Kenneth J. Rose passed from this world and into eternal life on July 23rd, 2014. He is survived by his wife of sixty three years, Helen (Duffy), and his seven children: Kenneth J. Rose, Jr. of New York, NY; Nancy Rose McIntyre and her husband Larry of Medway, MA.; Brian F. Rose of Bedford ,VA; Christopher J. Rose of Old Orchard Beach, ME; Martha Rose Fougere and her husband Phillip of Medway, MA; Matthew T. Rose and his wife Donna of Medway, MA; John Jay Rose and his wife Florence of Bellingham, MA; and thirteen grandchildren. He also leaves two sisters, Carol Fay of Westwood, MA; and Eleanor Fraser of Conway, SC. He was predeceased by his brother Alfred of Sherborn, MA and sisters Norma Shelley of Hampstead, NH (formerly of Waltham, MA) and Patricia Kirrane of Brookline, MA. He also leaves numerous nieces and nephews.
Ken was born in Boston in 1927 and grew up in Brookline, Mass., attending St. Mary’s Catholic High School and Brookline High School where he played both football and baseball. He served in the U.S. Navy, stationed on the West Coast during World War II and after the war he attended Newman Prep and later, St. Michael’s College in Vermont. He went on to earn a Bachelors degree from Tufts University. He later earned a Masters of Education from Boston University and a Masters of Education Administration from Framingham State College. He also did graduate study at Clark University and Boston College under National Science Foundation Grants.
He began his career as an educator teaching disadvantaged and at-risk boys at Thompson Academy on Thompson Island in Boston Harbor. He moved to Franklin in 1956 and accepted a teaching position at Franklin High School, where he started out as a mathematics teacher and assistant football coach. Ken was soon offered and accepted the position of Vice Principal for the rapidly expanding high school, and he served in that role for over two decades. He also taught evening classes at Stonehill College, did one-on-one tutoring, taught summer school classes in mathematics and served as a camp counselor for the Town of Franklin’s summer program at Fletcher field.
After Ken retired from education, he worked for many years behind the counter at Dacey’s Dairy Store on Lincoln Street in Franklin where he made many friends and acquaintances.
Ken enjoyed watching football and was a Patriots fan. He liked western movies, harness racing, yard work, and he was an avid reader who particularly enjoyed the works of John Grisham, David Baldacci, James Patterson. He also enjoyed travel, and he and his wife Helen took many trips to Florida over the years as well as the Caribbean, Bermuda and Hawaii. He was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Mary’s Parish in Franklin for over fifty years.
Ken was a loving husband and hardworking, dedicated and dear father. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
His funeral will be held on Monday, July 28 from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 131 Main Street Franklin at 9:15 followed by a funeral mass in St. Mary’s Church at 10:00.
Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Calling hours will be on Sunday from 4-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.