Age 28. 72 Orange Street, Chelsea, MA. Born (as Villa Kaufman) on 8/14/1914, in Chelsea. Died of burns (death certificate). Boatswain's Mate, 2nd class, U.S. Naval Reserve. Based at the Receiving Station, Fargo Barracks, South Boston (Boston), MA. Was known by his middle name Roger. First name William. Details of his demise were provided by a civilian friend, Howard Jones, Jr., age 25 (Born 8/31/1917. Died 6/12/1975, age 57), of Cambridge, MA, escaped. Mr. Jones informed Boston Police that the pair had entered the main lobby two minutes before fire appeared, were standing in a coat check line of "...not more than ten people" (police department transcript, 11/29/1942). Said a panicked "headwaiter" rushed up the steps from the cellar Melody Lounge and "bumped into him" in the foyer. Was misreported in the 11/29/1942 Boston Sunday Post that story of escape was shared with the paper by both men. Claimed by the 11/30/1942 Chelsea Evening Record that, "...the two men aided in the rescue work" (latter statement possibly based on the erroneous Boston Sunday Post report). Account was corrected in The Boston Post, 11/30/1942: "...William R. Kaufman...was last seen by his friend, Howard Jones...just as they had checked their hats and coats at the cloak room counter." Mr. Jones to Boston Police, 11/29/1942 (quote): "I crossed the street and looked back...I saw two bodies lying there. One was a man. The second one was beyond recognition...It is possible it was my friend." Remains were identified the following Tuesday at Waterman's Funeral Home in Boston, "...by his appearance and by the fact that on his left foot...a Navy shoe was on [sic]...with the initials on the tongue 'W.R.K.'" (First Naval District inquest transcript, 12/01/1942). His automobile, a 1939 Packard sedan (MA registration 808-357), was located by city police parked at the corner of nearby Stuart Street and Broadway. Was single. Previously a salesman at the family business, Kaufman Furniture Co., of Chelsea. Parents Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Rose (Cohen) Kaufman, same address. Burial at Fuller Street (Beth Israel) Cemetery, Everett, MA.

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