Francis G. Ronan ’63 died on January 8, 2017, in Durham, New Hampshire.
(The following was published in Fosters, January 10-13, 2017:)
DURHAM – Beloved Husband, Father, respected track-and-field official and pole vault coach Francis “Frank” Ronan of Durham, N.H., died Sunday, January 8, 2017. He leaves behind his wife of 53 years Anne (Murray); three sons, Patrick and his wife Kristin, Kevin, Brendan and his wife Laura; and daughter Jennifer Haberbosch; and seven grandchildren, Meghann Ronan Boyle and husband Patrick; Jack Ronan and fiancée, LauraLee Waldron; Connor, Craig and Cole Ronan; Zoey and Lex Haberbosch.
Born in Boston February 11, 1941, to the late John Clifford Ronan and Frances (Goodwin) Ronan, he is survived by a brother, Clifford Ronan of San Marcos, Texas, and Brunswick, Maine; a sister, Dorothy (Ronan) Meneghin and her husband Peter, of Newmarket, N.H.; two nieces and three nephews.
A 1959 graduate of Boston English High School, and 1963 graduate of Bowdoin College with a B.A. in Latin, he served in the U.S. Army from 1963-1968.
“Frank” worked for IBM for 30 yrs and more recently as Director of Marketing for APC Services of New England. He also coached the pole vault at University of New Hampshire, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Newburyport high school. He was a member of Massachusetts Track and Field Officials Assn., U.S.A. Track and Field and N.H. Track Officials Association.
He was a member of the Church of St. Thomas More, Durham, where he served on the Stewardship and the Building and Grounds committees.
He was a mentor to grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and countless students, offering life and career advice and helping all to aspire to be the best they can be.