Donald Robert Dacier

Donald Robert Dacier, age 99, died peacefully from natural causes on Friday, February 28, 2025.

In 1925, Donald was born in Marlboro, Massachusetts and was one of 5 children of Arthur Dacier and Eva Mailhoit.

During World War II, Donald enlisted in the Army Air Corps. In 1945, he was immediately deployed to Tinian in the South Pacific and was a waist gunner on the “Ready Teddy” a B-29 Super Fortress plane. During one of the plane’s 35 bombing missions over Japan, Donald shot down a Japanese fighter. This was reported in the Marlboro Enterprise with a front page, lead headline “Dacier shoots down Jap plane”. Donald and his Ready Teddy crew flew 500 combat hours, 100,000 miles and dropped approximately 400,000 pounds of explosives on Japan. For gallantry, Donald received the Distinguished Flying Cross with an Oak Leaf Cluster and other military medals.

After receiving an Honorable Discharge as a Sergeant from the Army Air Corps., Donald attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts graduating in 1950 and then attended Georgetown University Dental School in Washington, D.C. graduating in 1954, all on the G.I. Bill. For over 40 years, Donald had a thriving Dental Practice in Hudson, Massachusetts.

Donald was an active outdoorsman and amateur photographer. He hiked all over New England and enjoyed wilderness white water canoeing and camping. Donald spent hundreds of hours painting and many of his works of art were displayed in homes and businesses throughout New England. In 1969, Donald was a founder of B.S.A. Troop 35 and was its first Scoutmaster. Several of his Scouts attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Donald was a long-time member of the board of directors of St. Mary’s Credit Union in Marlboro, Massachusetts. He helped transform the credit union from a small institution on French Hill in Marlboro to an institution with over $900M in assets.

Donald is survived by his daughter, Christine A. Corn of Temecula, California and his son, Attorney Paul T. Dacier and his wife Kimberly of Sherborn, Massachusetts and their children, Jessica S. Rogan of Duxbury, Massachusetts, Brittany M. Dacier, M.D., M.P.H. of Boston, Massachusetts and U.S. Army Captain John P. Dacier of Alexandria, Virginia.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held for Donald on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Marlboro, Massachusetts. For online condolences visit www.tighehamilton.com.