Robert A. Desmond

Robert A. Desmond, 85, of Quincy died March 21 peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Boston, March 9, 1924, he was the son of the late George H. and Florence L. (Meehan) Desmond. He had been a lifelong resident of the Wollaston section of Quincy. Mr. Desmond graduated from North Quincy High School in 1941 and the Bentley School of Accounting. A Certified Public Accountant, he had worked for many years at Herbert F. French Co. as a bank auditor. Later he worked for the Alexander Grant Co. before starting his own accounting business. Mr. Desmond was a passionate sailor and belonged to the Squantum Yacht Club and was a life member of the Wollaston Yacht Club. For many years he served as Chairman of the Race Committee and spent many summer days organizing sailboat races for the young and old. When he wasn’t running the races he was at the helm sailing a Winabout, his 210 ‘Cygnet’ or more recently a Hustler and often winning many races throughout the years. Additionally, Mr. Desmond was cherished by his nephews and nieces. He taught two generations about the winds and tides of Quincy Bay and the surrounding harbors and shared his favorite fishing spots with them, too. Often he would take them on weekend fishing trips always ready to share a lure or an extra fishing rod. A bachelor, “Unc” as he was affectionately called, annually played Santa Claus. Carrying on the tradition started by his own father, he would make a telephone call to each family on Christmas Eve, ringing sleigh bells, and telling tales of the North Pole. He continued the tradition with great nephews and nieces. He is survived two sisters, Doris K. Dolbec and her husband, Robert of Squantum, Jeanne M. Bold and her late husband, Robert of Weymouth and his brother the late 1st Lt. John E. Desmond. He is also survived by his nephew, Robert Dolbec, Jr. and his wife, Mary of Squantum, his niece, Kathleen Ginley and her husband, James of Franklin, his nephew, John Dolbec and his wife, Maria of East Bridgewater, his nephew, George Dolbec and his wife, Therese of Squantum, his nephew, Robert Bold, Jr. of Weymouth, his niece, Lisa Loomis and her husband, Clay of Sacramento, California, his nephew, Stephen Bold and his wife, Kristin of Milton and his niece, Susan Smith and her husband Gary of Weymouth. He is also survived by 14 great nephews and nieces. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Life Celebration Service in Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock Street, Quincy, Wednesday at 9:15AM. Funeral Mass in Saint Ann’s Church, Quincy at 10 AM. Visiting hours Tuesday 5-8PM. Burial in Blue Hills Cemetery, Braintree. Donations in Robert A. Desmond’s memory may be made to the Robert A. Desmond Memorial Junior Sailing Fund c/o Colonial Federal Savings Bank, 15 Beach St. Quincy MA 02170.