Transcription of Document FFDoc-1277.pdf

Sunday, Aug 12th, 1979

Dear Rosemary,

Your letter arrived yesterday, and made my day! More to the truth, it made my week, as I had a hectic 5 days at the office and entered the weekend a little on the low side, psychologically. My heart was really gladdened, as I had just about ceased believing you would respond to my July 23 letter. But one little part of my kept insisting that I be patient, and I would hear from you. I did!

Even though the distance from Schenectady to Lynn isn't all that much, in the years since 1956 when I left there I haven't managed to keep very much in touch with what has happened to the people I knew there. Very occasionally a question regarding the Lynn River Works power system has come up at work, and I have had a chance to inquire just a little, from those I was dealing with (new people since I left), about people like E J Brooks, Al Howard, and John Milo - among others. Thus I heard not very long back that John Milo had been very sick, and I have been remembering him in my prayers. But, overall, I have really lost touch with just about everyone except the closest of my in-laws, who live in Nahant.

I have heard absolutely nothing about you - how you were, what you were doing, where you were working - as the people I had occasional contact with there did not know you, when I made low-key inquiries. And I suppose  it has been the same with  you, not knowing very much about what was happening to me, except possibly that I was still here in Schenectady (workplace, that is).

I guess there's no way, in one letter, to cover all the big and little events that have taken place with me since last we talked to one another. But I'll use the balance of this letter to bring you up to date on the major items. The event which had the greatest impact on me and my children was Leona's death in 1969, which you may have heard about. It was almost sudden, as it were, since she was found to have lung cancer in early March 1969, and she died in mid-april. Her case was so far along when discovered that the only course of actions available was experimental treatment at Roswell Park Memorial Hospital in Buffalo NY. But it was all unavailing and she rapidly got worse. We managed to get her back here to a hospital just a few miles from our home, a few days before she died; it was her wish not to stay in Buffalo but to be near home at the end.

We had (have) five children. The 3 oldest are boys (now men) and the girls are the youngest. Joseph is the oldest, now approaching 25 years of age at the end of this month. He's a student in the graduate School of Business at New York University, and has just completed his first year of study there toward a Master's degree. During the summer he's been working for the International Trade Commission in Washington DC; he'll be returning to NYU for his final year of study early in Sept. In May he was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Army, as a result of ROTC participation, but his active service will be deferred until he completes his Master's work.

The second oldest is Francis John. We call him Jay (so as not to confuse his name with mine). He has just completed his Master's degree work at the University of Kentucky, graduating magna cum laude in Mathematics and Computer Science. He's accepted a job with Sperry-Univac as an entry-level programmer, and will be moving this week to near Philadelphia to begin his employment. Jay is almost 24.

The third son is Leo, age 21. He has had about 1½ years in college, but has left to "find himself" (which I think he is doing).  He's presently working as a computer operator for N.Y. State at Albany, and is living in Albany, sharing an apartment with a coworker (male!). I think he plans to take computer-oriented community college courses and then will consider if he should work toward an engineering or computer-science degree.

Mary, the oldest daughter, is just 19, and has finished one year of college at State University, Plattsburgh NY. She''ll be returning there for the new '79-'80 year on Sept 2. You can easily believe how much she was welcomed by Leona when she was born - the first girl, after 3 boys!

Dorothy is the youngest, at 17½. She's entering her senior year at the local high school, and is a very pretty girl (too pretty, I sometimes feel, when I see the popularity she has with the boys in her high school.)

I tend to be a severe parent, and I am sure the children all could testify to that. But they are all basically good people, and my most earnest wish for them all is that they had not inherited so many of, as I perceive it, my faults. There's no way, however, that I can go back and correct that situation, so I guess both they and I shall have to make the best of it.

About two-and-a-half years after Leona's death I remarried. My new wife, Anna, was a widow with six children of her own. So we would up with a household of 13. In preparation for the marriage I moved into this home, where I am now. Seven bedrooms. Just about enough. Anna had 3 boys and 3 girls. The youngsters were all of the same age group. So we would up with 2 Mary's, 2 Joes and a hurricane of activity. At one time, we had 2 each of 18-year olds, 17-year olds, and sixteen-year olds, with the rest scattered above and below these pairs. Luckily, in a way, the kids began to get out on their own pretty soon. So in the seven years of marriage from 1971 to 1978, we gradually got the group down to only two children living at home on a year-round basis. The rest were either on their own completely, or away at school most of the year (at one time we had 4 in college simultaneously). Looking back, it was a sometimes-trying, but always learning experience. In no way am I now the same person I was back in 1971! (or 1952, for that matter).

Before closing out this news of myself and family, I must tell you that, for reasons not explained here, Anna and I are now separated, and have been so for some eight months. Perhaps on another occasion it may be appropriate to explain how we arrived at our present situation. I am sure, however, that we both now feel a greater sense of peace and repose than we did during the last several years of living together.

In regard to this disclosure, Rosemary, I feel impelled to explain my contacting you to renew our friendship has nothing to do with my marital situation - except perhaps that it is easier to be in touch with you now, as I own no one any explanations.

My father died in 1972, at 86 years. my mother is still alive, at 86 years now, and is living in the same house in Brooklyn. My brother and his wife live in the same house with her, on another floor. Joe, as I understand it, will be retiring from the Post Office, as a result of a leg injury that has not healed properly. I was sorry to hear of your mother's passing, according you your letter. I hope that it was a peaceful time for her; I remember her as a grand lady.

I have more news, but it's late now.

Let me restate my pleasure that you responded to my letter. You are most welcome to share our hospitality any time, and I hope we shall be able to stay in touch with each other on a regular basis. If you should decide to retire to California, please let me know, as I would very much like to see you before you go.

The next time I am in or near Lynn, I shall get in touch with you. God love you.

Love, Frank.

PS - So you may see how well - or badly - I have held up with time, I enclose my most recent GE photo. - F.