CORNISH- Franklin “Frank” Ralph Sanborn Sr., age 84 passed away on December 5, 2023, surrounded by family at Gosnell House in Scarborough, ME.
Born in Limerick, ME on April 17, 1939, the son of the late Herbert W. Sanborn and Marcia Ann (Flanders) Sanborn.
Frank attained an 8th-grade education in the Limerick schools. After leaving school he and his brother Carlton "Sam" ran a logging business. Eventually Frank made his way to Boston where he got his experience painting steeples high above the city.
Frank brought his skill back to his hometown and started Limerick Steeplejacks. He and his crew painted steeples, bridges, and lighthouses all over New England. One of his most famous jobs was at Nubble Lighthouse in Wells, ME. He also completed work for Parsonsfield Seminary and enjoyed helping to keep the school in good repair. An entrepreneur at heart, he expanded the offerings of Limerick Steeplejacks to sandblasting, gold leafing, and eventually mold remediation. He also opened a car lot and later he purchased and ran a hardware store. Frank thrived on being busy and he held state and local plowing contracts for many years. He was the hardest worker on all of his crews.
When he wasn’t working, he loved attending auctions, riding motorcycles, and card games. Frank loved playing cribbage and poker. He enjoyed gambling and, in the Summer, there were epic croquet and horseshoe games on the lawn and money was always on the line. In the Summer, time was spent at the lake house and on his boat. He and Debbie loved hosting people at their homes and their gatherings are still talked about today.
What he loved most though was spending time with his beloved wife Debbie, his family, and his friends.
He and Debbie traveled regularly, to St. Maarten once a year for over 20 years. They then traveled to Florida, eventually buying a home in Holly Hill, Florida where he and Debbie wintered for many years. After a lifetime in the country, he loved the convenience of living so close to stores, restaurants, and bars.
He was an avid hunter and November was a month of hunting with friends. Frank introduced a love of hunting to his grandchildren. The family always jokes that one of his many hobbies was building houses. He loved building houses and there are many Frank-built homes in the Cornish area.
He is predeceased by: Daughter Brenda Blumit and Granddaughter Kimberly Sanborn, brothers Roger Sanborn, Forrest Sanborn, and Carlton Sanborn.
The love of his life survives Frank, his wife Debbie; his children, sons Frank Sanborn, Jr. and his wife Susan Anthony; Gregory Sanborn and his wife Anna; daughters; Rose Micklon and her husband Colin; Sandy Betz and her husband Tom and daughter Shelley Sawyer and her fiance Ron Dunnells. Grandchildren: Ashlie Sanborn, Sarah Pierce, Danielle Pierce, Bryce Micklon, Caleb Micklon, Jordyn Sawyer, and Nathan Sawyer and sister; Pearl Vachon
Visiting hours are scheduled for Dec. 13, 2023 at the Poitras, Neal, & York Funeral Home, 71 Maple St., Cornish, between 11 am to 1 pm. The family has arranged to have a get-together with food and drinks at the Kezar Falls Fire Station from 12 pm to 3:30 pm.