Frank Stevenson Gallagher Wills, age 87, died on August 12th, 2015, at Seashore Point in Provincetown, MA, soon after the death of his partner Arthur Pike on July 7th, 2015. The memorial service at St. Mary of the Harbor on Friday August 14th commemorated two men who served their community, cherished their children, and chose to live with and for each other for over 33 years. For them, love won.
Frank was born September 30, 1927, and raised in Needham and Medfield, MA, the only child of a chauffeur (Frank Gallagher) and a Montessori-trained governess (Rohda MacLeod). After his father died in 1931, Frank lived in foster homes, including one fisherman's family, while his mother was an “upstairs” servant. She married Everett Wills of Medfield, a carpenter, who adopted Frank at age 10. They trapped muskrat, raised chickens, and grew vegetables during WW II.
Frank graduated from Tufts University and served as a medical trainee in the Army of Occupation in Japan. He attended Boston University School of Medicine, completing Child & Adolescent Psychiatry residency at Children’s Hospital Boston and Pasadena Child Guidance Clinic. He specialized in working with individuals with “dually diagnosed” intellectual disability and mental illness. He practiced in Riverside (CA), Los Angeles, and Syracuse, before returning to Boston to treat patients and train medical students at Cambridge Guidance Clinic, Shriver Center, Children’s Hospitals and Harvard Medical School.
Frank was married in 1955 to Bonnie Lois Byrnes Wills, but separated in 1981. Bonnie died of lymphoma in 2002, in Minneapolis. Frank is survived by their six children, Karen Wills (Steve Gerch) and Laurel Wills (Alex Eastaugh) of Minnesota; Steve Wills of Athol; David Wills of Cambridge; Ted Wills of Great Barrington; and Tony Wills of Plymouth; and by Arthur’s daughters, Sarah Robson and Kathy Pike, and their families. Frank had 8 grandchildren (Emma, Ellen, Gwen, Rozy, Alex, Carey, Taylor, and Abby), and 1 great-grandchild (Eli).
Frank met Arthur attending St. John the Evangelist in Boston. After retiring to Provincetown, both became active choir members and lay leaders at St Mary of the Harbor. They pioneered on Episcopal Diocesan committees for full inclusion of women and gay individuals. Frank served on the Provincetown School Committee, and as an officer of regional and national medical organizations. He and Arthur worked out at Mussel Beach until their mid-80's. Frank was an avid viola player, rose gardener, costume designer, theater-goer, cook and diner, and constant reader.
Donations in memory of Frank and/or Arthur are welcome to St. Mary of the Harbor, 517 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657 or the Seashore Point Wellness Center Residents Fund, 100 Alden St, Provincetown, MA 02657.