Wellesley Mourns Lacrosse Star Killed in Crash

Connor Darcey, a Wellesley High School lacrosse star who was killed in a crash Friday in the North End section of Boston, was remembered during his funeral Monday as a quiet leader with a never-ending zest for life.

Darcey was 21 years old. He was a sophomore at Penn State, where he was majoring in communications and science. He played goalie for the school’s lacrosse team.

A 27-year-old man was also killed in the crash, which police said happened at about 3 a.m. on Commercial Street. A third man, 21, was seriously injured. Their identities have not yet been released.

Hundreds turned out for Darcy’s funeral Monday morning in Wellesley:

“His love of family and friends, boundless energy and broadest of smiles are his legacy,” his obituary reads. “Connor was a force of nature with a contagious zest for life; a young man of great humility, a quiet leader respected by his peers and a great friend to all who knew him.”

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“Our hearts go out to Connor Darcey’s family, teammates, friends and everyone who knew him,” Penn State wrote in a statement. It’s a very sad day. The Penn State family has suffered a tremendous loss and we are deeply saddened. Our thoughts and prayers are with Connor’s family, friends, fellow students and the men’s lacrosse family.”

This is his obituary:

Connor Darcey, 21, of Wellesley, MA, passed away June 12 as a passenger in a tragic car accident. He is survived by his parents, Bill and Penny Darcey, his brothers Will and Teddy, and grandparents Bill and Joan Darcey of Cumberland, RI, Nancy Spence of Birmingham, MI, and John and Mary Rosebrough of Pentwater, Michigan. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins as well as an extended family of friends in the summer community of Epworth Heights, in Ludington, Michigan, where he spent every summer of his life.

A 2012 graduate of Wellesley High School, Connor was a four year starter in goal, a two year league MVP and a two-time All-American lacrosse standout. An accomplished 3-sport varsity athlete, Connor also earned Bay State League All Star honors in hockey and was the 2012 recipient of the Susan M. Sullivan Academic Scholarship Award.

Connor just completed his sophomore year at Penn State University, where he was a Communications major. He was the starting goalie for the Nittany Lions lacrosse team where he was recently named the first “Defensive Player of the Week” in BIG 10 history, and earned a place on the All Big-10 Tournament Team. He started all fourteen games of the 2015 season and received the Commissioner’s Academic Award.

His love of family and friends, boundless energy and broadest of smiles are his legacy. Connor was a force of nature with a contagious zest for life; a young man of great humility, a quiet leader respected by his peers and a great friend to all who knew him.

The entire Town of Wellesley, together with the broader lacrosse community, mourn the loss of this wonderful young man.

Visitation will be held in the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St. (Rt.16) Wellesley, Sunday June 14 from 4-8pm. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Funeral Service will be held St. Andrew’s Church, 79 Denton Rd. Wellesley on Monday June 15, at 11am. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made to the Wellesley Field Fund, PO Box 812839, Wellesley, MA 02482 or Penn State Lacrosse Stadium Fund, 137 East Area Locker Building, University Park PA 16802.

Photo: Connor Darcey. (Credit: Mark Selders/Penn State)