David F. Frawley

1944 - 2016

David F. Frawley
Former owner and operator of

Highland Towel Supply

LOWELL -- David F. Frawley, 72, of Lowell, but formerly of North Tewksbury, and a member of a well known Lowell family, died Saturday morning, at Tufts New England Medical Center, after a brief illness.

He was the husband of the late Janet (Phaneuf) Frawley who died July 1, 2015.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, December 3, 1944, a son of the late Francis D. and the late Eileen B. (Cox) Frawley, he attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Keith Academy in 1962. Dave went on to attend Burdett Business School in Boston.

For most of his career David was the owner and operator of the former Highland Towel Supply Company in Lowell, as well as Sweaters and Letters and Crescent Linen. More recently, he was a driver for the Lowell Regional Transit Authority Road Runner Service.

Beloved by his many friends, David was generous from his heart, adventurous in his spirit and passionate and philanthropic in supporting a cause very dear to him, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Pan Mass Challenge.

Along with his late wife Janet, he raised funds for the research laboratory of Dr. Kenneth C. Anderson, MD at the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute in Boston. Additionally he frequently donated platelets for 15 years at the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center, attended numerous Annual Team - 20 Brunches hosted by the Kraft family. David and his late wife established a fundraising team called the Platelet Peddlers and personally led the group during many Pan Mass Challenge 200-mile bike rides from Sturbridge to Provincetown, MA. The Team continues to participate in the PMC race to this day under their new name, Patriot's Platelet Peddlers.

In addition, David was an outdoorsman who loved to ski, golf, hike and travel. He was a member of an expedition called the "cowboys on Everest" who attempted to get the first American woman to the Summit. Dave spent much of his time pursuing his "non typical" interests, from ice climbing to para-motoring , often appearing overhead and unannounced at family and friends events.

A former member of Vesper Country Club, he was currently a member of Long Meadow Golf Club.

David is survived by three children, Catherine G. McCloy and her husband, Jay of Newburyport, Kelly Frawley Gilet of Westford and David F. Frawley, Jr. and his wife, Jennifer of Defiance, MO; four grandchildren, Dylan and Meredith McCloy of Newburyport, and Mitchell and Paige Gilet of Westford; three sisters, Rita Marion and her husband, Barney of Deering, NH, Brenda Kelly, R.N and her husband, Gerald of Kittery, ME, and Virginia Langevin and her husband, Paul of Beverly Hills, FL; and many nieces and nephews.

He was also the brother of the late Frank D. Frawley, Jr.

FRAWLEY -- In Boston, at Tufts N.E. Medical Center, David F. Frawley, 72, of Lowell, retired owner and operator of the former Highland Towel Supply Co., husband of the late Janet (Phaneuf) Frawley. Friends may call at the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME, 276 PAWTUCKET ST. at Fletcher for a Memorial Visitation from 3 to 7 P.M. Tuesday, December 27th. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Memorial Funeral Mass to be celebrated Wednesday morning at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH at 10 o'clock.

(PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). Committal Services will be private. E-condolences/ directions at odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Pan Mass Challenge, PMC 77 4th Ave., Needham, MA 02494, Attn: 25424-1 or http://profile.pmc.org/TP0053. Arrangements by Funeral Directors, James F. O'Donnell, Jr. and John W. Crane (978 or 866) 458-8768.