Frederick Franco Jr. Obituary

FRANCO, FREDERICK JOSEPH JR., 82, Tilghman Island, Maryland, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 26, 2013 in his home under the loving care of his wife, from complications of Alzheimer's. Fred was born in Newport Rhode Island on January 1, 1931 to Catherine Veronica Power and Frederick J. Franco Sr. Fred is survived by his sister, Catherine Veronica Cingari, of Stamford CT and his brother, John Andrew Franco, of Glen Mills, PA. He was married to the former Margaret Christina Daubert of Brooklyn Park, MD in June of 1954 at the Naval Academy Chapel immediately following his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. He was a member of the Class of 1948 at De La Salle Academy in Newport, RI where he was a standout baseball and football player. He received a scholarship to play football for Brown University in Providence, RI in the fall of 1948. While at Brown, he joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity and was a member for over 50 years achieving status as a Semi-Century Sig. Then in 1949 he received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated with the Class of 1954. At Navy, Fred was a star fullback on three varsity teams having the distinction of beating the Army team all three of those years, and then representing Navy as a member of the North squad in the 1953 Mahi Shrine's College North-South All Star game in the Orange Bowl. In his final year at Navy he was the Goat Keeper for the football team and was also presented with the prestigious Thompson Trophy, which recognizes the midshipman who did the most during the year to promote athletics at the Naval Academy. He is also listed as one of fourteen 1954 graduates in the USNA athletic hall of fame. Fred continued his illustrious football career playing for the Marine Corps for three of his five-year active duty requirement. During this time he won the All Sea Services Most Valuable Player Award. In addition to his 5 years of active duty in the Marine Corps, he served in the Reserves through May of 1967 with the rank of Captain. Many years after his playing days were over, Fred was inducted into the Providence (RI) Gridiron Club's Hall of Fame in 1989. After serving in the Marines, Fred entered the private sector as a Sales Executive with several firms before devoting 33 years to Xerox Corporation where he excelled as a National Account Manager for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps accounts. Fred and his wife Marge lived most of their post military life in Fairfax Virginia and Haymarket Virginia before retiring to Tilghman Island, Maryland in 1999. Fred was very active in Naval Academy activities throughout his life serving 40 years as the Membership Director for the Naval Academy Foundation before stepping down to a lifetime emeritus position. He was a longtime Navy Football season ticket holder, and USNA Alumni Association Member and Presidents Circle member. He coached youth sports, was a former Cub Scout Master, loved boats and sailing, loved to walk an endless trail, and was always active in his Catholic parish serving many years as the Eucharistic Minister at his church in Middleburg Virginia. Freddie as he was known to many was a spontaneous story teller who found great joy in retelling moments from his childhood pulling lobster pots in Newport Rhode Island, his Navy/Marine Corps gridiron days, about his brood of 9 children and his many fun adventures with Marge his wife of 59 years. In addition to Marge he is survived by both of his siblings, and his children; James Vincent Franco of Fairfax, Virginia, Margaret Catherine Bartkoski of Zanesville, Ohio, Ann Marie Bohac of Franklin, Massachusetts, Mary Elizabeth Howard of Manassas, Virginia, Eileen Rose Kearns of Gainesville, Virginia, Stephen Daniel Franco of Ormond Beach, Florida, Sombo Leak Kea Franco of Springfield, Virginia, Chivon Leak Kea Franco of Woodbridge, Virginia and Mark Thomas Franco of Orlando, Florida, 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild. A mass will be held on Thursday November 7th, 10:30am, St. John Neumann Church (620 N. Bestgate Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401 410-266-2498) followed by an Inurnment Ceremony at the Naval Academy Columbarium at noon and a reception from 12:30pm to 4:30pm at the Naval Academy Officers Club. RSVP for the Reception: jfranco@efxmedia.com In lieu of flowers, it is requested that gifts in Dad's memory be directed to the USNA Foundation, for the "Athletic Excellence Sustainment Fund." Gifts may be mailed to: USNA Foundation 25 Maryland Ave. Annapolis, MD 21401 If there are any questions, donors may contact Ed Wallace at the USNA Foundation office at 410-295-4095. Alternatively, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association by mail: 1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, MD 21093, by phone: 410-561-9099 or online at www.act.alz.org. Fred was grateful for all the wonderful friendships he enjoyed through the years and especially proud of his beloved Naval Academy and classmates of 1954. He would want to be remembered as someone who lived by what he preached to his children and those he mentored, "Lead by example and do the best job you can". Arrangements are by the Ostrowski Funeral Home, St. Michaels, MD. Online condolences, visit www,ostrowskifh.com