Andrew L. Fennelly

CLAREMONT, NH - Andrew L. Fennelly, 74 of Whitcomb Lane in Claremont, NH died Tuesday (May 21) at his home. He was born on the rock-bound coast of Maine in Southwest Harbor on Mt. Desert Island on November 11, 1938 the son of Thomas E., Sr. and Clara (Turner) Fennelly. For many years his grandfather was the lighthouse keeper at Bear Island Light off the coast of Northeast Harbor, Maine. Andrew attended Ellsworth High School and Northeastern and Boston universities. While in school he appeared on the evening television news hour for a year and had a speaking part in the 1956 movie "Carousel" starring Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae, and in the 1957 movie "Peyton Place" starring Lana Turner. Mr. Fennelly possessed three decades of specialized knowledge and experience in various areas of gerontology and long term care. He served as president and director of the Maine Health Care Association and as program chairman for the New England Hospital Assembly while at the same time serving on the governing council of the American Health Care Association. He also served as national president of the American College of Health Care Administrators, a professional association representing more than 7,000 long term care administrators. As state president of the Florida Assisted Living Association (FALA, 1992-1995), he was instrumental in securing the original Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver for Florida residents. In June 1997, he became the first in Florida-and one of the first 44 people in the United States to become a Certified Assisted Living Administrator (CALA) under the standards of the American College of Health Care Administrators. He served as an advisor to the White House Conference on Aging, and presented a paper at the International Congress of Gerontology in Hamburg, Germany ("Assuring Competency in Long-Term Care Administration"). He has written articles on training techniques that have appeared in national publications and is listed in Who's Who. For 18 years, Mr. Fennelly owned and successfully managed a nursing home that rated in the top 10% of facilities providing excellent care in America. For eight years, he managed assisted living facilities in Florida and New Hampshire. From 1998-2000, he spearheaded the development of the first modular assisted living facility for Senior Services America. Throughout 1999, he was in New Hampshire overseeing the development of The Pines of Newmarket, a facility that was built, licensed, and occupied within 115 days from the pouring of the foundation. From 2000-2002 he was involved with Community Care Alternatives, a management company, for which he was instrumental in the construction, licensing, and administration of The Arbors, an assisted living facility in Ormond Beach, Florida. At the same time, he was the manager of Oceans IV, a 114-unity, luxury beachfront condominium complex in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida. He founded Secure Care Systems, Inc., which developed the first electronic system for monitoring wandering residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. He was the company's CEO and also its national sales manager, developing both a sales team and a nationwide distribution network. The company was acquired in 1988; it is now an international company. At the same time, he served three years on the Research and Technology Committee of the American Society on Aging. Mr. Fennelly was hired as President and CEO of Interactive Video Resources (IVR), a company associated with Palm Beach Atlantic College, West Palm Beach, Florida. IVR developed interactive laser-disc technology for training health care workers. Mr. Fennelly oversaw the writing of the scripts, filming, development of the product, and bringing the product to the national market. The 1995, the Andrew F. O'Connell Award, given by Catholic Charities Elder Affairs of Palm Beach County, Florida was one recognition of Mr. Fennelly's efforts. "This award is bestowed on citizens who have undertaken great personal sacrifice to assist the elderly in the diocesan family in a variety of areas. Each recipient, in his own way, has generously given the good stewardship of time, talent or treasure to improve the lives of elder individuals within our great human family." -Bishop of Palm Beach. Mr. Fennelly retired in April 2002 and moved back to New England. In August of 2002, he came out of retirement to become the Executive Director of the Claremont Housing Authority in Claremont, New Hampshire. He also founded Fennelly Farms, a purveyor of specialty jam and jellies. He is survived by a son, Shawn Fennelly, Wayland, MA; three daughters, Stacey Fennelly, Fairlee, VT; Allyson Royer, Stratham, NH; Erin Nunn, Raymond, ME, 10 grandchildren, a brother, Thomas Fennelly, Jr., Bangor, ME; his longtime companion, Eric Zengota, Claremont, NH and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Richard Fennelly, Sr. and two sisters, Janet Gray and Carole Clarke. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Friday at Holy Martyr's Church, 266 Foreside Rd., Falmouth, ME. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Falmouth, ME. Friends may call at the Roy Funeral Home, 93 Sullivan Street, Claremont, NH on Wednesday evening from 6 - 8 pm. and from 5 - 8 pm on Thursday evening at the Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State St, Portland. Prayers will be recited at 10:15 am, Friday at the funeral home, followed by an 11 am Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Martyrs Church, 266 Foreside Rd., Falmouth. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery in Falmouth.Online condolences may be expressed below.