Robert J. Gonfrade, 86, of Ashland passed away Sunday June 22, 2025 with his family by his side.  Born in Framingham, he was the son of the late Peter and Constance (Murialdo) Gonfrade.  Bob was the husband of Joan (Murphy) Gonfrade for 40 years.  He was formerly married to Shirley (Leek) Gonfrade who died in 1974.  Bob served his country honorably in the Air Force from 1957-61.  He went on to serve his community by beginning his lifelong career as an Ashland Police Officer in 1962 rising to become Police Chief in 1974, a position he held until his retirement in 1994. He is a Life Member of the Mass Association of Chiefs of Police and International Association of Chiefs of Police.  He served the Ashland community with distinction and sacrifice; being seriously wounded in the line of duty during the tragic events of Sept. 11, 1967 which claimed the life of his fellow officer Charles Cadorette.

Following his retirement from the Ashland Police Department, Bob worked for Connolly Bus Co. of Walpole.  He continued his service to the Ashland community as a Life Member and Past President of the Ashland Lions Club and was a recipient of the Melvin Jones Award, the highest form of recognition awarded by Lions Club International. He was recognized for his service to the town by being chosen Grand Marshall of the Ashland Day Parade in 1994.  He coached Ashland Youth Hockey for 15 years and was an avid sportsman himself who enjoyed spending time on Cape Cod, diving, fishing, and quahogging.

In 1996, Bob was the recipient of a lung transplant.  He would become the longest surviving recipient of a lung transplant at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

In addition to his loving wife Joan, Bob is survived by four children, Cindy Lichwell of Plymouth, Joseph Gonfrade and his wife Kimberly of Bellingham, Kerry Spah and her husband Lance of Ramsey, MN, and Darrin Hagerty and his wife Michele of Seymour, WI, six grandchildren, Andrew Joyce and his wife Ashley, Alexander Gonfrade, Sean Brown, Erica and Jordan Spah, and Austin Hagerty, three great-grandchildren, Olivia, Callum, and Asher, three foster children, Carol, Donald, and Robbin, one sister, Yvonne Tuck of Ashland, sisters-in law Barbara Murphy and Carol Hicks and several nieces and nephews.  He was the brother of the late Liliane Gonfrade and father of the late Mary Ann Gonfrade and Sean Hagerty. Bob is further survived by many other dear family members and friends, too numerous to list but never forgotten.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, June 28th at 10:30 am in St. Cecilia's Church, 54 Esty St. Ashland, MA with burial to follow in Wildwood Cemetery in Ashland.  Visiting hours will be held Friday from 3:00-7:00pm in the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main St. Ashland, MA.

The family asks that donations be made to support the BWH Lung Transplant Program. Memorial gifts can be made online at www.bwhgiving.org or checks can be made payable to Brigham and Women's Hospital with "in memory of Robert Gonfrade" in the memo line and sent to: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Development Office, 263 Huntington Ave #318, Boston, MA 02115-4506.