~ IN MEMORY ~
We wish to thank Capt Bob Ziminsky (Delta retired 1998) and his wife Amy for sharing the sad news about Capt Hancock’s passing.
HANCOCK, David C. “Cal” Captain
CHARLTON:
David Calvin Hancock, retired Delta Airlines passed away peacefully surrounded
by his family at the Overlook Health Center in Charlton, MA on February 15,
2022. David nickname “Cal” born June 23, 1927 in Somerville, MA celebrated his
94th birthday with his children: Amy B. Ziminsky of Mason, NH, Susan A. Hale
Plaistow, NH, and David A. Hancock Portsmouth, NH. Dear husband of the late
Barbara Rundlet Hancock who passed in January, 2012 and brother of the late
Donald B. Hancock and sister Elizabeth A. MacAskill of Medford, MA. Dear son of
the late Adelaide Barbour Hancock and David A. Hancock. Loving grandfather of
Christopher and Jason Hale, Robert and Tanya Ziminsky, Anne M. EdlerYung,
Taylor Edler, Jacob, Matthew and Emily Hancock. Loving great grandpa to James
Ziminsky, Jonah Nelson Hancock & Reuben Nelson Hancock, Thomas, Amelia, and
Calvin Hale, Adriana, Aurora, Christian and Joshua Hale. He cherished his
association with all the wonderful extended family members in Newfoundland
including David and Vi Parsons, great nephew David Butt and all the Butt
cousins, dear friends and caretakers of his NL home in Jamestown, Melvin and
Loretta Moss.
David was
a cradle Episcopalian who grew up singing in the choir of Christ Church in
Cambridge, MA. His wife Barbara was raised as a Unitarian and attended the
First Parish Church next door. David attended Rindge Technical high school and
met Barbara when he was fifteen at a bowling alley in Harvard Square where they
became fast friends. World War ll was going on when they graduated from high
school and that affected both of their lives. David enlisted in the Marine
Corps and was on the verge of being deployed to the Pacific Theater when the
Japanese surrendered. He ended up his enlistment as a guard at a prisoner-of-war
camp in Portsmouth, NH. David stayed in touch with Barbara throughout their
time apart and they were married in August, 1949.
Also in
1949, he was fortunate to land a job as Purser with Eastern Airlines. It was
not the job of his choice, but at least it put him in the right industry. David
had always dreamed of being an airplane pilot and after his return from the
Marines, he entered training at East Coast Aerotech to secure his pilot’s
license. During the time he was there he picked up whatever jobs he could to
pay for the expensive flying lessons while raising four young children with
Barbara’s stalwart support to achieve his goal. In 1955 he earned his
commercial pilot’s license, and began his successful career as a professional
pilot. He flew with Northeast Airlines and eventually became a senior pilot for
Delta Airlines based out of Boston, Ma. until his retirement in 1988. He
co-directed many Northeast and later Delta Airline celebrations for the pilots
who were retiring. He received a lot of collegial fan mail for planning and
hosting those memorable events.
David
always encouraged his three girls and one son to study hard and establish
career goals. In 1961 he moved his family from Cambridge, to Reading, MA to
enjoy a more suburban lifestyle where the school district had a good rating. In
June, 1967 the family moved again to Atkinson, NH where David soon supported
wife Barbara’s dream to establish a private day care center and pre-school,
Hancock’s Child Care Center. The center flourished for seven years and served
several local community young children under the Hancock’s direction.
David,
Barbara and mother-in-law “Nana” Marguerite Rundlet later moved to live in
Exeter then a beautiful ocean setting on Great Bay Rd. Durham, NH. While flying
with Delta, a pilot friend introduced David to the Spruce Creek Fly- In
Community, Port Orange FL. After Nana Rundlet passed, David and Barbara decided
to become snow birds enjoying many winters there together.
David’s
family had lived in Newfoundland since the 1600’s and after visiting his
grandfather John Alfred Hancock for the first time in 1956, he established warm
family bonds and fell in love with life on the “rock.” David and Barbara
enjoyed their summers in Brooklyn and later Jamestown NL for almost forty years
while visiting family and friends.
David
enjoyed flying his Comanche, fishing, boating and making his famous walking
canes from alder tree branches found in NL. He was great at fixing things and a
hobbyist woodworker. He belonged to several Masonic organizations including
Rose of Sharon Lodge and Aleppo Shrine. Throughout his later adult life, he was
very committed to Grace Episcopal Church in Port Orange, St. George Episcopal
church in Durham, NH and had a variety of responsibilities in previous churches
including a stint as Senior Warden. He was a stalwart supporter of many
charities and churches including the Washington National Cathedral and other
churches in NH, MA and NL. Always a sports fan, he was thrilled to see the Red
Sox and the Patriots bring home the big trophies.
David
will be remembered fondly for his warm smile, telling stories about
Newfoundland, and impromptu accordion and Harmonica playing to entertain family
and friends. Family favorites include his rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball
Game,” “Tony Spumoni the Ice Cream Man,” “We Are the Hancock Girls,” and
“George Washington Bridge.”
The
family wishes to thank the Overlook Masonic Home and the many care givers in
the skilled nursing department for ensuring David’s wellbeing during the ninth
inning of his wonderful life.
The
funeral will be held on Saturday, February 19th at 1:00 pm at Belanger-Bullard
Funeral Home, 51 Marcy St. Southbridge, MA. Condolences can be sent to www.BelangerFuneralHome.com
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children www.shrinerschildrens.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org
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