Donald F. Cronin

WEST BOYLSTON/WORCESTER - Donald F. Cronin of Worcester passed away peacefully at Knollwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, May 5th, 2024. He was born and raised in Worcester, the son of Francis T. Cronin and Marion G. (Courville) Cronin. Because of the early death of his father, Don spent most of his early years living with his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Courville.

A 1944 graduate of North High School, Don played football and hockey and was the treasurer of the senior class. He enlisted in the Navy immediately after graduation and trained as a radioman on a Navy amphibious (PBY) patrol plane. He was honorably discharged as an Aviation Radioman 3rd class in June of 1946.

Don took advantage of the GI college bill and graduated from The College of the Holy Cross in 1950 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. Shortly after graduation he married the love of his life, Frances Moran. They were married for 63 years before her death in 2013.

In the summer of 1950, Don began his 38-year career at Wyman Gordon Company. He spent 11 years in the Metallurgical Laboratory and was Assistant Chief Metallurgist of the Grafton plant. He transferred to Manufacturing in 1961 and moved from Shop Superintendent to General Superintendent to Manager of Manufacturing in charge of all Manufacturing and Maintenance Departments to Manager of Operational Control. From 1970 – 1980, he also served on the company negotiation committee representing the Grafton Plant for the first five Union/Management negotiations. His last years of his career included an assignment as Executive Vice President of a Wyman Gordon subsidiary International Titanium, Inc in the state of Washington. During his career he graduated from the W.P.I. School of Management in 1968 and the Northeastern Management Development Program in 1972. Don retired from Wyman Gordon Company in 1988.

He is survived by his children, Marie Winston and her husband Steve of Dedham, Deborah Hoyle and her husband Dave of Hanover, Paul Cronin and his wife Sally of Woodbury, MN, Kathleen Hebb and her husband Jeff of Sterling, Robert Cronin and his wife Carla of Needham and Diane Bolivar and her husband Wayne of Littleton. He also leaves 15 grandchildren: Ryan Hoyle and his wife Erin of Clearwater, FL, Kevin Hoyle of Hanover, Whitney Hoyle and her partner Mike Dyer of Whitman, Amy Mazzotta and her husband Jeremy of Holden, Alexa Hebb and her partner Kyle Tortolano of Burrillville, RI, Erika Hebb and her partner Anthony Ruziak of Worcester, Lucas Cronin of Las Vegas NV, McLain Cronin and his partner Hazel Grey of Los Angeles, CA, Elijah Cronin of Woodbury, MN, Brendan Cronin and his wife, Kelley Bloomer of Los Angeles, CA, Michaela Cronin of New York, NY, Matthew Cronin of Needham, Jaclyn Bolivar and her partner Andrew Freedman of South Boston, Derek Bolivar of Cambridge and Kerri Bolivar of Littleton. Great-grandchildren include Logan and Mason Hoyle of Hanover, Cailyn, Emory, and Reagan Hoyle of Clearwater, FL, Leo and Ayla Mazzotta of Holden, and Hudson Tortolano of Burrillville, RI.

His wife Frances (Moran) Cronin and his sister Marion Casey predeceased him.

Don spent the majority of his adult years in West Boylston. He was an active member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in West Boylston and in the past served on the church council, taught CCD, headed the Bishop’s Fund after helping for several years. He was also a commentator at Mass.

He was a class agent for the Holy Cross class of 1950, a Purple Knight of the Holy Cross Club of Worcester and a past member of the Holy Cross President’s Council. He was treasurer of The Friends of the West Boylston Council of Aging for several years.

He was active in the Worcester Pee Wee Hockey League and was on the building committee for the Shore Drive Hockey Rink built in the early 70s. He coached and transported young boys to hockey games for many years during that time period. He enjoyed attending all the sporting events and recitals of his children and grandchildren.

He was a member of the Westborough Country Club for over 30 years and enjoyed playing in the shop league and other golf events with his friends.

Don and Fran started Square Dancing in 1968 and were still actively dancing until 2004. During that time, they served as officers and presidents of the Bay Path Squares. Don and Fran enjoyed many evenings and travel weekends of square dancing making many good lifelong friends.

Don was an active member of the Briarwood Continuing Care Retirement Community since 2014. The family would like to thank the Briarwood Community, Knollwood and the VNA for their loving care.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with family from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, May 10th, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 11th, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 111 Worcester St., West Boylston, followed by burial at Mount Vernon Cemetery in West Boylston.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute online at www.dana-farber.org or to The Briarwood Community online at https://www.briarwoodretirement.com/about/make-a-donation/ .

To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit his tribute wall.