MACHIAS and FRANKLIN – Francis J. Cassidy Jr., 61, died of pancreatic cancer Jan. 17, 2012, in the Veterans Affairs hospice unit at Togus with his wife, Katherine, beside him. Previously of Brooklyn, N.Y., where he grew up with eight siblings in a spirited Irish Catholic family, he had been a proud Mainer for more than 30 years.
He graduated from Nazareth High School, Hunter College and Pace University Law School, all in New York. For some of his finest years, 1968-1972, he served in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee at Little Creek, Va. An attorney, he devoted himself to working with court-appointed clients in Hancock and Washington counties for 30 years. He loved working with those in the Washington County Courthouse and Jail across the street from his home. He believed in second and third chances, and volunteered with Judge Romei’s Drug Court for five years. A selfless and giving man, Frank lived in Franklin his first 20 years in Maine. Eight years ago he and Katherine moved to Machias. With her and others, he was a co-founder of Machias Historical Society and Margaretta Days Festival. As a judge for the pie-eating contest of the Wild Blueberry Festival for three years, he dressed on those magical days in Machias in top hat and white tuxedo. Frank rarely appeared in public without a bow tie. He loved the University of Maine at Machias Ukulele Club, knitting, national parks, Pete Seeger and recounting a good story. But his first love was Civil War re-enacting. As a 20-year member of 20th Maine Company B, he took part in parades and encampments in dozens of Maine towns. He met the challenges of his illness with grace and a determination to live his life fully in spite of his diagnosis in November 2010.
He leaves behind Katherine; two sons, Charles Furth-Cassidy of Bangor and George Furth-Cassidy of Waterloo, Iowa; plus one brother and seven sisters. We are most grateful for the tremendous professional care Frank received throughout his illness. We especially thank Dr. Patrick Daly and the palliative care staff at Togus.
Frank’s life will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Holy Name Catholic Church, Machias. Donations in his name may go toward a fund for gas cards for Washington County families traveling for cancer treatment, via Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center, P.O. Box 322, Ellsworth, ME 04605.