Herbert A. Hadley

Tuesday, 13 April 2021, exactly 66 years after being honorably discharged from the US Navy, Herbert Arthur Hadley was released from a brief battle with cancer. The last surviving child of Frank and May (Husselbee) Hadley of Wilmington, he had just celebrated his ninetieth birthday 17 February with his dear friends Bill, Sallie, and Judi at RiverCourt Residences in West Groton.

Bert, aka "Blue Eyes," married a Wilmington High School schoolmate, the late Shirley Hadley 24 April 1954. They had two daughters, Sandra Hadley, who calls the Cape her home, and Susan Hadley-Bulger, of New Ipswich, NH.

Others who had a special name for him, "Grampie," were Sue and Joe's children: Mandy and her children Adele and Henry, of Groton; Ben and his children Alex and Emma, of Westwood; Josh and his children Emerson and Elise, of Littleton; Nate, of New Ipswich; Jonathan and his children Charlie and Grant, of Harvard; Staff Sgt Sam (USMC) and Sammy, of Richlands, NC; Em, of Franklin; Zach, of Billerica; Jeremy, of Nashua; and Eliza, of New Ipswich.
Bert was a Constable and a proud member of the Tewksbury Police Department well into his early eighties. In the many years he was on the force, he also became known as "The Dancing Cop," thanks to his delightful approach to directing traffic. Many of his fondest memories and best stories were based on his life while wearing a badge. He was extremely proud of his service to his country and his community.

An annual kite festival will be held at his family's farm, with his beloved Satchmo crooning "What a Wonderful World" in the background, in Bert's honor every spring.

Interment will be held in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA on 29 April 2021.

Arrangements under the care of Badger Funeral Home, 347 King St., Littleton MA, 01460 978-486-3709 www.badgerfuneral.com