David M. Whelan, a lifelong resident of Charlestown and former member of teh Charlestown Neighborhood Council for many years, entered into eternal life on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston following a valiant and courageous seven month battle with leukemia. He was 54 years old.
David was born in Somerville on October 15, 1961, a son of Kathleen M. “Kitty” (Farren) Whelan and Eugene F. “Buddy” Whelan. David grew up in Charlestown where he was educated at St. Francis De Sales Parochial School and graduated from Don Bosco Technical High School in Boston in 1980. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management in 1984 graduating from Boston College. He furthered his education years later and received his Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts in Boston. David began working for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1984 for the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority and after almost 20 years of dedicated service he rose to the position of Budget Manager in their Finance Division. David was a member, Past President and Financial Secretary for the Bunker Hill Associates and member of Bunker Hill Council # 62, Knights of Columbus, Charlestown Neighborhood Council, Friends of The Charlestown Navy Yard, St. Francis De Sales Church Parish Council and Past Board Member of the Charlestown YMCA.
David enjoyed traveling and summering at his family’s summer residence in Pocasset. He enjoyed life to the fullest, he was always the life of the party, he was always willing to step forward and take charge of any situation and help out when help was needed. David loved his Charlestown and the people in Charlestown that he so readily made himself available to help throughout his life in the good times and the bad times.
David is the devoted husband of 21 years and longtime childhood friend to Maryhelen (Harty) Whelan. He is the son of Kathleen M. “Kitty” (Farren) Whelan and the late Eugene F. “Buddy” Whelan. He is the beloved brother of Jacqueline Chaisson and her husband Stephen. He is the son-in-law of Patricia (Ahern) Harty and the late Robert “Bob” Harty. He is the brother-in-law of Bobby and Fran Harty, Kevin Harty, Karen Harty, Eileen Harty, Elaine and Mark Collins and the late Patti Harty. He is the uncle to Bridgette and Eric, JeanMarie, Michael, Robert, James, Aidan, John, Aisling, Courtney and his great-nephew Jack.
A memorial donation in David’s name can be made to The Bunker Hill Associates Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 290755, Charlestown, Mass. 02129.
David Whelan