Richard Gerald Driscoll

Richard “Dick” Gerald Driscoll, 77, of Acushnet, MA, passed away on Monday, June 5, 2017 surrounded by his loving family in Hope Hospice and Palliative Care of Rhode Island. He was the beloved husband of Beverly (Oliveira) Driscoll.

Born and raised in Springfield, MA, son of Gerald and Claire (Hannon) Driscoll, he attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he first met his wife-to-be, Beverly. He then served in the US Air Force as a KC-97 and C-124 Navigator from the early1960s throughout the Vietnam War. After his initial service concluded, he began a new career as a school teacher in Dartmouth, MA while simultaneously serving part-time in the Rhode Island Air National Guard as a C-130 Hercules navigator. Richard and his family settled in Acushnet, MA during this time.

Richard dedicated his life to serving others and to guiding students in many different ways. An entire generation affectionately remember Mr. Driscoll as a stern, but fair Social Studies teacher at the Dartmouth Middle School. Dick was also a counselor at Camp Massasoit for several years as well as a youth hockey coach in Acushnet and an assistant track coach in Dartmouth. As an officer in the US Air Force, Richard served in several notable military operations such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, the invasions of Panama and Grenada, and Operation Provide Comfort immediately after the first Gulf War. He was even in Berlin when the Berlin Wall came down. “Father” Driscoll retired from the RI Air National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Michael Driscoll and his wife Wanda of New Bedford, Daniel Driscoll and his wife Isabelle of E. Greenwich RI, and Patrick Driscoll and his wife Amy of Wakefield RI, his sister, Claire Patricia Crean of Westfield, his brother, Gerald Driscoll of Hagerstown MD, grandchildren Robert, Delaney, Addison, Lili, Donovan, William, Antoine, and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 8th from 4-8 pm at ROCK FUNERAL HOME, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford. His funeral will be Friday, June 9, 2017 at 8 am from the ROCK FUNERAL HOME followed by a funeral mass at 9 am in St. Mary’s Church, Tarkiln Hill Rd., New Bedford. Burial ceremony will follow at the Rhode Island Veteran’s Cemetery, Exeter, R.I. at noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to the Rhode Island Veteran’s Home, 480 Metacom Ave., Bristol, RI 02809 or the MaGown-Roberts Memorial Fund at www.magownroberts.org

For online tribute/directions: www.rock-funeralhome.com