Robert J. Dachowski

Robert J. Dachowski, Sr. (86) passed away peacefully on August 31, 2025. Bob or “Bobby D,” as he was affectionately known, was the son of the late John and Helen (Hall) Dachowski. A native son of Manchester, Bob attended Bishop Bradley High School, class of 1957, where he lettered in 3 sports- basketball, baseball, and football. After high school, Bob attended the Northeast Broadcasting School in Boston and attained a certificate in broadcasting. His passion for this medium would lead to a lifelong career as a disc jockey, both on the radio and at area dances. Collecting vinyl records was a hallmark of his enthusiasm for his career. He entertained many a teenager at the local “sock hops” at the Carousel Ballroom, and he also met and promoted many of the rising music stars of his generation. He met Johnny Cash and recorded three of his local performances. In his later career, as “King of the Golden Oldies,” many could listen to the “Bobby D Rock ‘n Roll Caravan Show” on local radio stations WOKQ, WKBR, and most recently, WNHN-FM. People would also stop in at his record and audio repair shop in Pembroke.

In August,1964, Bob married the love of his life- Claire Morin from Laconia, NH. Their dance together lasted almost 55 years when Claire passed away in February, 2019. Together they built their careers as small business owners. Besides being a DJ, Bob worked at Genest Ford, then owned and operated Rob’s Recon, an auto reconditioning business. He went on to own Action Advertising, where he met many politicians and created campaign products for them, along with other items for many clients.

Their greatest achievement together was the birth of their two sons, Robert J. Dachowski, Jr (wife, Claudette) of Manchester, NH and Jeffrey A. Dachowski (wife, Carolle) of Bedford, NH and their three grandchildren, Christopher, Audra, and Lauren. They were blessed with many family members and great friends through the years, as well.

Bob is predeceased by his brothers, John and George Dachowski, and sisters, Mary White, Carol Bell, Jean Preston, and Pauline Gracyalny. He is survived by one sister, Marjorie Leutwiler (husband, Robert Senk) of Rowley, MA, and two other brothers-in-law, George Morin (wife, Carol) of Laconia, NH, and Scott Gray (wife, Rachel (Morin) passed away in 2024) of The Villages, FL, and many nieces and nephews and cousins.

Bob was a man of many talents, especially as a prolific writer, having written over 1,000 songs and a plethora of music articles for various publications. Each month at Bowman Place in Bedford, the residents looked forward to his poems in the monthly calendar of events. He also had a great eye for bargains at the many yard sales he perused and hosted. He coached baseball for the Richelieu Pony League, was a Cub Scout Pack 115 Committee Chairman, President of the West Side Lions Club, an Elmwood Gardens Community Organizer, and he was also deeply devoted to his Catholic Faith as a weekly communicant and Parish Council member of Blessed Sacrament Parish. He lived his Cursillo in 2011 (#273) and faithfully wore his Cursillo cross every day to be a witness of his love for Jesus Christ.

Bob and Claire’s travels took them all around the country, most notably to Las Vegas, Montana, Pennsylvania Dutch country, Foxwoods, Quebec City, many Maine beaches and other areas along the east coast all the way to Florida. With his son Rob, he visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY and attended a baseball game of his favorite team- the NY Yankees- at the new Yankee Stadium with his son, Jeff. He was a great fan of the NE Patriots, Boston Celtics, and the Boston Red Sox (when not playing the Yankees). His favorite memory was attending the 1978 American League East tie breaker baseball game at Fenway Park where Bucky Dent hit a home run late in the game to beat the Red Sox.

Bob leaves quite a legacy behind and will always be remembered for his quick wit, distinctive radio voice, imaginative story-telling, compassion for others in need, and as a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. The family wishes to thank all the caregivers at the Elliott Hospital and Granite VNA Hospice House for their loving care of our father/grandfather, and all our family and friends. All have been a great comfort to us.

Services: Calling Hours will be held on Sunday, September 7th from 4-7 pm at Phaneuf Funeral Home, 243 Hanover St., Manchester, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 8th at 10 am at Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Elm St., Manchester, NH. Burial will follow at St. Hedwig Cemetery, Bedford, NH. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations in Bob’s name be made to the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation / Bert and Anita Morin Family Scholarship Fund, PO Box 7312, Gilford, NH, 03247-7312, The Combat Veteran’s Motorcycle Association c/o Tia Davis, PO Box 2545, Denton, TX 76202 or combatvet.us, or The Epilepsy Foundation @ www.epilepsy.com