistance so we could focus on our grief and the things that mattered most.”
Kristen and her family remain deeply grateful for the support — from help with everyday needs to opportunities that kept her children active and hopeful.
“The people I’ve met through the Hundred Club and the friendships I’ve made are lifelong. We hope you’ll consider joining the Hundred Club and supporting families like ours in their time of need.”
As a relatively new Chief, this was the first death of an active-duty officer we’ve had to face. When the Hundred Club reached out and offered support to Officer Galvin’s family, it was unexpected and deeply impactful. Your generosity and compassion were a major help as his family began to navigate their way forward.”
– Chief Kevin Faller, Melrose Police Department
Community Spotlight
Brockton carries a legacy of service and sacrifice that has left a lasting mark on the Hundred Club’s story.
In 1941, the tragic Strand Theatre fire claimed the lives of 13 Brockton firefighters, one of the deadliest events in Massachusetts’ firefighting history. That day became a defining moment not only for the city, but for the state, underscoring the risks first responders face each time they answer a call.
More recently, Brockton has again felt the weight of loss. In December 2024, Firefighter Jeffrey W. Albanese passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest while responding to a call. His passing was a profound reminder that line-of-duty deaths are not only about fire-grounds or crime scenes—they are also about the daily stresses and sacrifices of the profession.
What stood out just as much as the tragedy, though, was the outpouring of support from the Brockton community. From the firefighters’ union to local families and businesses, people stepped forward to honor Jeff’s life and to stand beside the Hundred Club in its mission. Their generosity and solidarity were a reminder that the Club does not walk this path alone — entire communities are part of this promise.
The community is coming together to honor Jeff’s memory at the Tossing for a Hero Cornhole Tournament, hosted by Jeff’s widow and family and benefitting the Brockton Relief Association and the Hundred Club of Massachusetts.
This special day is about more than the games — it’s about coming together as a community to celebrate Jeff’s life, support one another, and carry forward his legacy of service.
$10 admission includes a burger, hot dog, chips, and a soft drink (kids 12 & under are free). There will be live music, raffles, and both competitive and family brackets.
Brockton VFW
293 North Quincy Street
Saturday, October 11th, 2025
Check-in at 11 AM | Bags Fly at 12 PM
Fire and Police Membership Drive:
Be an Ambassador This Fall
This fall marks a new chapter for the Hundred Club: the launch of our
first-ever statewide Fire and Police Membership Drive.
It’s more than a campaign — it’s a movement. Active and retired police officers, firefighters, and union locals are coming together to say: “We take care of our own, and we stand with the families left behind.”
We’re looking for ambassadors to help spread the word. It’s not a heavy lift — it simply means keeping an eye out for Club materials, sharing them within your department or union, and encouraging others to get involved. Whether you hang a flyer, mention the drive at roll call, or bring a colleague to one of our upcoming meet & greets (more on that below!), every action strengthens the promise we make to families.
Membership is about more than dues — it’s about belonging to something larger. Each ambassador helps show, in visible ways, that the brotherhood and sisterhood of first responders will never forget those left behind.
In Memoriam: Carol Rabb Goldberg
A Legacy of Service and Family
s we launch the Hundred Club’s first newsletter, we pause to honor the life of Carol Rabb Goldberg (1931–2025) — a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, mentor, and friend whose impact was felt in boardrooms, classrooms, community halls, and here at the Hundred Club.
Carol’s story is a family story. Her great- grandmother, a Russian immigrant, opened a small grocery store in Boston’s North End — a modest beginning that grew into Stop & Shop, one of New England’s best-known companies. Her father, Sidney Rabb, not only guided the company’s rise but also gave deeply of himself to the community, serving as one of the original board members of the Hundred Club alongside our founder, Norman Knight. Carol often recalled joining her father and Norman at Club gatherings at the Park Plaza, memories filled with warmth and purpose that stayed with her for the rest of her life.
Carol was generous with her time and wisdom, serving on boards, mentoring young leaders, and supporting causes that uplifted families and expanded opportunities. Her service was grounded in the same principle that drives the Hundred Club: that in times of need, people should not be left to carry their burdens alone.
She was also a mother deeply proud of her children and grandchildren, and especially of her daughter, Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, who carries forward her example of service in public life.
Carol lived 93 remarkable years, and throughout them, she prioritized what mattered most — family, integrity, and community. Her leadership was defined not only by breaking barriers, but by lifting others up, ensuring that women, widows, and those who too often went unseen had a voice.
As we step into a new chapter for the Hundred Club, we do so with gratitude for Carol’s legacy. Her story is our reminder that service is love in action, and that the most enduring legacies are the ones rooted in family and care for others.
The 100 Club Brewery Tour: Pints, Purpose, People
We’re hitting the road — and the taps! Starting this Fall, the Hundred Club is bringing members, first responders, families, and friends together for our first-ever 100 Club Brewery Tour.
Think of it as a chance to raise a glass, share a laugh, and make new connections with people who get what this community is all about. No formalities, no long agenda — just good company, local brews, and the kind of conversations that remind us why we stand together.
Our first stop on the tour: Greater Good Imperial l Brewing Company – October 16, 2025 5-8 PM
RSVP today — and bring a friend. The first round of community is on us. Keep an eye out for future tour stops by following us on socials media!
Closing Note
This relaunch of our newsletter is more than a new communication — it’s the beginning of a tradition of sharing stories , gratitude, and reminders of why we exist. From the Berkshires to Boston, Worcester to the Cape, we have seen what happens when first responders, families, and communities come together: no one is forgotten.
Or, as Boston Fire Commissioner Paul Burke said so well:
“The generosity of the Hundred Club is so appreciated by the families of our deceased members. I am at a loss of words to truly express my gratitude.”
And we’ll add our own promise: No family of a fallen hero will ever walk alone — not today, not tomorrow, not ever.