Francois Roosevelt Fils-Aime, 75, of Milton, Massachusetts, passed away on April 20, 2014, peacefully in his sleep.
The viewing (wake) will be held at 9:00 AM and the Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on April 26, 2014 at St Angela’s Church in Mattapan, MA. Father Jean Gustave Miracle of St. Angela’s Church will be officiating. Burial will follow the funeral at Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park, at 11:30 AM. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Joseph Russo Funeral Home.
Francois was affectionally known as “Roro” to all who knew him, was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on December 22, 1938. He graduated from Petit Seminar St. Martial Primary School then quickly matriculated through Lycée Petion High School. His passion for serving others led him to attend law school in Haiti. Upon graduation from law school, Francois was recruited to teach in Congo, Zaire (Africa) as a professor for several years. Upon completion of his assignment in Africa he traveled throughout Europe, then immigrated to Brooklyn, NY for a brief period and finally settled in Boston, MA.
Francois was actively involved in the Haitian community in Boston. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to start and own several successful businesses throughout his lifetime. He was one of the founding partners of Centre Communautaire Haitian de Massachusetts (CECOHAMA), which promoted Haitian cultural awareness to many generations of young Haitian-Americans. Additionally, he was the first promoter from Boston of the Haitian musical bands; Volo Volo de Boston, Tabou Combou, and Ska Sha. Francois was president of L’Aigle Noir Soccer Team. Francois owned and operated Excelsior Driving School for several years. Francois, together with Andre Fritz Dossou launched Teyat Lakay, which is a theatre company. Teyat Lakay’s mission is to teach Haitian culture through artistic expression on stage. Francois used his many talents to serve the Haitian community in various ways such as assisting with obtaining green cards, raising funds for scholarships, and donating capital to pay tuition for young people in Haiti. Francois worked as a financial professional for a major bank for more than 30 years. He enjoyed reading, soccer, politics, basketball, football and international travel.
Francois was married to Marie Fils-Aime (Bazile) on November 14, 1967; they were married 46 years. Francois is survived by his wife, Marie Fils-Aime; their two children, Marie Ducheine and her husband, Jean; Francois R Fils-Aime II; his grandchild Kayti; his brothers, Gutemberg Fils-Aime, Saturne Felix Fils-Aime, Nicolson Jean Fils-Aime and Marie-Claude Cadet Fils-Aime; his sisters; Rosemonde Germain, Edith Desrosiers and her husband, Fritzner, Nicole Fils-Aime, Gladys Veillard, Marie Nicole Fils-Aime, Marie Mineve Michel Fils-Aime, Marie Marthe Fils-Aime, Bien Aime Fils-Aime; his sister-in laws, Eliane Garber and her husband Jean Camant, Sonia St Martin and her husband, Jean, Maryse Bazile, Edith Bazile, Ketly Legrand and her husband, Gerald, Michaelle Georges and her husband, Yves, Marie France Bertrand-Felix and her husband, Jean Robert Felix, Yanick Bazile, Mireille Boubert, Marie Saint-Cyr, Marie Joseph; his brother-in laws, Chrysostome Bazile Jr, and his wife, Barbara, Philip Garber, Dominique Dorneus, Pierre-Richard Dorneus and his wife, Betsey, Roman Pierre Louis and his wife Michaelle; his countless nieces and nephews; and the rest of his family and friends.
Francois is preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas Fils-Aime and Marie Hermite Germain; as well as his brother, Abachus Fils-Aime and sisters, Andre Germain and Neoptoleme Pierre Fils-Aime.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the “Elombe Fund” at Citizens Bank. The family of Francois R Fils-Aime wishes to thank the Boston University Medical Center, Hebrew Senior Life, Webster Park Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center as well as St Angela’s Parish and Joseph Russo Funeral Home.