Robert F McDonnell

BREWSTER, MA- Robert F. McDonnell, 102, died peacefully of natural causes on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at his home in Brewster, MA. He was cared for and surrounded by his three loving daughters, with the assistance of Beacon Hospice.

Bob was born on May 18, 1915 in Boston, MA to the late Frank and Sophie McDonnell of Milton, MA. He was the second oldest of five children all of whom predeceased him: Frank, Tom, Leora and Sophia. Born to a long lineage of Irish papermakers, Bob graduated from Milton High School, attended Vesper George School of Art in Boston, and then went to work at Tileston & Hollingsworth which, until 1995, was the oldest surviving operating papermill in North America. Chartered by the King of England in 1728, Tileston & Hollingsworth took over the mill in 1806 and operated it as a de-inking, book, printing and writing paper mill. Among the factory’s innovations was a machine that made the widest paper available in the world at the time.

Papermaking was more than an art and a craft for Bob…it was a passion; it was in his genes. That’s all he ever wanted to do for a livelihood, and he quickly mastered that field of knowledge. At Tileston & Hollingsworth, Bob worked every job until he learned all they could teach him about the industry.

Life as Bob knew it was interrupted after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II. On July 2, 1942, then 27 years old, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army and entered Officer Candidate School. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on May 26, 1943 and was deployed overseas on June 15, 1944 where he served in combat with the 35th Division as a platoon leader in a heavy weapons company. The 35th Infantry Division was one of the American Divisions which affected the breakthrough from the Normandy Peninsula at Saint-Lo. It was with the spearhead of Patton’s Third Army on the sweep across France, penetrated through the Maginot and Siegfried Lines, and had boots on the ground in what is widely remembered today as the greatest battle fought by the U.S. Army during the Second World War, The Battle of the Bulge (12/16/1944 – 1/25/1945).

On January 17, 1945, Bob volunteered to cross an open field to determine whether friend or foe occupied a designated area before ordering his men to follow. He was met with incoming shells and a fusillade of rifle fire that hit him twice; one in the shoulder, and one which took off most of his left hand. He was rescued and taken to the nearest field hospital where a decision was made to try to save the hand. On April 12, 1945, Bob returned home to the United States and was admitted to Cushing General Hospital in Framingham, MA where further reconstructive surgery was performed. Bob received the Bronze Star for an act of heroic service near Harlange, Luxembourg on January 4, 1946 and was promoted to First Lieutenant. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his heroism and sacrifice in The Battle of the Bulge. Bob was promoted to the rank of Captain and was honorably discharge on September 16, 1946. Subsequently, he returned to work at Tileston & Hollingsworth.

During his recuperation, Bob met a beautiful nurse in training, Marie Foley. Audaciously, he announced on their first date that she was the girl he was going to marry…and so they did on February 23, 1946. Five children were born of their marriage: Frank, Marie Robert, Jeanne and Joanne.

Bob’s career in papermaking required the family to relocate several times to central Maine for International Paper Company, and to upstate New York and coastal Maine for St. Regis Paper Company. Bob was renowned in the industry for his ability to identify and solve costly manufacturing problems, as well as for his insistence on producing a quality product the first time. He traveled all over the country for St. Regis as well as to Scandinavia.

Bob retired in 1977 after which he and Marie enjoyed many happy years together spending six months in the coastal town of Brewster, MA and six months in a golfing community in Wildwood, FL. Bob’s obsession with the game of golf dominated his retirement years, which made it easy for his wife and daughters to find birthday and Christmas presents he was sure to enjoy.

Bob was an avid outdoorsman from the time of his youth. His father, once a Maine guide, taught Bob and his brothers how to hunt, fish, cook, and how to be self-sufficient out in the open. Bob spent his summers in northern Aroostook County, Maine with his mother and maternal grandparents which gave him the opportunity to camp out, fish, canoe, and explore the pristine wilderness of the Fish River lakes with his brothers. Bob had a lifelong interest in the thoroughbred horse; he studied the breed, the pedigree of champions, and enthusiastically watched the Triple Crown races each year.

Bob and Marie were married for 52 years when Marie passed away on August 23, 1998 after a lengthy illness. In addition to his wife, Bob was predeceased by his two sons, Frank and Bobby, as well as all of his siblings.

Bob is survived and will be deeply missed by his daughters, Marie, Jeanne and Joanne, as well as by his nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

ARRANGEMENTS: At Robert’s request, calling hours have been omitted. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, December 9 th at 11 a.m. in Brewster Cemetery, Lower Road, Brewster. Arrangements are under the direction of Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home, S. Dennis. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.doanebealames.com

DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice of your choice.