Richard J. "Dunk" Walsh, age 86, of Concord passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Granite VNA Hospice House in Concord.
He was born in Concord, NH, the son of the late William and Dorilla (Levesque) Walsh, and grew up in Concord's South End near West Street Playground where he enjoyed playing sports in every season with kids who became friends for life.
He graduated from St. John's High School in the Class of 1954. He was a skilled athlete playing varsity baseball, basketball and football.
Upon graduation from high school, Dunk began building houses in his father's business and later for The Village House. He settled in as a carpenter for the State of New Hampshire in 1970 where he remained for 25 years retiring in 1994 as the foreman of the Carpenter Shop at New Hampshire Hospital.
While never considering himself an avid traveler, he cherished a trip to New York City with his wife, Betty, to see Chorus Line. He also made a wonderful group trip to Ireland with his sister Mary to see where their father grew up in Cork County. He enjoyed going to the movies and out to eat, especially enjoying his monthly Old-Timers luncheons with his Boy's Club-Sunset League-White's Park buddies. Of significant importance to Dunk was his more than 25-year Saturday morning "coffee klatch" where the klatchmates used their collective wisdoms to clearly solve all the world's problems.
Dunk rightfully considered himself an avid sports fan, whether it was playing, watching his kids or grandkids play, watching local teams play, or watching games on television, especially fuming over his beloved Red Sox.
He coached Little League baseball in the Concord National League and the Concord Babe Ruth League as well as serving a couple of years as an assistant coach to Warren Doane and Dave Anderson for the Post 21 American Legion team, one year of which was a state championship team.
In his younger years he played in an intense Sunday night men's basketball group at the old Concord Boy's Club on Highland Street.
As a slick fielding second baseman, Dunk played baseball in the Concord Sunset Baseball League, the nation's oldest after supper baseball league. He also managed the Fern's Oilers team to a Sunset League championship on the strength of a Don Steenbeke championship game no-hitter. He was also on the Concord Sunset League board of directors.
In retirement Dunk took up golf. Continuing in his competitive spirit he played in the Men's Tuesday Night league with his son-in-law. He also enjoyed daily morning rounds of golf with his many retired good friends.
Dunk had a deep affection for the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He considered himself fortunate to have attended three Fighting Irish football games in South Bend.
Dunk was a longtime supporter of the Concord High School Hockey team, with estimates that he missed only two Crimson Tide hockey games over the last 32 years. He could be found at an arena on game days chatting it up with friends, fans, and especially the parents of players during the pre-game and period intermissions. As much as possible, he'd sit or stand near the end of the rink Concord shot at twice. The parents of Concord High Hockey recently awarded him the CHS Hockey Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dunk was predeceased by his loving wife of 49 years, Betty (Tillotson) Walsh, who passed away in 2007; his brother William Walsh; and 2 sisters, Dorothy Pritchett and Mary McCoo.
He is survived by his daughter, Laura Walsh Nadeau and her husband Joe, of Concord, NH; and son Duncan Walsh and his partner Cydney Dodge of Concord; 4 grandchildren, Matthew Nadeau and his wife Lindsay of Concord, Samantha Nadeau of San Francisco, CA, Ryan Walsh and his wife Amanda of North Sutton, and Dustin Walsh of Chester; 3 great grandchildren, Wyatt, Magnolia, and Layla; and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, December 27th from 1 to 3:30 PM, at the Waters Funeral Home, 50 South Main Street, Concord.
A celebration of life will follow at 3:30 in the chapel of the Waters Funeral Home. Rev. Terry Odell will officiate.
A reception will immediately follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Friends of Concord High Hockey, 73 Currier Road, Concord NH 03301 or to the Boys and Girls Club of Concord, 55 Bradley Street, Concord, NH 03301