Dr. James F. Francis, 78, of New Bedford, former Superintendent of the Westport Public Schools, passed away on Saturday July 4, 2009 at home. He was the husband of Wanda (Smietana) Francis.
Born in Westport, he was the son of the late Jesse and Mary (Ponte) Francis.
He graduated from Westport High School and Brown University, Class of 1953, and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He later completed his masters and doctorate degrees at Boston University.
As Superintendent in Westport, Dr. Francis wrote the educational specifications for the Westport Elementary School which was later completed under his administration. After leaving Westport, he became Cooperative Education Coordinator at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, a job he enjoyed until retirement. Dr. Francis continued to work during his retirement for Bristol Community College. In addition, Dr. Francis had served as Deputy Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools, Principal of the Rogers School in Fairhaven, and associate professor at Bridgewater State College. He had also completed several educational publications.
Dr. Francis was honored for his service to the New Bedford School Department in June 2005 by having Roosevelt Middle School library named in his honor by the school committee. He was secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners for two terms and also served as secretary for the Board of Trustees of the former New Bedford Institute of Technology. He was a retired honorary member of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Lisa Wethington and her husband John of Fairhaven; two sons, Christopher Francis of New Bedford, and Peter Francis and his wife Pam of Taunton. In addition he leaves his grandsons, James and Zachary Francis of New Bedford and their brothers Chris Gomes of New Bedford and Kyle Gomes of Florida, Drew, Blake, and Jack Wethington of Fairhaven, and Evan Francis of Taunton. He also leaves two sisters, Lena Francis of New Bedford and Beatrice Francis of Wareham.
He was predeceased by a brother, Charles Francis, and four sisters, Mary Ridley, Amelia Jaworski, Anne Bogan, and Alice Parman.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10 AM at St. Julie Billiart Church, Dartmouth. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday from 5-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Hawthorn Oncology Center, 535 Faunce Corner Rd., Dartmouth, MA 02747. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.