Gloucester High School and the Gloucester community are mourning the tragic loss of recent graduate Christopher Joseph Dailey. A kind-hearted and involved member of the community, Dailey died on July 4th, 2025, from injuries sustained in a car accident on June 30th just hours after walking the Greasy Pole on Fiesta Champion Sunday.
In a few months, Chris was anticipating to begin his freshman year at Coastal Carolina University this fall, where he planned to study business. Instead, the community he called home is now reflecting on a life that left an unforgettable mark.
Born on December 19, 2006, and raised in Gloucester, Chris attended Rockport schools from elementary school through the eighth grade, before making the switch to Gloucester High School. While he immersed himself in sports such as baseball, soccer, and lacrosse as a child, it was on the ice where Chris found his true passion.
Having learned to skate at just two years old, Chris became a standout defenseman on the Gloucester High School varsity hockey team. Over four years, he grew into a leader on and off the ice, and served as co-captain this past school year. His passion, discipline, and love for the game were evident to anyone who watched him play, and earned him the title of “2025 Defenseman of the Year.”
Dailey achieved academically as a member of the National Honor Society, and was known for his positive attitude, and a contagious smile that seemed to light up every room he entered. Many posted on social media how he was “just always the happiest kid.” Teachers, teammates, and classmates alike remember him not just as a student or athlete, but as someone who lifted others up, made people laugh, and was always ready to lend a hand.
Beyond the classroom and rink, “Dails” lived life with an adventurous spirit. Whether fishing, skiing, riding dirt bikes, or spending time at the beach, he embraced every moment with energy and enthusiasm. His greatest joy, however, came from the time he shared with friends and family. Chris brought people together with his warmth, charisma, and deep capacity for love.
To his parents, Rich and Nicole (Hochmuth) Dailey, Chris was a treasured gift. Their lives were enriched every day by his presence, laughter, and love. His bond with his sister Rachel was extraordinary from childhood to young adulthood. Chris also leaves behind a large and loving extended family who adored him. His family made the courageous decision to donate his organs, ensuring that his selfless spirit would live on by giving others the gift of life.
Support from the Gloucester community was never in short supply, as many gathered at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church last Wednesday for a prayer mass. With only standing room left 15 minutes into the service, the outpouring of love was clear. Many set up folding chairs outside the church to listen in, and the upper balcony was packed with as many as it could hold. His hockey jersey was on display in the front row, with current and former teammates filling seats across.
Social media has also flooded with pictures and videos of Dailey from friends and family, coining the phrase “Forever 18” from his Varsity number 18, and “LLCD” (Long Live Chris Dailey). T-Shirts and Sweatshirts are also available for purchase online, to support Dailey Family in this difficult time. Families of Chris’ friends are also rallying for the community to donate restaurant and grocery gift cards.
A Funeral Mass will be held in Chris’s honor at Saint Ann’s Church, 74 Pleasant St., Gloucester, on Thursday, July 10, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Beech Grove Cemetery in Rockport.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations can be made to the newly-created Chris Dailey Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Cape Ann Savings Bank, 109 Main St., Gloucester, MA 01930.
As Gloucester grieves the loss of one of its own, the legacy of Christopher Joseph “Dails” Dailey will live on in every friend, family, and community member he touched with his presence. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
James Cook • Jul 9, 2025 at 9:23 pm
Lexi and Vincenzo,
Your article and photographs are a beautiful tribute to Chris. So many of us are heartbroken right now, and so sharing remembrances with each other is a tremendous gift. Thank you for sharing your words and pictures to provide us with some solace as we grieve. At the end of the article, you’ve captured what many of us are struggling to put into words: Chris “will be deeply missed and forever remembered.”
With gratitude in grieving,
Mr. Cook