The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of June 24 to July 1, 2021

Obituaries

John R. Dale Jr.

JOHN R. "JACK" DALE JR
December 16, 1957 ~ June 20, 2021 (Age 63)

WINCHENDON - John R. "Jack" Dale Jr., 63, of Winchendon, a long time respected Templeton police officer, died unexpectedly Sunday morning, June 20, 2021 in Heywood Hospital, Gardner.

He was born in Long Beach, Ca on December 16, 1957, son of Rita M. (Dami) Dale of Melrose and the late John R. Dale Sr. and grew up in Melrose, graduating from Melrose High School. He later graduated from Mt. Wachusett Community College and Worcester Police Academy.

John began his career as a police officer for the Town of Ashburnham and had worked part time as a police officer for the Town of Winchendon and Town of Phillipston. He worked as a police officer for the Town of Templeton for 25 years until his retirement. Jack was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Church, Baldwinville.

In recent years, Jack had worked as an inspection sticker inspector at CO & S Garage, East Templeton.

Jack had been a member of board of directors at the former Colonial Cooperative Bank and was a former corporator of Fidelity Bank. He had been a member of Templeton Lions Club, Winchendon Finance Committee and the Eagle Scout Program of Troop 27 East Templeton. Jack was also heavily involved in the DARE program in Templeton.

In addition to his mother, he leaves his long time fiancée Brenda Patriquin and their two children, Benjamin and Jack; his brothers and sisters, Harry Dale of Melrose, Mary Gendrolis of Weymouth, Susan Crossen of Newton and Jim Dale of North Reading, as well as nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, June 25, 2021 at 10 A.M. in St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1 Forest Street, Baldwinville.

Calling hours in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon are Thursday, June 24, 2021 from 4 to 7 P.M.

Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Baldwinville at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to CANDO, UMass Memorial Medical Center/UMass Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, S7-714, Worcester, MA 01655, https://umassmed.edu/psychiatry/clinicalservices/child-adolescent-clinical-services/cando/

Laurence J. O'Connor Jr.

LAURENCE J. O'CONNOR JR
April 25, 1952 ~ June 11, 2021 (Age 69)

Laurence J. O'Connor, Jr., 69, "Larry" of Springfield, MA passed away on Friday, June 11, 2021, at Baystate Medical Center after a brief illness.

Larry was born in Hartford, Connecticut on April 25, 1952, the son of the late Laurence J. and Lillian (Conway) O'Connor. He is survived by his brother Raymond O'Connor and his companion Carolyn Laurel of Watertown, CT, his sister Kathleen O'Connor of Andover, his niece and goddaughter Kristin O'Connor of East Hartland, niece Elizabeth O'Connor Tickey and her husband Kevin of North Granby, and niece Emma Yanicky of Andover; his nephews Daniel O'Connor and his wife Mary of Coventry, Connor Yanicky of Vernon and Cameron Yanicky of Andover; his great nieces and nephews Serra and Laura Tickey and Jimmy and Dylan O'Connor, and cousin Pearl McConnell of Winchendon MA. He was predeceased by his sister Therese O'Connor and cousin Donna Rae McConnell-Bennett.

Larry was a graduate of Northwest Catholic High School in West Hartford, CT Class of 1970. He was on the 50th Reunion Planning Committee planning the 6.11.2022 reunion. Larry graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Hartford in 1985. He began his career as a teacher in the math department of Tolland High School in Tolland, CT where he also coached football and the boys track team. After leaving Tolland High School he continued his teaching career at Southwick Regional High School in Southwick, MA. In addition to teaching, "Mr. O'C" coached the girls track team and advised the Math Team. He retired in 2011 as the Mathematics Department Chairperson.

During his life Larry enjoyed hiking throughout Connecticut and the Berkshires with family and his many canine companions, especially Junior and Sunshine, and spent many summers in Cape Cod and enjoyed traveling to Ireland. Larry was loved by everyone who knew him and will be remembered for his intelligence, booming voice, larger than life presence, kind spirit, dry wit and impeccable sense of comedic timing. He will be sorely missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations in Larry's name to the Northwest Catholic Fund, Northwest Catholic High School, Attn: Advancement Office, 29 Wampanoag Dr., West Hartford, CT 06117 or any animal rescue of your choice in Larry's memory.

Family and friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center Street, Manchester, CT on Tuesday, June 29th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.