Franklin A. Charbonneau, 83 WW II Veteran - DIRECTOR PHYSICAL ED/ATHLETICS
Frank Charbonneau 83, of Brockton passed away Sunday April 6, 2008 at the Brockton Hospital surrounded by family after a lingering illness. Frank was the loving husband of Patricia (Mehl) Charbonneau for nearly 33 years. He was born in Lynn, MA in 1924, the son of the late Ernest and Victoria (Martel) Charbonneau. Following his graduation from Lynn High School he enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He served in the Pacific Area during WW II. Following his discharge he graduated from Boston University 1948 and he received his Masters in Education from the University of Maine in 1955. After teaching in Maine for seven years, Frank began a thirty two year career in Wakefield, MA as a physical education teacher. During his long and distinguished career he coached football and basketball at various levels. From a coaching perspective the highlight of his career was his 1965 basketball team which went 19-4 taking both the Middlesex League Crown and the Class B Tech Tourney Title. For 22 years he served as a Physical Education and Athletic Director at Wakefield Public Schools. During this tenure he not only continued to develop the boy’s Athletic program, but was responsible for the growth and development of the girl’s program so that both enjoyed a position of eminence in the athletic community. Besides serving the town of Wakefield, Frank also served on many league and state boards, which were responsible for overseeing various athletic activities. The Wakefield Field House was named in his honor in gratitude for his long and dedicated service. In retirement he was a substitute teacher for the Stoughton, Brockton and Avon School systems.
Frank enjoyed music and was a member of the South Shore Men of Harmony for a number of years. He served as President for two years, and many other positions. He enjoyed singing, traveling, gardening, camping and vacationing on the Cape. He was a long time communicant of St. Edward Church.
In addition to his wife he is survived by three sons, Tom of Reading, Bob of Lynn and Glenn of Peabody, two grandchildren, Brad of Florida and Mark of Washington State and many nieces and nephews. He was the father of the late William, Gary and Jane Charbonneau and brother of the late Morris and Roland Charbonneau.
Funeral from the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte123) Brockton Thursday at 8am. Funeral Mass in St. Edith Stein Parish/St. Edward Church at 9am. Burial in Calvary Cemetery, Brockton. Visiting hours Wednesday 4-8pm. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Frank may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation , 220 N. Main St.,Suite 104, Natick, MA 01760 or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 495 Old Conn. Path, Framingham, MA 01701.