Age 54. Lodged at 87 Banks Road, Swampscott, MA. Born 6/22/1888, in Rochester, NY. Died of burns (death certificate). Accountant, Boston & Maine Railroad, Boston office. In a main dining room party of 12 to welcome Pvt. Henry T. Fitzgerald, U.S. Army, age 30, of Wilmington, MA, home on holiday furlough from Florida, eleven dead including Pvt. Fitzgerald. Few known details of the final moments were provided by the lone party survivor, Pvt. Robert Horrigan, U.S. Army, age 29 (Born 10/04/1913. Died 5/09/1997, age 83), of Turners Falls (Montague), MA. Pvt. Horrigan reported the group ate dinner at the nearby Parker House (hotel), had just arrived at the Grove. Location of their table was revealed by Pvt. Horrigan to the 11/29/1967 Greenfield Recorder, Greenfield, MA, as (quote): "...near the dance floor and opposite the bar..." Was single. Was living at the Hotel Commonwealth, Boston, as of his 1917 WWI draft registration ("clerk, Boston & Maine Railroad") and the 1940 federal census (same occupation and employer). Moved to Swampscott the past August to lodge at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley H. Devine (neither present), when the Hub hotel was taken for military housing. "He at once took an active interest in town affairs...He enlisted in civilian defense..." (Daily Evening Item, Lynn, MA, 11/30/1942). One of three B.& M. railroad employees in the party lost (also John Fitzgerald, age 41, and Miss Mildred Fox, age 29). His Swampscott address was shown in news accounts, address of the above hotel (86 Bowdoin Street, Boston) appeared on the final official November 1943 Committee on Public Safety master casualties list (residence was shown on his death certificate as simply: "Commonwealth Hotel," no street). Oldest of three Grove victims from the north shore oceanside town of Swampscott (also Dr. Gordon Bennett, age 27, and Miss Caroline Gilbride, age 21). Late parents Mr. and Mrs. James and Elizabeth (Noonan) Connick. Burial at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Auburn, NY. Middle name James.

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