Francis G. Mullins

Waterford - Francis G. Mullins, 86, of Waterford, died Wednesday morning, March 19, 2014, at his home.

Fran, affectionately known as Moon by family and friends, was born in St. Albans, Vermont, June 4, 1927, the son of William and Ethel (Fayers) Mullins. By the time the family moved to Waterford in 1943, he had established himself as a loving, precocious, energetic and athletic child. At the age of 17, he joined the U.S. Navy. Fluent in Morse code, he worked in communications, serving aboard the USS Vogelgeseng during World War II as a radio operator and gunner. Discharged with honors from the Navy in 1947, he moved to Kansas City for additional training, then to Alaska to continue his career in communications, working as a civilian communications officer on Kodiak Island and at Farewell, a remote weather station. Under unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, he returned home to and remained with his family, but communications would remain a hobby, the lighted panel of his ham radio glowing late into the night as he tapped away correspondences in Morse code.

He married Gloria Tiffany in New London on June 7, 1952, allowing him to hone his communication skills, which would remain an asset throughout his life. After marrying, he launched his career at Pfizer, retiring in 1990 as a gifted research scientist in drug metabolism, co-authoring many scientific papers. A life's work of meticulous scientific notebooks is testament to his broad scientific pursuits and commitment to humankind's health and betterment. A talented and witty toastmaster, he emceed numerous retirement celebrations for colleagues. He was a communicant of St. Paul Church in Waterford where he served for many years, humbly ushering churchgoers to their pews and later, as a layman, reading scripture during mass.

Working tirelessly for Waterford for more than 20 years, he served variously as a representative of District 1, moderator of the RTM and majority leader of the Republican Party. He volunteered seemingly endless hours applying his energy to youth athletics at Waterford Little League South, hauling off his young children to groom the ball fields. At different intervals, he served the league coaching and managing the boys, then administratively as player agent and president. Circa 1962, he coached the Waterford Little League South All-stars, losing in the state finals.

He founded the Waterford Little League South Girls Softball League, so young girls, like his own daughters, would have an equal opportunity to pursue athletics. His efforts have been memorialized by the naming of Mullins Field, the first girls softball field in Waterford.

He was an avid gardener throughout his lifetime, well into his seventies. Kith and kin relished the yearly bounty of fresh homegrown vegetables. And he relished the opportunity to provide his children with lessons in the finer arts of weeding a garden and composting grass clippings after cutting the lawn.

The sweet smell of garden soil on his clothes, the sweet peas he tried to make us eat, the plain white t-shirt and khaki pants in which he moderated town meetings, we learned what is important, what to weed from our lives, what is worthy of nurturing and how to nurture others. When thanked late in life for his commitment to the community, he replied, "I did it for the family." And so he did.

Dad's humor, smile, twinkling blue eyes and undying love will be with us forever.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria Mullins; three sons, James Mullins of Newfield, N.Y., Robert Mullins and his wife, Amy, of Waterford and Daniel Mullins of Waterford; two daughters, Karen Mullins of Coventry and Sharon Mullins of Brooktondale, N.Y.; and a sister, Mary Virga of Waterford. He has eight grandchildren, William Mullins, John Mullins, Evangeline Wade and her husband, Ethan, Daniel Mullins, Tiffany Mullins, Crystal Varney, Charity Varney Mullins and Kwane Baines.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Robert and James Mullins.

Known as Uncle Moon, he was adored and loved my many nieces and nephews, as well as cousins. He shared special relationships with his cousin, Lucille Baldwin from Glens Falls, N.Y.; and his niece, god-child and lab partner at Pfizer, Michelle Mullins.

The funeral will assemble at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London, and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 1 p.m. in St. Paul Church. Interment will follow in Jordan Cemetery. Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Vitas Hospice.

Condolence messages may be left on Mr. Mullins' memorial page at www.neilanfuneralhome.com.