Francis V. Stosse

STOSSE Francis V. Stosse of Hopkinton, N.H., passed away Monday, June 25, 2007. Fran was born in Stratford on February 14, 1921 to Frank X. and Louise Frances Stosse. He graduated from Stratford High School and Quinnipiac College in Hamden. Fran was a veteran of World War II and was promoted to the rank of Master Sargent while serving in the jungles of New Guinea. His unit was the first into Nagasaki after the atomic blast in 1945. Upon returning home to Stratford, he joined the Stratford Trust Company as a teller and through a series of promotions and mergers, became the president of the City Trust Company in Bridgeport, retiring in 1975. His retirement was brief. He helped found and grow Advanced Metals Technology of Branford, a world leader in powdered metals, working as a consultant until his recent illness. He and his wife of 63 years, Betsie, moved to Orange in 1980 where they lived until moving full time to New Hampshire two years ago. While living in Connecticut, he was active as the president of the Stratford Library Association, the Union Cemetery, the Stratford Lions Club, and was on the Vestry of Christ Church. He was on the Board of the Salvation Army and the Boy Scouts and was a lifetime member of the Pootatuck Yacht Club. In Orange, he served on the Board of the Milford Savings Bank, the Vestry at the Church of the Good Shepherd and was the Finance Officer for the Town of Orange as a volunteer for eight years. Their home in New Hampshire on White Pond was his favorite retreat for more than 40 years. While living there, he and Betsie enjoyed being active in the American Legion Post 59 in Hillsborough, N.H. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Robert of Branford and Cynthia of Windsor. N.H.; his grandchildren, Matthew Stosse of Westbrook, Rebecca Stosse of Newton, Elizabeth Stosse of Naugatuck, Victoria Stosse of Branford, Robert Clausen of Portsmouth, N.H. and Linea Clausen of Windsor, N.H. He is also survived by his brother, Charles Stosse; and his niece, Carol Stosse of Stratford. A graveside service will be held on Friday, June 29, 2007 in the Harvey Memorial Cemetery in Hillsborough, N.H. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held be held in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Racebrook Road, Orange on Saturday, June 30, 2007 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Church of the Good Shepherd in Orange or St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Hopkinton, NH. The Holt-Woodbury Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Contoocook, NH is in charge of arrangements.