Obituaries

Police Identify Victim in Fatal Crash

John Darisse was a stand-out athlete, decorated U.S. Navy veteran, and loving father, husband, grandfather.

John Darisse, 62, of Nashua, was the driver who was killed in a single-car crash Aug. 9, after hitting a tree on West Hollis Street.

Nashua Police Capt. Bruce Hansen said Darisse crashed in the area of 699 West Hollis St., near Jayron Drive, after losing control of his car during a heavy rain storm.

"The cause of the accident is under investigation. There had been some road work there earlier in the day, and there was some cold patch covering the road work. We're looking into whether that may have been a contributing factor. We're also awaiting toxicology results," Hansen said.

According to an obituary published by the Cremation Society of NH, Darisse, who was known to his friends and family as Jack, had just celebrated his birthday on Aug. 7. He was a decorated U.S. Navy Veteran during Vietnam, and was a 1970 Chelsmford High grad who in his school days played hockey as a defenseman and baseball as an infielder, and was on several teams in State Championships.

He and his two best friends, Lenny Nutter and Rick Kinney, formed an unbreakable bond and remained just as good friends as ever, up until his death. 

He received an offer from the Boston Bruins, but the Vietnam War intervened. He joined the U.S. Navy and served 2 terms in Vietnam where he was a member of the "Brown Water Navy" serving on riverboats in the Mekong Delta. He was wounded twice and received two Purple Hearts along with a Meritorious Unit Citation. He subsequently served on various ships of the Fleet, including the USS Gilmore, and the USS Spiegel Grove; his Navy career culminated on the USS Constitution where he served with pride as a Petty Officer 2nd Class.

He had two children, Tim and Danielle, with his first wife Diane (Corfield) Darisse. After his divorce he married Debi Gray who he was married to for more than 1- years. During these times he attended University of Massachusetts in Lowell for a short time and played a few hockey games for the Maine Mariners, a Bruins farm team. He worked at JapEnameLac in Chelmsford, Quality Paper in Boston, SafeSite/Iron Mountain in Billerica, and Best Cycle in Nashua. He loved motorcycles, and enjoyed a stint racing them at NHIS in Loudon, NH where a crash with multiple injuries ended his racing career.

In April, 1997 he married Nina Bosworth, formerly of South Lyon, Michigan. Together they pursued lifelong interests in hockey, motorcycles, and muscle cars as well as their beloved canine companions Duke, Kodi, Chloe and Brandi. He and Nina were deeply devoted to one another. After a long time of questioning and seeking, he came to trust in God and joined the Nashua Presbyterian Church in the spring of this year. He particularly enjoyed the choir.

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He is survived by his wife Nina (Nashua), son Timothy (Missy) and daughter Danielle Pinard (Gary) and their mother Diane Darisse; grandchildren Heather, Stacey, and Dylan Darisse and Ashley and Marina Sirois. Surviving siblings are Don Darisse, Sandra McKenzie (Fred), Margaret "Peggy" McDonald (David) and Ken "Harry" Darisse (Diane) all of Lowell, MA as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by both parents, by his brother Al "Buddy" Darisse (Maureen) and his sister Judy Beluda.

A memorial service is planned for August 17, 7 p.m., at Nashua Presbyterian Church, 1010 West Hollis St., Nashua.

Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.



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