FRANCIS JAMES RICE

1930 - 2015

Rice, Francis James 84, of Newton, died April 4, 2015 following a long illness. He was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Joy Rice and is survived by his four children, Laura (Beth Everts) Rice of Watertown; Jamie (Stephanie) Rice of Walpole; David (Beth) Engelsman of Merrimack, NH; and Leslie (Michael) Moran of Albany, NY. Born in 1930, Frank was a graduate of Newton High (class of 1947). In 1951 he enlisted in the US Army and served as a Master Sargent, Airborne, in the Korean War. Honorably discharged in 1953, he then graduated from Boston University (SMG 1957) and remained loyal to the university, particularly the BU hockey team. In 1998 he was awarded The Roger "Moose" Wasburn Award by the BU Athletics Hall of Fame Committee. Before his retirement he spent four decades working in sales, for various regional and national electrical cable distributors, later branching out to create his own sales company. A life-long resident of Newton, Frank dedicated much of his time to the Newton Recreation Department and City of Newton. His association with the recreation department began on the playgrounds, lifeguarding, coaching in little league and youth basketball leading to his position as the Chairman of the Recreation Commission. In all he served the Newton Recreation Commission continuously for over 40 years. He served as the first Chairman of The Newton Commonwealth Golf Course Association and the clubhouse was named in his honor in October of 2000. He also was a lifetime member of the West Suburban YMCA and served on Veteran Groups for the Newton. He was 32nd degree Freemason serving for the Massachusetts Grand Lodge and Scottish Rite participating in the many philanthropic works of the fraternal organizations for nearly 50 years. In addition to his children, Frank is survived by six grandchildren, Taylor, Emma and Sara Engelsman, and Mark, Erika and Kayla Rice, and two sisters, Virginia Schrecengost of FL and Barbara Flynn of WA. Calling hours are Wed, April 8 from 3–7PM at Magni FH, 365 Watertown St, Newton. A service of Christian burial will be held at 10am on Thurs, April 9, in St Mary's Episcopal Church, 258 Concord St. Newton. Interment with military honors at Newton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in his name to The BU Friends of Hockey, PO Box 4112, Boston, MA 02211-4112 or The Grand Lodge Scholarship Program, The Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of MA, 186 Tremont St Boston, MA 02111. Andrew J. Magni & Son FH, Newton www.magnifuneralhome.com