David T. Whelan

David T. Whelan, of Topsfield, formerly of Lynn, died Sunday March 6th at the Masconomet Healthcare Center in Topsfield after a brief illness. He was the husband of Bernadette M. (Moran) Whelan with whom he shared 59 years of marriage.

Born in Salem he was the son of the late Harry T. and Ruth M. (Saunders) Whelan. Educated in Lynn Dave graduated from Lynn English High School, Class of 1961. He attended U Mass Amherst and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Salem State College, Class of 1965. David was employed as a teacher for the City of Lynn and taught English and History at Eastern Junior High, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, and finished his career at Pickering Junior High, retiring in 2001. David lived in Lynn until moving to Salem for several years and then to Topsfield in 2012. He was a member of the former Golden Fleece Lodge A. F. & A. M. and a member Acendus Lodge A. F. & A. M. in Lynn, the Volunteer Yacht Club, Beefeater’s Steak Club, the Boston Grid Iron Club, and the Lynn Teachers Union. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed boating and his many boats over the years. Dave and his family spent many summers in Lake Shore Park on Winnipesaukee Lake in Gilford, NH. Dave was also an umpire for Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball. Above all David loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In addition to his wife he is survived by three sons David H. and his wife Dawn Whelan of Cape Coral, FL. Timothy J. and his wife Laura Whelan of Cornelius, NC, Michael Whelan of Topsfield, a sister Patricia Wells of Blackstone, five grandchildren Brianna, Jarrod, Brandon, Jaime, and Jake Whelan, and David’s stepson David Gonzalez, two great grandchildren, Alexis and Aiden Poplawski, and several nieces and nephews. 

Service Details: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at formerly Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Lynnfield on Thursday at 11:30 to which relatives and friend are invited to attend. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Lynn. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at the Parker Funeral Home 35 Franklin St. Lynn. Please make memorial donations in David’s name to Alzheimer’s Association 309 Waverley Oaks Rd. Waltham, MA 02452 Website: alz.org  

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