Childhood Friends Reunite: Dorchester Natives Find Home at Standish Village

Childhood Friends Reunite: Dorchester Natives Find Home at Standish Village

This story was originally published in the Dorchester Reporter.

Two Dorchester natives pose smiling in front of Standish Village Assisted Living.
Dan Clifford & Bob O’Brien sport their OFD (“Originally from Dorchester”) shirts

In a heartwarming story of friendship and serendipity, Daniel “Dan” Clifford and Robert “Bob” O’Brien, who grew up just four houses apart in Dorchester, have reunited at Standish Village, rekindling a bond that spans decades.

Dan grew up at 59 Sagamore Street in the Savin Hill area, while Bob lived just down the road at 41 Belfort Street. Their birthdays, December 20, 1936, and December 24, 1936, respectively, made them not only neighbors but also lifelong best friends. In the mid-1950s, their paths diverged as Dan joined the Navy and Bob enlisted in the Army, leading them to different life journeys.

Dan married his wife Bridget and raised two children while building a successful career at Varian Implant Services, retiring in 2000. Although he moved to Marblehead, Dan always felt a pull back to Dorchester when considering senior living options. In 2021, Dan and Bridget moved to Standish Village following some health challenges. 

Bob, who married and had three children, dedicated 28 years to Gillette before retiring in 2000. He later relocated to Lady Lake, Florida, with his wife. However, after her passing in 2021 and facing personal loss—most notably the tragic loss of his grandchild, Martin Richard, in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing—Bob’s children encouraged him to return to Massachusetts to be closer to family.

After meeting with Bob’s daughter, Denise, Standish Village’s Director of Community Relations, Arielle Tavares, realized that Bob might connect well with Dan due to their shared hobbies and hometowns. When Arielle told Dan about Bob’s impending move back to Massachusetts and that she wanted to introduce them, he immediately recalled a childhood friend named Bobby O’Brien who lived just a few houses away and was born 4 days before him.

As fate would have it, upon Bob’s arrival at Standish Village, he discovered that his new apartment was only four doors down from Dan and Bridget’s. The moment was pure magic; as they crossed paths in the hallway, Dan exclaimed, “Bobby, it’s you!”

Since their reunion, Dan and Bob have become inseparable, sharing meals, enjoying daily chats outdoors, and reserving spots for each other at the weekly happy hour. Their story is a testament to the power of friendship and the importance of community, proving that some bonds withstand the test of time.

As both men embrace this new chapter at Standish Village, their enduring friendship continues to inspire all who witness their joyful connection.