Westfield – Donald (Don) E Hannigan (1927-12016) passed away peacefully on December 25, 2016 in the home he designed and built on the beautiful lot he had his eye on for years, assured of the love of his friends and family. Donald was born to May I (Bliss) Hannigan and Thomas E Hannigan, Jr. in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1927. He leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Marita “Rita” Hannigan, his sister May I White, three daughters, Margaret Hannigan, Claudia (William) Teubl, and Kerry (Duncan) Plancon, 11 grandchildren, and 4 great-granddaughters. Don considered himself a Southwick boy, and graduated from Westfield High School in 1945. After high school he enlisted in the Navy during World War II. Don was his family’s sole surviving son; his older brother Theodore was killed in the Pacific in 1943. When the war ended, Don attended Dartmouth College on the GI Bill. Upon his graduation in 1950 Don matriculated at St John’s University School of Law, from which he received an LLB in 1957. Don worked for Mass Mutual for his entire 42 year career and retired as Vice President and Associate General Counsel. Don strongly believed in giving back to his community. He chaired the Westfield Zoning Board of Appeals, was President of the YMCA, served several terms on the Vestry at the Church of the Atonement and as Junior and Senior Warden. He was an active member of the Episcopal Church all his life and served as a Trustee of the Diocese. Don was a member of the Get Together Club. He and Rita fostered and trained 19 guide dogs for Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation. Don was a feminist before the term came into use, encouraging his daughters to excel academically and athletically. He coached the YMCA Girls’ Swim Team for years. He and Rita helped coach Westfield High School Girls’ Tennis Team. Don was athletic and played tennis into his 80’s. He was an avid swimmer, and early on when dating Rita, he sought to impress her with his butterfly stroke at Lake Congamond; Rita was horrified because she thought he was drowning.
Don was amazing at looking at a situation dispassionately, and discerning a perfect outcome that satisfied all parties quickly and brilliantly. His little voice clearing “ahem” before he entered into a conversation meant that you were either going to hear an interesting perspective, an entertaining tale, a good joke, or all three. He had the gift of story-telling like only the Irish can deliver which made being at the dinner table with him a delight. However, he wasn’t without his shortcomings – he loved dessert. The family joke was that his car automatically turned into a bakery’s parking lot – especially when Rita had already made dessert. Services will be held at The Church of the Atonement, 36 Court Street, Westfield, MA on January 7th at 11 o’clock. A visiting hour in which people are invited to share remembrances of Don will be at 10:00. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Don’s name to The Church of the Atonement www.atonementwestfield.net or Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation www.fidelco.org. The family wishes to thank Dr. Gurpal Kingra for his compassionate and professional care throughout Don’s life.
