Francis James Driscoll Jr., age 94, was called safely home on Thursday, June 15, 2023. Francis was the only child of the late Francis J. and Margaret (Farley) Driscoll. He was born on October 2, 1928, and lived the majority of his life in Chicopee Falls.
Francis attended the former Alvord and Taylor (where he began his teaching career in 1954) Schools and graduated from Chicopee High School in 1946. He fondly remembered playing baseball and working at his first job at Lincoln Grove Park. Francis attended Boston College and was a proud 1951 alumnus who avidly followed BC football and basketball throughout his life. He also received an MA, in 1958, from AIC and took many graduate courses at Westfield State College while teaching. Francis worked for the Chicopee Public Schools for his entire career and retired as principal of Streiber School in 1990. Mr. Driscoll was always happy to run into former students and colleagues.
Francis thoroughly enjoyed school vacations to read, play golf, and take his family to Red Sox games and on vacation to beaches throughout New England. He even drove to Disney World one summer.
Francis married Jane (Puc) Driscoll on January 30, 1954, and they celebrated 46 years of marriage just before her passing in 2000. They lived in Norfolk, VA while Francis served in the U.S. Navy. Later in life, Fran and Jane enjoyed traveling throughout the Northeast, and to Las Vegas, California, Bermuda, and Canada.
Francis was predeceased by his son, James Driscoll, in 2019. Sadly, many dear friends and neighbors predeceased him also.
Francis is survived by two daughters, Carol Waskiewicz, and her husband, Thomas of Hadley, and Nancy Driscoll of Chicopee.
Francis also leaves two grandchildren, Mark Waskiewicz and his wife, Alyssa (Spinosa) Waskiewicz of West Hatfield, and Julie Waskiewicz of Hadley. Mark shared Grandpa’s love of sports, especially golf. They played some fun rounds of golf while Mark was learning to play and they watched countless football games and golf matches together. Julie followed in Grandpa’s footsteps for her career and received some great guidance along the way. Grandpa supported both Mark and Julie during their school years and with their sports and activities.
Francis leaves his sister-in-law, Delores McLaughlin of Suffield, CT, and her family.
Francis reminisced often about being present at the 1948 game when his favorite team, the Cleveland Indians, won the World Series over the Boston Braves.
Francis enjoyed a hole-in-one at East Mountain Country Club, back in 1984.
Francis was fortunate to have a long retirement and was able to make frequent trips to Teletrack in CT where he would meet up with his buddies. He saw another group of friends for weekly lunches.
Francis was a lifelong communicant of St. Patrick’s Church in Chicopee Falls until its closing and was a parishioner of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Chicopee.
Francis’ Funeral Mass at Elms College and his burial, with military honors, in St. Patrick’s Cemetery were private.
Francis’ family would like to thank the EMTs from the Chicopee Fire Department for their wonderful assistance during these past few months.
If you wish, please consider a memorial donation in Francis’ name to The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, PO Box 160, Hatfield, MA 01038.
The Grise Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.