Appreciation- Robert Driscoll Dead at 89

Robert L. Driscoll, Sr. of Seal Harbor Road, Winthrop passed away at the Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston on March 7. He was 89 years old, and left a positive mark on the Town of Winthrop.

“After meeting Bob more than 30 years ago, I knew from that day forward that he was a man who put the interest of the people of Winthrop front and center,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo. “His work and dedication as a longtime member of the Airport Hazards Committee is unparalleled. The town will sorely miss Bob Driscoll. I want to express my deepest condolences to his family.”

Born in Taunton he was the beloved son of the late Anna (McNiff) and William J. Driscoll. A lifetime resident of Winthrop he joined the Army at an early age. After his honorable discharge he went on to work as a pharmacy representative for Smith-Kline-French.

He was also a founding member of the Winthrop Airport Hazards Committee. In 1971 when the Board of Selectmen voted to set up the committee it included four selectmen and three residents, one was Driscoll.

“So sorry to see him gone,” said Airport Hazards Committee chairman (and original member too) Richard Bangs, a long-time friend.

Driscoll was also a member of the Winthrop Planning Board, the Holy Name Society, a Boy Scout Leader and a weekly collector at St. John the Evangelist Church.

“Bob’s passing is a considerable loss for the Winthrop Airport Hazards Committee. Bob’s commitment to the health and welfare of the people of Winthrop was steadfast. He was smart, kind, classy, and honorable; this is how we will remember him. In addition to losing the institutional memory of his decades of service, we have lost a good friend and a great man, said Secretary Dawn Quirk.

“I was very sadden to hear about the passing of Bob Driscoll Sr. Bob was a true gentleman, family man and one who cared deeply about Winthrop,” said Ron Vecchia, Town Council President. “He was involved in many committees in town government over the years but the one that stands out the most is his dedicated work on the town’s Airport Hazards Committee. His passing is a great loss to the community he loved. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

Another one of Driscoll’s friends was former Town Council Tom Reilly couldn’t say enough about Driscoll’s commitment to family and the community.

He was the devoted husband of Clara (Magee) and the loving father of Kathleen Driscoll of Winthrop, Robert L. Driscoll, Jr. and his wife Kathleen of Winthrop, Nancy E. Rodes and her husband Richard of Winthrop, Timothy Driscoll of Cambridge and Michael Driscoll and his wife Suzanne of Burlington. Dear brother of the late Mary Bachini, William Driscoll, Ann O’Reilly and Edward Driscoll. Cherished grandfather of Kenneth, Robert, III, Matthew, Christopher and Andrew.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 or go to www.stjude.org.