Oil-Painting Firefighter Eugene Charron To Present Portrait To Bishop Minihan-This Day in Norwood History-March 27, 1957

By EUGENE V. McLEAN

A veteran member of the Norwood Fire Department, Eugene Charron, 56, with 23 years of service as a firefighter has an artistic hobby which he pursues in his spare time, that of oil painting.

Genial “Gene” who lives at 234 Vernon street has just completed a beautiful 16 x 20 inch portrait of the Most Rev Jeremiah F. Minihan, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston which he painted in three weeks of his spare time. Gene also plans to enter the painting in several art exhibits in the near future before presenting it to Bishop Minihan.

Because Bishop Minihan’s busy schedule ruled out the possibility of his sitting for the portrait. Mr. Charron obtained a most likable copy of the Bishop and used that as his model. The portrait, done in oils, also contains the Bishop’s Coat of Arms and Bishop Minihan is said to have been delighted with the finished portrait. A gold frame sets off the portrait and art lovers may be able to see it hanging soon in a local art association show.

Mr. Charron studied art with the Artists Painting School of Westport, Connecticut. He Is a member of the Canton Art Association. In addition to portraits, he has done many fine landscapes and seascapes and some still-life work. One of his most prized works is an oil painting of one of his five children, Paul, 21, who is now a student at Stonehill College. Gene took up freehand drawing several years ago as a hobby, and then went on to the more intricate work of oil painting.

The Norwood Messenger, March 26, 1957