David Pat DeSaulnier

North Chatham, MA – David “Pat” DeSaulnier, formerly of Simsbury, CT, born on March 17, 1932 in Leominster, MA, son of Wilfred DeSaulnier and Blanche Sauvageau passed away among loved ones on February 11, 2016.

Mr. DeSaulnier is survived by his best friend and devoted wife of 27 years Doris (Holyst). He also leaves two sons, David Robert of Naperville, IL and Douglas Allen of Wilbraham, MA as well as a daughter in-law Therese and two grandsons Alexander and Nicholas also of Wilbraham, MA a granddaughter Tiffany Ledyard and great granddaughter Addisyn Grace Ledyard of Frederick, MD. He was extremely proud of the accomplishments his sons had made in their lives. He was predeceased by his mother and father, his sister and brother in-law Lorraine and Charles Graham of Dallas, TX, brother in-laws Robert Cook and George Pauley of CT. He was also predeceased by his first wife Dorothy (Cook) in 1987. He leaves a sister in-law Jean Cook of West Redding, CT and sister in-law Joan Pauley of Berlin, CT. In addition he leaves his nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Michele Cook of Atlanta, GA, Jacquelyn and Michael Sokolowski and their children Samuel, Emma, Charles, Lily and Jackson. Michael and Dawn Pauley and their children Alexandra, Katarina and Jonathan all of Berlin, CT. As well as Linette and Lucio Caraco, their children Nick and Grace of Burlington, CT. He also leaves his faithful cat Chico.

Mr. DeSaulnier graduated from De La Salle Military Academy, Kansas City, MO in 1949. Upon graduation he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served four years during the Korean conflict. In 1953 Mr. DeSaulnier was hired by IBM and worked out of their Long Beach and San Diego, CA offices. A promotion to Systems Engineer allowed him to gain experience in all phases of data processing. Mr. DeSaulnier continued his education earning a B.S. degree from the University of Hartford.

In 1961 Mr. DeSaulnier was offered the position of Data Processing Manager for Holo-Krome manufacturing company of West Hartford, CT. This position entailed the converting of manual systems to computerized system for all subsidiary companies in Scotland, Germany, England, Anaheim, CA and West Hartford, CT. During his years living in Connecticut, Mr. DeSaulnier served his community in many ways; as a baseball and football coach, Little League umpire, Scouting volunteer and trumpet player in the Simsbury Community Band.

Upon his retirement from Holo-Krome Mr. DeSaulnier moved to North Chatham, MA and worked for the Town of Chatham, MA as an assistant shellfish warden from 1993 to 2012. By far he would say this is the best job he had in his lifetime, whether he was working or “Scratching” for his dinner he loved the quietness and sereneness of the water. Along the way he met many wonderful people; be it families on vacation or local lawyers, artists or retired Colonels and on occasion someone who said “they didn’t know they needed a license”. Retiring to the Cape was like a dream. Lunches on the beach or at Monomoy Refuge with a coyote passing by; walks on Brewster Flats; touring the “North Forty” at cocktail time and admiring the lawn and gardens together; wood fires in the sunroom fireplace and of course dinner reservations at the best restaurant in town, his home. During his years on the Cape, Mr. DeSaulnier was very active in the Cape Cod Marine Corps League, serving as the detail leader for the Honor Burial Unit and Drill Instructor for the Parade Unit.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 21, 2016 from 4-7 PM at Nickerson Funeral Home, 87 Crowell Rd., Chatham. A Memorial Mass in his honor will be held on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 11 AM at St. Joan of Arc Church, 61 Canal Rd., Orleans, followed by a committal service concluding at Union Cemetery, Chatham. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Family Support Center of Cape Cod, 2095 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631 or Hope Hospice 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.