Obituary: Robert (Bob) Donnelly, 83, Born and Raised in Beverly, Coached Youth Hockey

Obituary from Campbell-Lee, Moody Russell Funeral Home.

Robert (Bob) Boag Donnelly, 83, beloved husband of Barbara Ann (Chick) Donnelly, has gone home to our Lord and into the arms of the Blessed Mother on the Feast of the Assumption, on Aug. 15, 2014.

Bob had the good fortune of a 60 year marriage with Barbara, which he was able to celebrate with his family this past Memorial Day weekend at his favorite place on this earth, his home on Lake Balch in East Wakefield, N.H.

Bob passed away with his large loving family by his side and with the knowledge that his impact upon this earth will continue indefinitely as he was not only a father to six children but also a father figure and mentor to countless nieces, nephews and so many others. Bob lived a life which embodied service to others and with family as his priority. His six children can all recount so many life lessons they have learned from him; his children are Kathleen Donnelly Cataford, Sharon Lyons and her husband Doug Stewart, his daughter-in-law Anne Marie Donnelly, wife of Robert, Jr., Brian Donnelly, Patty and her husband David Symonds, Michael and his wife Holly, and his daughter-in-law Janice Chamberlain Donnelly. He was also very close with his brother-in-law Russell Chick and his wife, Louise, and his sister-in-law Joan Donnelly.

He was predeceased by his son, Robert B. Donnelly, Jr, .M.D., his brother, James Francis Donnelly, Jr., his sister, Anne Donnelly Hughes, and his parents James Francis and Margaret Boag Donnelly.

Bob lived a full life with so many accomplishments and achievements. He was born, raised, and lived his life in Beverly and attended St. Mary’s Elementary School, St. John’s Preparatory High School and concluded his educational journey at St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vt. He made and has kept several of his closest friends at St. Mary’s Elementary School and until his final days on this earth, he continued to enjoy many shared adventures with Charles and Barbara Bucci, Carol and Stan Hayes, Frank and Helen Davis and Don and Claire Slaven. Bob also enjoyed several very special trips around the globe with his wife, Barbara, including France, China, Puerto Rico and exploring the roots of his heritage on the British Isles.

His career spanned five decades and began soon after his honorable service with the U.S. Marines, where he served as a 1st Lieutenant. His early work was with his father-in-law, Russell Chick, whose creative genius led him along several paths. Bob also worked at Bomac Varian in Beverly and spent most of his career with the Xerox Corporation in Boston. After retiring from Xerox in his fifties, Bob and his wife Barbara embarked on entrepreneurial adventures beginning with the Cove Collection, a catalogue business. Bob then went on to founding with two of his sons, Michael and Brian, Legal Copy Specialists, starting in Boston and expanding to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and the Hartford, Conn. office with his daughter, Patty and her husband, David.

Bob sold his Boston LCS business in 1997 and retired the following year. Bob thoroughly enjoyed his retirement as this provided him the time to be with his family, especially his growing grandchildren, who were the lights of his life. Bob’s children and grandchildren remained close to him throughout his life; they all live in Massachusetts and Connecticut and include Gregory Cataford, Melissa Cataford Taylor and her husband Glenn, Meaghan Lyons, Justin Coffey and his wife Michelle, Allison and Brian Donnelly, Katie Rose and Julia Symonds. Bob also had several great-grandchildren, Aaron, Madyson, and Jameson.

Bob and Barbara’s lake home have been the center of many family celebrations over the years, and in particular an annual family reunion every Labor Day weekend, filled with tournaments and competitions in golf, fishing and horseshoes. While family was at the center of this weekend, this special event has grown over the years to include many friends around the lake and is topped off by trophy presentations. Bob enjoyed playing golf and was a regular on the Province Lake Golf Course near his lake home in New Hampshire, and did win the Labor Day golf tournament multiple times over the three plus decades of competition.

Bob and Barbara have centered their lives around their family and celebrating all their many achievements, which enriched his life, even through his last days. Bob was also a president of the Beverly Youth Hockey League in the 1970s and coached his sons’ teams; early morning ice time became part of his demanding daily schedule. Following the Boston sports teams was one of his avid interests and he remained ever hopeful for their success.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 253 Cabot St., Beverly on Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St., Beverly on Tuesday from 3-7 p.m. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Beverly.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Beverly Bootstraps, 371 Cabot St., Beverly; St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Church, 253 Cabot St., Beverly, MA 01915 or St. Anthony’s Church, 251 Meadow St., Sanbornville, NH, 03872. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.