Frederic Driscoll Jr.

Frederic J. Driscoll Jr.

1924 - 2013 NORTH BENNINGTON Frederic J. Driscoll Jr., 88, of Main Street, died Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at Albany, N.Y., Medical Center, surrounded by his family.

Born in Bennington on Sept. 30, 1924, he was the son of Frederic J. and Bertha (Loomis) Driscoll Sr. He received his education in North Bennington and was a 1942 graduate of North Bennington High School. He later graduated from the former St. Joseph's Business College.

Fred served during World War II as a member of the Naval Special Forces "Beach Jumpers Unit," amphibious forerunners of the Navy Seals. He saw action in the Pacific and European theatres, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the aftermath of Pearl Harbor.

Frederic married the former Martha Alice Fine at St. John the Baptist Church in North Bennington on July 1, 1950. Alice died May 23, 2011.

In earlier years, Fred was employed by Metropolitan Life Insurance and at the William Eddington and Bill Hogan Chevrolet dealerships. He later served as Postmaster of North Bennington from 1968 to 1984 at which time he retired.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 13 and the Bennington Lodge of Elks #567. He enjoyed horse racing, co-owned several horses, and was a member of the U.S. Trotting Association. He was also a loyal parishioner of St. John The Baptist Church for 88 years.

Fred's main interests were his home, family and especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his children, Lynn Longhurst and her husband, Dr. James of Marshall, Mich.; Frederic J. Driscoll III of Bernard, Maine; Rita Driscoll-Blais and her husband John of Hoosick Falls, N.Y.; William Driscoll and his wife Toni of Bennington. and John Driscoll and his wife Marlene of North Bennington; his grandchildren, Dr. Jamie, Jordan and Abby Longhurst, Caroline, Jillian, Devin, Dillon and Alexandra Driscoll, 1st Lt. John Driscoll,-U.S. Army (now serving in Afghanistan), Katrina Driscoll-Hastings, Lauren Driscoll and Nicholas Blais; five great-grandchildren, Karolina and Gracie Hastings, Brady, Jordan "JJ" Longhurst-Hill and Isaiah Hill and another great-granddaughter due this month; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Jessie Driscoll Longhurst; by a daughter-in-law, Cathy (Shelly) Driscoll, and by two sisters, Eileen Pellerin and Mary Agnes Driscoll.

FUNERAL NOTICE: The funeral will be held from the Mahar & Son Funeral Home Monday, April 8, 2013, at 10:15 a.m. with a prayer and from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in North Bennington at 11 a.m. where the Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be offered. Burial will take place in the family lot in St. John's Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. when the family will be in attendance. All members of the following organizations are asked to meet at the Mahar & Son Funeral Home Sunday afternoon to conduct services in memory of Fred Driscoll: American Legion Post 13 at 4:00 P.M. and Bennington Elks Lodge 567 at 4:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Frederic J. Driscoll Jr. may be made to "Jessie's Gift," which is a mentoring program in memory of Fred's granddaughter, through the office of the Mahar & Son Funeral Home, 628 Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201.

Guestbook condolences may be made at www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net.