Frank Harold Sargent

NORTHFIELD - Frank H. Sargent of Shelburne, formerly of Northfield, died Aug. 6, 2009.

He was born in Vienna, Austria, on Feb. 7, 1918, where he lived until coming to the United States in 1938.

He lived in New York City with his brother, John, then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941. He served in Europe, and in 1942 volunteered to serve with the British Commandos in North Africa. After fighting throughout North Africa, he earned a battlefield commission and was assigned to the intelligence division in General Eisenhower's headquarters. He was later assigned to the Pacific Theater. During his wartime service he was highly decorated, earning a Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross.

After the war Frank returned to the United States, where he met and married Mary Jane Wolff in Gettysburg, Pa. Together they had three children, Lawrence, Timothy and Brent. They divorced in 1974. Over the next 30 years, Frank continued in military intelligence, and served in Maryland, Georgia, New York, Kentucky, Puerto Rico, Korea, Japan and, finally, at the Pentagon. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, a master's degree from the George Washington University in D.C. and, in 1963, a doctorate in Economics and Business Administration from George Washington University.

In 1964, he retired from the Army and moved with his family to Northfield, joining the faculty of Norwich University. He was the first faculty to have a yearbook dedicated to him. Frank went back to college and earned a master's degree in counseling from St. Michael's College in 1974. In 1980 he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship as visiting professor at Hong Kong University teaching there for one year. He retired from Norwich as professor emeritus in 1984.

After Norwich, Frank traveled in Eastern Europe and South America, also taught for a year at Salem State College in Massachusetts. From 1985-88, he was an adjunct professor at St. Michael's College. He also volunteered at the Chittenden County Correctional Center, where he mentored and counseled inmates for many years.

Frank is survived by his sons, their wives and partners, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Jane in 1983.

Donations in his memory may be offered to the Vermont Foodbank or Covenant House International.