1909*

Jimmie Driscoll, the friend of every member of the class, and one of whom it can be said that he had not an enemy in the world, died in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Manchester, New Hampshire at 3:30 on Saturday, January 11, 1941. Jimmie had entered the hospital on Monday, and after several medical consultations, a decision was reached that an operation was necessary to remove a stone from his kidney. The operation was performed on Wednesday and for two days he did very well. In the afternoon before his death he had a slight heart attack from which he rallied, but suffered another fatal attack during the night.

Due to the fact that a Sunday intervened, it was not possible for me to contact everyone in the class to notify them of his death, but I reached as many as possible during the short time available. The following members of the class were present at the Solemn High Mass of Requiem at St. Joseph's Cathedral (there may have been others present who were not observed): "Mickey" McLane, who is a member of the family; Freddie Carroll, who was an honorary pall bearer; Sid Hazelton, who with Dr. Bowler represented Dartmouth College; Clarence Dunbar, Ben Burpee, Arthur Swenson, Tommy Murphy, Joe Worthen, Allen Newton and Harry Floyd. I was told that there were about 65 Dartmouth men present.

The Class sent a large pillow of green galax leaves on which white flowers traced the letters "1909." This was placed at the head of the coffin in his home. There were also floral tributes from the 1909 Delta Kappa. Epsilon delegation, as well as from the Sphinx Senior Society.

The Class received the following note from Jim's daughter Mary: "Please accept our grateful thanks to the Class of 1909 at Dartmouth for the beautiful floral pillow which you sent. We all appreciate your very kind thought."

Ben Burpee says that he has never seen a city so upset over anything as Jim's death. He was a friend of practically everyone in the town. He was the idol of generations of caddies at the Country Club, and of the neighborhood boys' baseball league, boys of that section of the city whom Jim had coached and encouraged. The number of people whom Jim aided in securing an education or helped out of difficulties was enormous. All of this was done anonymously and many never knew their benefactor.

The flags in Manchester were at half mast; business houses, city offices and banks closed during the funeral services. The services were conducted at St. Joseph's Cathedral, every seat in which was taken. People were lined around the sides, and an immense crowd unable to get into the Cathedral stood outside paying tribute. The service was conducted by the Most Rev. John B. Peterson, D.D., Bishop of Manchester. For the first time in the history of the Parish a layman was eulogized from the altar, and the eulogy was given by the Bishop himself. The tribute was so impressive that I am quoting a few of his remarks:

"James Glynn Driscoll was a humble man, an honest man, a patient man, a charitable man—whose natural ability was his strength, and who used his power for good, not for his own sake but for others. "In his public benefactions and in his private benefactions he was a steward of the wealth God has placed in his hands. He saw God's gift, and that gift he would share with others. When his own heart was burdened he made others smile, he made them happy.

"In his private benefactions he never let his left hand know what the right hand doeth, and the left hand little knew of the good created by its neighbor."

Bishop Peterson likened him to the great Louis Pasteur, who despite all scientific attainment, professed to be a peasant from Brittany—"and James Driscoll, despite all his success, had the faith of an Irish farmer, the patience and the charity."

"He was a practical Catholic, a Catholic through and through, with an open mind and an open heart, an admirable Catholic and an admirable citizen."

Jim was a director of the Manchester Gas Company, a trustee of the Amoskeag Savings Bank, a director of the Manchester Country Club, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Manchester Rotary Club, and a prominent member of St. Joseph's parish.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Frances E. (Sullivan) Driscoll; two daughters, Mary F. and Cordelia F.; a son, James G. Jr., who is a student at the University of Oregon, and was unaware of his father's illness until advised of his death; he then flew from Portland, Oregon to Boston in time for the funeral.

JIM DRISCOLL AS HE APPEARED AT THE 1934 REUNION

Secretary, William Filene's Sons Co., Boston, Mass.