Stephen J. Driscoll

Lt. Colonel Stephen J. Driscoll, 57, of Manchester, NH, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2018. Born in Bangor, Maine on June 16, 1961, he was the son of James and Muriel (Donovan) Driscoll. Shortly after his birth, James and Muriel moved the family to Brunswick where Steve was raised through his adolescence. Steve came from a golfing family and won club championships as well as captained his high school hockey team. Steve started playing hockey at the age of six when his older brother, Bob, and sister, Jan, bought him a pair of skates, stick, and signed him up for youth hockey when his parents were away for the weekend. Steve was coached by his father from Squirts through Bantam where Muriel joined them on trips throughout New England and Canada to represent Brunswick in tournaments. While attending high school, Steve played all four years on the golf team nearly winning the Schoolboy Championship in his last year. Steve played all four years on the high school hockey team and was selected All-State in his senior year. On a whim, Steve decided to try out for the soccer team and started as a forward in his last three years.

Upon graduation in 1979, Steve attended Canterbury Preparatory School for one year in Connecticut where he was a sports stand-out.

Upon nomination by Senator William Cohen, Steve was accepted into the United States Military Academy in 1980, where he excelled in hockey and golf for West Point. Because of his focus on sports, Steve's academics suffered somewhat. The cadet was told at the end of his third year that he would be graduating one year late. Steve was determined to graduate with the men and women that he entered the academy with. He dropped sports and focused only on academics in his fourth year, carrying a workload that allowed him to graduate with his class mates. West Point called out the significance of his achievement by noting that he was the first cadet to ever graduate with his class after being told he would be delayed a year.

This ambition served Steve well during his Army years. Steve was stationed in Germany for his first years. He returned to the United States and was stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas where he joined the United States Army Air Defense team. His training on the Patriot Missile systems and natural leadership skills had him assigned to lead six Patriot Missile batteries that were placed in Israel during the First Gulf War. Steve's team was responsible for shooting down many scuds fired from Iraq. The Israelis awarded Steve the Chief of Staff, Medal of Appreciation. In nearly forty years, the Israelis have only recognized eight people and two groups with this award. Steve was one of those people. He also received two bronze stars and a purple heart during his service to our country.

Upon leaving active duty, Steve lived in New Hampshire and worked for several defense contractors including: Raytheon, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, and General Dynamics. In 2008, as an army reservist, Steve was called back to active duty, promoted to Lt. Colonel, and was stationed in Fort Benning, GA. Stephen retired honorably in 2009.

Steve was predeceased by his parents, James and Muriel.

He is survived by his loving partner for life, Marla Roberts; his caring children, Emily and Dillon both of Germantown, WI; his older brother, Bob and wife, Patty, of Greene, ME; his older sister, Jan and husband, David, of Augusta, ME; his older brother, Jim and wife, Nina, of Chicago, IL; and his adored cat, Pattycake.

Services: Calling hours are Sunday from 2 to 4 PM at the Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 537 Union Street, Manchester, NH.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday at 9:30 AM in Saint Pius X Church, Candia Road, Manchester, NH.

Burial with military honors will follow in New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas, 66675 or to the American Legion, Post 79, 35 West Brook Street, Manchester, NH 03101.

For more information, please visit: www.connorhealy.com.