Frederick Driscoll, 86

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. —  Frederick “Rick” Driscoll of Williamstown, beloved husband of Jeanne Driscoll, died of natural causes at home, surrounded by his family on Sunday, January 30, 2022. He was 86 years old. Although he had contended with various health issues in recent years, his death came with minimal suffering after he entered hospice care following a short stay at the hospital for a cerebral hemorrhage. Rick was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the son of John Fiske Driscoll of St. Paul and Helen Russell Locke of Watertown, Massachusetts. With a great love for athletics and the outdoors, Rick enjoyed an active early life. He graduated from St. Paul Academy, where he was captain of his school’s hockey team. He received his undergraduate degree from Williams College, class of ‘58, where he majored in English and played hockey, football, and track. He married his first wife, Carol Bratnober, during his sophomore year at Williams and his first daughter, Jennifer, was born two weeks after graduation. Following college, Rick returned to St. Paul where he taught English, coached hockey, and served as an administrator at St. Paul Academy. After ten years there and the birth of three more daughters, Rick moved to Whitefish, Montana, where he taught English at a public high school and, with the help of his family, ran a 50-acre farm. After a divorce in 1970, Rick received a Master’s in Education and Administration from Gonzaga University, in Spokane, Washington. He then moved to upstate New York to work as an educational consultant at the Southern Tier Regional Education Center of New York State, where he met a colleague, Jeanne Bosson, and they were married in October 1972. He began a career as a headmaster, first at Denver Country Day School in Denver, Colorado, and then at The Green Vale School in Glen Head, New York. In the late 1970’s, Rick returned to Williamstown, and began working at the Admissions Office of Williams College and then took an associate deanship at Southern Vermont College in Bennington, Vermont. In May of 1984, Rick began his recovery from alcoholism which continued uninterrupted for the rest of his life. Maintaining his sobriety and helping other people with addiction would become a cornerstone of his life. Over the years he sponsored many recovering alcoholics and served on the board of the Brien Center for Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services in Pittsfield, MA. In 1985, Rick became the founding Director of Sweetwood of Williamstown Retirement Community, where more recently he lived for the final two years of his life. Before retiring, Rick returned to education to become the Director of Admissions at the Hoosac School in Hoosick, NY for several years. Rick volunteered and contributed to various charitable organizations in the area, including serving on the boards of the Mt. Greylock ABC House, the Park-McCullough House of North Bennington, The Oldcastle Theater Company of Bennington, and as a campaign director of the Northern Berkshire United Way. Rick was always an avid sports fan and had a great passion for all things related to his alma mater. He was a consistent presence at Williams hockey games and banquets and was respected and appreciated by the teams. He was active in the Williams College Sideline Quarterback Club. He also attended many basketball and lacrosse games (especially when his granddaughter was playing). He was frequently instrumental in organizing Williams College Class of ’58 alumni events and was remembered fondly by most everyone he knew from his college years. Rick was predeceased by his sister, Rebecca Blodgett, and husband Tim, and his great-grandson Otto Brown. He is survived by his wife of 49 years Genevieve “Jeanne” Driscoll; his brother, Andrew Driscoll, and wife Svetlana; his daughters Jennifer Bell, and husband Daniel; Cindy Luna, and husband Richard; Molly Cisneros, and husband Danny; Julie Driscoll; his stepson, Matthew Bosson, and wife Leslie; as well as eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be planned for later in the year. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Brien Center for Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, which can be contacted at briencenter.org To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.