Obituary for Daniel J. Caufield Jr.
Daniel J. Caufield Jr., age 86, a resident of Nashua, NH, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at Elliot Hospital. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 23 years Marilyn (Griggs) Caufield, and his second wife Loretta (Sargent) Caufield, with whom he shared 36 years of marriage.
He was born in Boston, MA on May 3rd, 1936, and was the only child of the late Stella Powers and Daniel J Caufield.
Daniel was raised in East Boston, where he developed his love of baseball. In his youth he was boarded out to a boy’s home and remembered playing baseball at recess in the small lot using a glove to hit as they didn’t have bats. He would stay out at night and toss his baseball up into the streetlight to practice catching. Daniel attended Jr. High at Joseph H. Barnes in East Boston before moving to Charlestown in his high school years where he played on the school baseball team.
Daniel was a master electrician and worked for Massachusetts General Hospital for 55 years before retiring as the chief electrician and head of maintenance among many titles he held over his career. He continued his love for baseball by organizing the MGH softball team and umpiring games for local leagues. He was an avid candlepin bowler and played for the MGH team and organized the league for many years fostering strong bonds with coworkers that would become lifelong friends. During the 1970’s and 80’s, Daniel bowled on Saturday nights in a Men’s Scratch League in Lynn. During this time, he also umpired for West Lynn Little League and was a referee for the West Lynn Street Hockey League. He also taught at the Peterson School for many years passing on his wealth of experience as an electrician.
Dan met his first wife Marilyn at the hospital when he was sent to repair a broken stove in the kitchen and “gave her hell for the dirty toaster”. Marilyn would ask the other maintenance crew where Dan was working and then show up and wait for him to notice her so they could talk. He proudly stated that “she chased me until I caught her” because she would wait outside the hospital for him to get off work and then walk away when he came out so he would chase after. They wed in 1959 and had five boys before her passing in 1982.
Daniel met his second wife Loretta through a VHS dating service in 1985. Loretta was the widowed mother of four children of her own increasing the family to eleven. They moved to Chelmsford in 1986 where they raised their six remaining children to adults through difficult years, but always stood by each other’s side. They downsized as empty nesters ending up in Hudson, NH with their beloved dog Max where they enjoyed their golden years in happiness.
Daniel was known for being a gruff and boisterous character that spoke his mind and stood for what he believed was right. His hard surface was hiding a devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather to his family, and a loyal friend, coach, and mentor to countless people he touched through his career and his love for baseball and bowling.
He leaves behind his children, DJ Caufield of Helena, MT, Dusty Caufield of Lynn, Dean Caufield of Andover, Dennis Caufield of Lynn, Darren Caufield of Lynn, Ann Marie Wilson-Crockett of Groveland, Mary Lou Jelinek of Exeter, Brian Garofalo of Waltham, Kevin Garofalo of Billerica, and 14 grandchildren.
He was pre-deceased by his wives Marilyn Griggs Caufield and Loretta Sargent Caufield.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm in the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. His graveside service will take place on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 10 am in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, 185 Lake St., Peabody. Kindly gather at the cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in Daniel’s memory to the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children.
He was born in Boston, MA on May 3rd, 1936, and was the only child of the late Stella Powers and Daniel J Caufield.
Daniel was raised in East Boston, where he developed his love of baseball. In his youth he was boarded out to a boy’s home and remembered playing baseball at recess in the small lot using a glove to hit as they didn’t have bats. He would stay out at night and toss his baseball up into the streetlight to practice catching. Daniel attended Jr. High at Joseph H. Barnes in East Boston before moving to Charlestown in his high school years where he played on the school baseball team.
Daniel was a master electrician and worked for Massachusetts General Hospital for 55 years before retiring as the chief electrician and head of maintenance among many titles he held over his career. He continued his love for baseball by organizing the MGH softball team and umpiring games for local leagues. He was an avid candlepin bowler and played for the MGH team and organized the league for many years fostering strong bonds with coworkers that would become lifelong friends. During the 1970’s and 80’s, Daniel bowled on Saturday nights in a Men’s Scratch League in Lynn. During this time, he also umpired for West Lynn Little League and was a referee for the West Lynn Street Hockey League. He also taught at the Peterson School for many years passing on his wealth of experience as an electrician.
Dan met his first wife Marilyn at the hospital when he was sent to repair a broken stove in the kitchen and “gave her hell for the dirty toaster”. Marilyn would ask the other maintenance crew where Dan was working and then show up and wait for him to notice her so they could talk. He proudly stated that “she chased me until I caught her” because she would wait outside the hospital for him to get off work and then walk away when he came out so he would chase after. They wed in 1959 and had five boys before her passing in 1982.
Daniel met his second wife Loretta through a VHS dating service in 1985. Loretta was the widowed mother of four children of her own increasing the family to eleven. They moved to Chelmsford in 1986 where they raised their six remaining children to adults through difficult years, but always stood by each other’s side. They downsized as empty nesters ending up in Hudson, NH with their beloved dog Max where they enjoyed their golden years in happiness.
Daniel was known for being a gruff and boisterous character that spoke his mind and stood for what he believed was right. His hard surface was hiding a devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather to his family, and a loyal friend, coach, and mentor to countless people he touched through his career and his love for baseball and bowling.
He leaves behind his children, DJ Caufield of Helena, MT, Dusty Caufield of Lynn, Dean Caufield of Andover, Dennis Caufield of Lynn, Darren Caufield of Lynn, Ann Marie Wilson-Crockett of Groveland, Mary Lou Jelinek of Exeter, Brian Garofalo of Waltham, Kevin Garofalo of Billerica, and 14 grandchildren.
He was pre-deceased by his wives Marilyn Griggs Caufield and Loretta Sargent Caufield.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm in the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. His graveside service will take place on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 10 am in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, 185 Lake St., Peabody. Kindly gather at the cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in Daniel’s memory to the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children.