David F. Frawley Print E-mail

David F. Frawley


Former owner and operator of Highland Towel Supply;



David F. Frawley, 72, of Lowell but formerly of North Tewksbury, and a member of a well known Lowell family, died Saturday morning at Tufts New England Medical Center after a brief illness.

He was the husband of the late Janet (Phaneuf)  Frawley who died July 1, 2015.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, December 3, 1944, a son of the late Francis D. and the late Eileen B. (Cox) Frawley, he attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Keith Academy in 1962. Dave went on to attend Burdett Business School in Boston.

For most of his career David was the owner and operator of the former Highland Towel Supply Company in Lowell as well as Sweaters and Letters and Crescent Linen. More recently, he was a driver for the Lowell Regional Transit Authority Road Runner Service.

Beloved by his many friends, David was generous from his heart, adventurous in his spirit and passionate and philanthropic in supporting a cause very dear to him, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Pan Mass Challenge.

Along with his late wife Janet, he raised funds for the research laboratory of Dr. Kenneth C. Anderson, MD at the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute in Boston. Additionally he frequently donated platelets for 15 years at the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center, attended numerous Annual Team – 20 Brunches hosted by the Kraft family. David and his late wife established a fundraising team called the Platelet Peddlers and personally led the group during many Pan Mass Challenge 200-mile bike rides from Sturbridge to Provincetown, MA. The Team continues to participate in the PMC race to this day under their new name, Patriot’s Platelet Peddlers.

In addition, David was an outdoorsman who loved to ski, golf, hike and travel. He was a member of an expedition called the “cowboys on Everest” who attempted to get the first American woman to the Summit. Dave spent much of his time pursuing his “non typical” interests, from ice climbing to para-motoring , often appearing overhead and unannounced at family and friends events. 

A former member of Vesper Country Club, he was currently a member of Long Meadow Golf Club.

David is survived by three children Catherine G. McCloy and her husband Jay of Newburyport, Kelly Frawley Gilet of Westford and David F. Frawley, Jr. and his wife Jennifer of Defiance, MO; four grandchildren Dylan and Meredith McCloy of Newburyport and Mitchell and Paige Gilet of Westford; three sisters Rita Marion and her husband Barney of Deering, NH, Brenda Kelly, R.N and her husband Gerald of Kittery, ME and  Virginia Langevin and her husband Paul of Beverly Hills, FL; and many nieces and nephews.

He was also the brother of the late Frank D. Frawley, Jr.

Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. at Fletcher for a Memorial Visitation from 3 to 7 P.M. Tuesday December 27th. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Memorial Funeral Mass to be celebrated Wednesday morning at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH at 10 o’clock. (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). Committal Services will be private. E-condolences/directions at odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Pan Mass Challenge, PMC 77 4th Avenue, Needham, MA 02494, Attn. 25424-1 or
http://profile.pmc.org/TP0053. Arrangements by Funeral Directors James F. O’Donnell, Jr. and John W. Crane (978 or 866) 458-8768.   

Condolences (5)
  • Sarah
    We will miss David's smiling face coming in to visit at Longhorn! My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
  • Michael Rynne  - Childhood friend
    My deepest condolences to the Frawley family. David and I played as children . He was walways busy and adventurous. Although it has been many years, i remember fondly our youth together.
  • Jerelyn Copeland
    Sorry to read of David's passing. My condolences to his family.
  • Kevin Finnegan
    Dave and Janet were such a wonderful pair. They were inspirational in getting my wife and I involved in riding in the Pan Mass Challenge and donating blood platelets at Dana Farber. I will miss his warm smile and the twinkle in his eyes.
  • Ray Costello
    I'll miss "Frawl". He was my roommate on many winter golf trips to Florida. You just had to love his charm and smile. Always the life of the party. To his family,my deepest condolences.He will be missed by all.
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