Rev. Daniel J. Gilmartin, 88, former pastor of St. Brendan’s Church in Bellingham, died suddenly October 8 in his home at Carmel Terrace in Framingham.
Born in Brockton, May 12, 1921, the son of the late Michael and Margaret (Quill) Gilmartin, the Rev. Gilmartin was raised in Brockton.
Father Gilmartin was a graduate of Holy Cross College in Worcester and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton and was ordained a priest in 1946.
Father Gilmartin taught at St. Sebastian’s School in Newton for many years; he also coached basketball while at St. Sebastian’s.
In 1972, he was appointed pastor of St. Brendan’s Church in Bellingham and remained pastor there until 1996. While at St. Brendan’s, he was the driving force behind the building of the Parish Hall.
Father Gilmartin served at Assumption Church and then when it combined with St. Blaise Church in Bellingham was Senior Priest from 1996 until moving to Carmel Terrace two years ago.
Father Gilmartin loved to travel; he was an avid fan of the Red Sox, often going down to see them in Spring Training.
Father Gilmartin also loved to golf and at one time had a single digit handicap.
He leaves no immediate family but is survived by his dear friends the Fabian family.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 14 in St. Brendan’s Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Brockton.
Father Gilmartin will lie in state at St. Brendan’s Church from 2-8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to St. Brendan’s Church, 384 Hartford Ave., Bellingham, MA 02019.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Ginley-Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber St. in Medway.