Louis Desmond, 92, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2018 at the Coos County Nursing
Home. Born October 1, 1925 in Washington, PA, he was the son of Bernardo and Salata
Desmond, both immigrants from Italy. He was the second oldest of 9 siblings. He joined the US
Navy in 1943 and was sent to study at Wentworth Institute in Boston. He was then assigned to
the USS Tarazed. The Tarazed saw service primarily in the Atlantic theater during WWII but
also saw action in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Azores, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and
France during the conflict. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1945.
He met his future wife, Margaret Masters, at a USO dance in Boston in 1944. They were married
in 1950. Margaret was enlisted in the US Marines at the time and was stationed in Washington,
DC. She could not be discharged as all discharges were frozen due to the Korean conflict. The
couple lived in DC until Margaret’s discharge and moved to Boston. Louis worked for General
Electric and then instrument manufacturer, Mason-Neilan. The couple moved to Holbrook, MA
in 1953. Louis worked at Mason-Neilan for 31 years, retiring in 1982 at which time he moved to
Shelburne.
Louis was an avid aviator, earning his pilot’s license in 1948. He went on to receive his
commercial pilot rating, flight instructor rating and sea plane rating. He served in the US Naval
Reserves from 1956-1958 and was the commanding officer for the Zulu Squadron of the US Sea
Cadets operating out of the South Weymouth Naval Air station. His interest in flying was life
long. He maintained hangars and planes at both the Berlin and Gorham airports. He was often a
guest presenter to Gorham elementary and middle school classes on aviation and other technical
subjects. He was an excellent carpenter and mechanic.
Louis is predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Margaret and by his grand daughter, Jocelyn
Desmond. He is survived by three sons and their wives, Richard and Coleen Desmond of East
Falmouth, MA, Dennis and Cynthia Desmond of Shelburne, NH, and Alan and Jaletta Desmond
of Winston-Salem, NC. Grandchildren include Erin Barber and her husband, Tom of North
Attleboro, MA, Derek Desmond of North Hollywood, CA and Julia Desmond of Winston-Salem,
NC. Louis had one great-grandchild, Thomas (Teo) Barber of North Attleboro, MA. The family
wishes to thank the staff of Coos County Nursing Home for the wonderful and compassionate
care Louis received as a resident over the past seven months.
Graveside Services will be held on Monday April 30, 2018 at 11 AM at the Wheeler Cemetery in Shelburne, NH. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryant Funeral Home, 1 Promenade St., Gorham, NH on Monday morning from 9 to 10:30 AM, prior to the service. Online guestbook at www.bryantfuneralhome.net.