Englewood - Englewood - It is with a sad but grateful heart that the family of Daniel E. Desmond Sr., shares the news of his passing on April 24th with his loving wife and daughter by his side. Sad because we will no longer see his physical presence but grateful because he lived a very long life filled with joy and love. His goal was to reach 100 and when asked at 99 if he would like a 100th birthday party he replied "of course." When asked what he would like for a present he laughed and replied "what's a 100 year old man want for his birthday?" and he thought for a moment and replied "maybe another year... or another month" and laughed some more. He was granted both wishes.

Our father was born in Palmer, MA January 9, 1925, to William and Marion Desmond. His father passed when he was 16 months old leaving his mother to raise two boys alone and not an easy feat during the Great Depression. He was very proud of his Irish heritage, named after his grandfather, who was born while onboard ship making passage from Ireland to America. He and our mother Helene fulfilled a dream of returning to his roots including a trip to Desmond Castle.

Dad graduated from Palmer High School in 1942 and while in high school was quite an athlete. At 135 pounds he was called "Dartin Dan" on the football field and he once said he held the state record in pole vaulting "for about ten minutes." He bought his first car with his lifelong friend Kenny Sherman for sixteen dollars from money they earned picking and selling blueberries.

After high school duty called and he enlisted in the Army where he was accepted into the United States Army Air Force where he completed training becoming a fully accredited pilot. Before he could be deployed World War II ended and he was spared the horrors of war.

After returning to Palmer he fell deeply in love with our mother Helene. They raised six children and a dog named Happy. He worked for 42 years for New England Power Service starting as a groundman and proudly working his way up from lineman to project manager handling many large projects across New England.

After spending vacations and then summers in Rockport, with Dad coming on weekends, in 1969 the clan moved there full time. He made many new friends, bought his first boat, became an avid fisherman, and got his ten pot lobster license. If he got skunked on a day pulling traps he always enjoyed a great lobster roll at Kenny Porters. Our parents took many boating trips with the Lesch's, Knipes, Willy's, Spoffords and the Coleman's up to Maine and other places. Dad retired in 1998 and they began spending their winters in Englewood, Florida. After Mom's passing in 2003 he moved there full time. It is there that Dad was given a second life where he met and eventually married his second great love Lynn. It is with a grateful heart our family thanks her for all the love and devotion she showed him over their years together till his passing.

He leaves behind five living children. Kathy and spouse Helen, Sharon and life partner Pete, Danny and wife Yu, Sean and wife Sheila and Keith as well as 14 grandchildren John, Kelly, Kathleen, Kirsten, Severin, Travis, Miranda, Harmony, Teague, Adam, Cody, Brendan, Aurora, and our special Kelsey. He also leaves behind 18 great-grandchildren Christopher, Derek, Hannah, Callum, Kieran, Alana, Dylan, Xander, Lucas, Camille, Tessa, Cooper, Aidan, Tristan, Ronan, our special Calum, Iain, Gage and two great-great grandchildren Harper and Zayn. He also leaves behind his devoted wife Lynn. Dad was pre-deceased by his daughter Barbara and his beloved Helene.

He will be greatly missed and our world will never be the same but we hold him in the palms of our hands and in the deepest most loving recesses of our hearts forever.

Burial services will be private. There will be a Celebration of Life on June 28th at Scout Hall 47 Mt. Pleasant St. Rockport, MA at 2 p.m. All are welcome.