Dale Francis Jolliffe 89, of Dover, MA passed away peacefully on Sunday October 12, 2025. He was the beloved husband of the late Elizabeth Jolliffe for 65 years. Dale grew up in Clairton, PA. He attended Clairton High School and graduated in 1954. Dale loved football, but his father would not let him play high school football claiming that he was too small, so he decided to run track. He held the record at the 100 yard dash for many years. Dale and Elizabeth enjoyed attending Clairton High football games. Dale and Elizabeth were married in 1958. They had three children and often spent time with family at the Clairton Angler’s Club. In1965, they pursued a new life in Massachusetts. They eventually settled in the small town of Dover, Mass on Claybrook Rd. He attended Wentworth University for Refrigeration Engineering in the late 1960s. Soon afterward, Dale worked repairing hospital cancer testing equipment for Damon/IEC for over 25 years.
Dale enjoyed fishing and hiking and had a great respect for nature and animals. Dale and Elizabeth often took their family camping, fishing and hiking. In later years, they would take their entire family, including seven grandchildren camping. Their grandchildren didn’t seem to mind eating camp food too much when there was a MacDonald’s only a couple of miles away. Dale and Elizabeth enjoyed bringing the entire family on vacations for many years. Dale also loved fast cars. He had many classic cars over the years, including a 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera. Dale and Elizabeth enjoyed watching NASCAR and attended the Daytona 500 on their 50th wedding anniversary. They loved to dance and were often seen dancing to Mustang Sally at weddings. How they loved to laugh with family and friends.
Dale had 4 siblings, Annette, Richard, Larry and Kay. He is survived by his sister Annette Anderson of Cape Canaveral, FL. Dale is also survived by his son Dale and his wife Sarah of Medfield, MA, his daughter Marianne and her husband Tommy Mahar of Bellingham, MA, and his son Kevin and his wife Collette from Pelham, NH. Dale and Elizabeth absolutely loved their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces. Their grandchildren are Tom, Devin, Benjamin, Amanda, Cameron, Justin, and Clayton. Their great grandchildren are Noelle, Jameson, Layna, Lily, Keira, Chase, Colton and Annika.
Growing up on Claybrook Rd in Dover was a very special place and is a beautiful road to this day. Sundays after church, our father and us children would walk up and down Claybrook Rd picking up any trash on the side of the road. When we went camping, our father Dale taught us to always leave the campsite looking better than you found it.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Dale’s wake on Friday, October 24 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 1305 Highland Ave, Needham, MA. There will be a funeral service on the following day, Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 AM at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home. Interment will follow at the Highland Cemetery in Dover, MA.
Dale loved animals. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to: Stacy Cobb, Nature’s Nurse Wildlife Rehabilitation, Instagram - (@naturesnursewildlife).