David J. Connolly

HAVERHILL ­– David J. Connolly, 82, of Amesbury, MA, a longtime Haverhill resident, passed away Sunday, July 12, 2020 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston.

David was born in Haverhill, August 16, 1937, son of James and Lena (Lemerise) Connolly and lived his early years in “The Acre” section of Haverhill.  He was a 1956 graduate of Haverhill High School-Haverhill Trade School where he learned upholstery. After graduating he ran an upholstery shop in Haverhill. He was in the transportation business for 30 years, as an agent for Greyhound/Trailways/Peter Pan bus lines in Worcester. He then managed bus terminals in Haverhill and Lawrence. For 10 years, he worked at the former RiverBank in Lawrence.

While he had close bonds with many on his mother’s side of the family, he was most proud to be the son of an Irish immigrant. He undertook the project of finding and photographing the many places his father and Irish grandparents had lived after they arrived in Haverhill in 1920. He had a great memory for where other relatives and friends had lived over the years and where long-closed shoe factories and other businesses had been located. In his later years, before moving to Amesbury for what was to be a short time, he lived in an apartment on Water Street in Haverhill, enjoying being in the center of the city he loved.

He kept up to date on the activities of his children, siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews, and their children, often commenting that he’d noticed news of a grandnephew or a grandniece on Facebook. He was particularly interested in national and world news.

He enjoyed cooking, going to restaurants, and playing musical instruments and chess. He loved big, shiny cars. If there was a new gadget, he had it. He was self-taught on the computer and other technologies. He relished teaching his grandson new things and supporting him in everything he did.

He had three children from his previous marriage with Joyce (Comley) Driscoll, their children are Dana Connolly and wife Stephanie Dionne of Palm Bay, FL, Shelly Gosselin and husband Steve Gosselin of Haverhill and Lynn Tabak  and  partner Lou Kalampalikis of Lynn. For some 50 years, Dave’s beloved companion was Gloria LaBonte of Newton, NH. Gloria’s daughter Laurie Willett and her husband Michael and their son Zachary became David’s second family. Zach was the apple of his Grampa Dave’s eye.

David was predeceased by his older siblings, Richard J. “Dick” Connolly and wife Evelyn (Comeau) Connolly of West Newbury and Margaret H. “Peg” (Connolly) Bean and husband Richard “Dick” Bean of Amesbury.

Celebration of David’s Life will be held on Saturday, July 25 in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 S. Main Street, Haverhill from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Please note to wear face coverings and social distancing measures will be in place. David will be laid to rest in his family's lot in St. James Cemetery in a private service. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com

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