Frank Florini

Frank Florini 1919 - 2008 NORTH ADAMS Frank Florini, a civic leader for his entire life, made a difference to people in many communities. Countless have been touched by his hard work and good will. . On Friday, Oct. 17, Francis Constant Florini began his heavenly journey to join his parents, John B. and Mary A. Rosasco Florini, his siblings, Joseph Florini, Norma Carter and Mary Germanowski, his first wife, Gertrude R. Fuller Florini, and a niece, Tina Marie Leja. Frank was born in North Adams, on Sept. 7, 1919. He graduated from Drury High School and then worked on the family farm and at the family restaurant Florini's Italian Garden. In 1942, Frank joined the Army. Assigned to the Army's First Division, The Big Red One, as a Staff Sergeant, he served as a radio corpsman in the campaigns of Algeria, French Morocco and Tunisia. During the 1943 invasion of Sicily he was severely wounded in both legs by shrapnel. Among his decorations and citations he was awarded the Purple Heart and a Good Conduct Medal. Ultimately he returned to the United States and was a patient for two and half years at the Framingham Hospital for rehabilitation. Frank received his agricultural management degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in May of 1949 and then returned to the family businesses in North Adams. He was appointed North Adams' acting Postmaster until he was elected Mayor, serving three terms until 1968. In 1968, Frank went to work for the Massachusetts Department of Community Affairs under Governor Volpe as the Director of the Division of the Office of Central Services in Boston. In 1978, he was elected Alderman for Ward 6 in Beverly, MA. He retired in 1981 and moved to East Boothbay, Maine, where he served on the town Water Board from 1985 through 1995. Frank's other associations he was involved in were the VFW and a YMCA Board Member in North Adams, Chamber of Commerce in North Adams, and East Boothbay, Maine; Railway Museum and East Boothbay Land Trust both in East Boothbay, ME. Frank leaves his loving wife Prunella J. Hall Pollard, nine children, Kathy Pettiss, and her husband, Edward, of Malvern, Pa.; Diane Florini, and her husband James Hamilton, of Ithaca, N.Y.; Joan Ossoff, and her husband Steve, of Danvers; Margie Florini and her husband Joe Randazzo of Beverly; Helen Kantor, and her husband, Mark, of Sturbridge; Allyn Florini, and her partner Jeffrey Parker, of Hot Springs, Ariz.; Geraldine Sousa, and her husband, Dick, of Greyslake, Ill.; Brett Pollard of West Hollywood, Calif.; Cecily Pollard, and her partner, Tom Guzzio, of Prides Crossing, Mass.; 16 grandchildren, Jason, and his wife, Valerie Pettiss, Katie, and her husband Wen Feng Jiang, Helen and Jay Hamilton, Sarah Ossoff, Leah and her husband, Thomas Applin, Alison and Jennifer Kantor, Jackson, Jacob and Allyn Bristol Florini-Parker, Jesse Harlow, Margie and Joseph Florini-Parker, Nate and Beth Sousa; three great-granddaughters, Vivian Pettiss, Kathryn and Eriana Jiang; and nieces and nephews, Rita Bassett, June Tierney, John Florini, Joy Bassett and John Germanowski. FUNERAL NOTICE: A celebration of the life of Francis C. Florini will be held on Friday, October 24, at 12 noon at St. John's Episcopal Church in Beverly Farms, MA. An additional memorial and interment ceremony will be held in Southview Cemetery at 1127 South Church Street in North Adams, MA this Saturday, October 25, at 11:00 a.m. . In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, 705 Hale St. , Beverly, MA 01915 or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements by the Campbell -Lee, Moody, Russell Funeral Home, 9 Dane St., Beverly. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com http://www.campbellfuneral.com