David Andrew Dreselly, 91, of Newtown, formerly of Bolton, Conn., passed August 31. David was born to Andrew and Lena Dreselly, April 9, 1930, in Lexington, Mass. He graduated from Lexington High School and received a degree in engineering from Northeastern University in 1960. He married Nan Lawthers in 1958, and they lived together in Bolton until their divorce in 1992. Together they raised four children.

He leaves as his legacy four children, Matthew Dreselly (Linda), Susan Pierce (Cliff), Jeannie Peirce (Danny), and James Andrew Dreselly (Michelle). He also leaves to cherish his memory his special friend Marlene, her children and grandchildren, his sister Ann Preston, her children and grandchildren, and two grandchildren of his own, Erin Dreselly (Blake) and Rayna Peirce (Anthony).

His children remember him as a fair man with a wonderful sense of humor. David could fix anything and build whatever he put his mind to building. He was very talented in many forms of art and enjoyed working with photography, ceramics, drawing, and painting. He took great pride in his vegetable gardens and typically had very successful harvests. David was a good cook and enjoyed planning and preparing meals to eat surrounded by family.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Raymond, and his partner of nine years, Nancy Morris.

David enjoyed working at AvCo Corporation in Wilmington, Mass., and Pratt and Whitney early on in his career. He then worked in the Assessor’s Office for the town of West Hartford until his retirement.

He was a member of the Republican Town Committee for many years and served as a selectman in Bolton from 1973 to 1977. He was the Bolton First Selectman from 1975 to 1977.

Visiting hours are scheduled for Friday, September 3, from 6 to 8 pm, at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center Street, Manchester, Conn. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Church of St Maurice, 32 Hebron Road, Bolton, on Saturday, September 4, at 11 am. Committal prayers with military honors will be held at the Westview Cemetery, 522 Bedford Street, Lexington, Mass., on Tuesday, September 7, at 11 am.

The family suggests that donations in David’s name can be made to the Brain Injury Association of America at biausa.org.

The family would also like to thank Owen with First Light as well as all the wonderful staff at Church Hill Village for the loving care they provided David.

For online condolences, please visit tierneyfuneralhome.com.