David McConnell

David and Linda McConnell, after forty-seven years together, and thirty-six of those were married. Our father demonstrated virtue number three and " was quick to seize the opportunity" within one day, fifteen hours, and thirty-five minutes to grab our heartbroken mothers hand to reunite with her.
David Charles McConnell Sr " Dragon Horse" and Hanshi to many eighty-seven years old died on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Linda (Marshall) McConnell and the son of the late Julius and Louella (Calhoun) McConnell born in Fayette Alabama on January 15th, 1937. After his father's passing, Dave, the oldest, took it upon himself as a child in Fayette to assume the responsibility of an adult by getting up in the early morning hours to go to the golf course ponds to retrieve balls to help his mother sustain and provide for his siblings. In 1955 at the age of eighteen, his mother insisted he and his brothers go to Boston to start a life away from the civil unrest. In the 1960s he traveled to New York where he lived in Manhattan to work and got adjusted to city life, His training for the arts began in 1966 in a Chinatown Dojo on Canal St under the guide of Master Peter Urban (the founder of USA GOJU ) and Gerald Orange. In 1972 he decided to open his school in the Bronx, and as a loyal student, he assisted Master Urban with the Shangai Dojo on Wooster St in the heart of Chinatown. In 1975 he relocated to Massachusetts because he wanted better for his family and opened dojos in various parts of Plymouth. It didn't matter if you were a student at Algonquin Heights Community Center to his final dojo at One Court Street. Anyone who entered those dojo doors gained knowledge, discipline, and skill. In 2021 he handed the keys over to his loyal partner and good friend David Harrington who has been under the guidance of Hanshi McConnell since 1986 and holds the rank of 9th dan. He took great pride in watching and reading about the success of past students such as Chip Moraza Pollard's" The Surgeon" a title given by Hanshi himself when Chip was a youngster in the dojo. Hanshi would observe each student's skill and appoint them a karate name over time. Besides his passion for the arts, nothing took precedence over his unconditional love and providing for his wife, children, and grandchildren.
After passing off his legacy of the Dojo. The remainder of David's years were dedicated to not only his health but his wife declining health as well. He woke up every morning and made sure to make her an egg, toast and coffee for breakfast, but spending quality time with family and his beloved cat Woody. Dave enjoyed relaxing in his recliner watching movies, sports, and the game show Family Feud. He enjoyed saltwater fishing, bringing his grandsons to the rod & gun club for shooting practice, and educating them on gun safety. He loved a good game of chess and would whip out his wooden chess board to play against his only granddaughter to which he taught the game, He met Linda a single mother of two children at the time in 1977 and they began a family, and they married on December 23rd 1988.
His passing created a broken heart for his loving life partner Linda of forty-seven years. She joined him thirty-nine hours later on Wednesday, June 12th, 2024.
Linda daughter of the late Louis and Hazel (Thomas)Marshall worked for a brief time at the shoe factory and Marshalls Department store. Linda was born in Lowell mass on February 11th, she dedicated her life to raising her children if you saw Linda you saw her kids, and took great pride in being a nana, Linda enjoyed shopping at Savers, going to yard sale, and thrifting. She enjoyed cooking & baking with her granddaughter. One of her favorite recipes is recreating Paula Dean's brownies and Jewish Apple Cake for her family. Linda's favorite shows were Dancing with the Star and more recently Wheel of Fortune. Linda's humor and personality were unmatched to know her was to love her, she was a thriving light in all her children's and grandchildren's lives. She was a dear friend to Cathy Fonseca Sampson, Lorraine Megna and Lynn Duncan Unwin. Dave and Linda in these latter years as a couple were spent with some funny antics and many belly laughs amongst their children. Linda was his "Squeeze" and David was her "Big Mouth Bass" this is how they signed each other's cards during holidays and birthdays throughout the years together,
They were the loving mother and father of Tia L McConnell of Plymouth partner Francis Kunz, Bernadette Dean and her husband the late David Dean, Alan Centeio of Plymouth, Lenny McConnell of Vermont, and Rochelle McConnell of Stoughton, grandchildren Taylor and Cody Dean and the best Nana and Baba to Malani Smolinsky. David was predeceased by his son David "Davy" McConnell Jr. David Sr was the brother of the late Bobby, Chester, and Curtis "Tootie" McConnell. Linda leaves her nephew Brian Wrightington of NH and niece Kelly Smith of TN, She is predeceased by her only sibling the late Patricia Wrightington, and her nephew Steven Wrightington.
Special thanks to our nurses Danielle, Veronica, Jenna, Mikayla to name a few & the entire care team at Cranberry Hospice for giving both our parents the respect,love, and care. The solace you gave each of us family members throughout this process you all are the true rock stars, and we will miss our laughs. To Comfort Keepers owner Ruth McNaughton we are forever grateful for the love, patience, & support you and Alison gave our mother and family during these last few weeks thank you. A huge thank you to the Lisa and the staff at Therap-ease for the patience, reassurance and kindness during this long journey with our mother, and the pharmacists at Stop n Shop, John and Michelle for their kindness throughout these past couple years..
A memorial visitation for Dave and Linda will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 4:00PM to 6:00PM in the CARTMELL-DAVIS LIFE CELEBRATION FUNERAL HOME, 373 Court Street, Plymouth (NEXT TO CORDAGE PARK)