BANGOR – Francis J. Zelz, 85, loving husband of the late Rachel (Paradis) Zelz, passed away April 22, 2010. He was born Oct. 2, 1924, in Stafford Springs, Conn., to Leo W. and Florina (Dupre) Zelz. Fran enlisted in the U.S. Navy at 17, immediately after completing high school. As a gunner’s mate on a minesweeper in World War II, he saw action in the Southwest Pacific and participated in the liberation of the Philippines at Leyte Gulf. After his beloved YMS-71 hit a mine and sank, Fran returned to the states and helped launch a destroyer out of Bath, on which he served out the rest of the war. After his discharge, Fran returned to Connecticut to study drafting and architecture. In 1948 he moved to Maine, joining Eaton Tarbell’s architectural firm, where he worked on many notable Maine projects. Later, he relocated to southern California, where he further pursued his profession. While there, he developed a lifelong love of Death Valley National Park, exploring it extensively and meeting the infamous Death Valley Scotty. Always hungry for a new adventure, Fran left California in 1953 to work in and explore Alaska before statehood. On his way to Alaska, he drove the Alaska Highway, formerly the ALCAN Highway, at the time a 1,400-mile dirt road stretching through Canada. Taking up residence in Fairbanks, Alaska, Fran enjoyed an exciting life of travel, flying with bush pilots to remote villages and panning for gold before returning to Maine. In 1954, while playing Monopoly with some mutual friends, Fran met Rachel Paradis. They were married in November 1955 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City. In 1960 Fran opened his own architectural firm in Bangor, from which he retired in January 2001. He had an extensive and varied list of federal, municipal, commercial and residential clients. He was particularly proud of the Bangor International Airport domestic terminal and International Arrivals building and enjoyed serving on the state of Maine’s architectural licensing board. While helping to raise a family of three boys he chaired the school board of St. John’s School and served on Bangor’s Planning Board. In later years, after Rachel’s death, he enjoyed volunteering at Cole Land Transportation Museum, speaking with area school children, attending Navy reunions, and greeting troops at the airport he designed. Fran loved life and those around him. He enjoyed sharing stories of his full and varied life, including his years in the Pacific, traveling to 48 of the 50 states, and, as a serviceman, meeting Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the Oval Office. His top priority was always his family, for whom he was a constant source of love, inspiration and support. Through years of camping and fun family gatherings to chats over coffee or a pint, his unselfish acts were those of a father and husband who was always caringly there. Surviving are his three sons and their families, Peter and his wife, Merlita, of Redwood City, Calif., Eric and his wife, Abigail, of Bangor and David and his wife, Michaela, of Glenburn; and grandchildren, Theresa Mendoza Barbere and her husband, Erik, of Bass Harbor, Amado Mendoza of Washington, D.C., and Charlotte Zelz of Bangor. Also surviving are his sister, Patricia Humphries of Duxbury, Mass.; brother-in-law, George Paradis of Portland; a special niece, Heidi Humphries Daniels and her husband, Ben Daniels, of Plympton, Mass.; several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, April 29, at St. Paul the Apostle, St. John’s Catholic Church, Bangor. After the interment at Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, friends are invited to share conversation and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center St., Bangor. Those who wish to remember Fran in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Friends of Acadia, 43 Cottage St., P.O. Box 45, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 or Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
FRANCIS J. ZELZ
