Austin E. Frain 87, of Keene, NH died at St. Theresa’s Rehabilitation Center in Manchester, NH on Sunday afternoon, August 28, 2010 after a period of failing health.
He was born in Manchester, NH on June 7, 1923 the son of Thomas J. and Margaret A. (McGrail) Frain, natives of Ireland.
He graduated from St. Joseph’s Grammar School and St. Joseph’s High School for Boys in Manchester and was a summer cum laude graduate of St. Anselm College as was his brother, William earlier.
His college education was interrupted by his enlistment during WWII and his service in Europe. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant and returned to college. During his senior years he was president of the Red Key Society and was co-editor of the college newspaper, The Tower.
He earned a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Wisconsin and did graduate work in guidance at Boston University.
He began his career in education teaching English at St. Anselm College until the Korean War shrank the student enrollment and reduced the lay faculty.
He taught English at Manchester High School Central and became a guidance counselor and City wide director of guidance and adult education. He went to Memorial High School when it opened as assistant principal. He taught guidance classes at the University of New Hampshire evenings and summers and later taught education courses at Rivier College.
He served as president of the Cathedral Holy Name Society, was a two term Grand Knight of the Manchester Council, Knights of Columbus. He also served as Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree Assembly. He was named Knight of Year in 1964. He was president of the Serra Club, and president of the Manchester Schoolmasters. He held office in the Cathedral Credit Union and was a director of the New Hampshire Credit Union League. For several years Austin and his brother William were on the Fourth Degree Ceremonial team inducting Knights throughout New Hampshire into the Fourth Degree Assembly. For a lesser period Austin and his brother James served on a third degree ceremonial team.
He left Memorial High School to become superintendent of School Administration Unit 38 which covers, Hinsdale, Monadnock Regional School District, and the Winchester, NH school districts. He served in this capacity for twenty-one years before retiring.
While a resident of Swanzey he served as president of the Keene Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow, president of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, president of the Southwestern Superintendents Association, and president of the Edgewood Civic Association.
He was very active in St. Bernard’s Parish in Keene, serving on the Finance Council for many years. His wife Mary and Austin were members of the group that led Bible Study Groups during the Advent and Lenten Seasons for several years. They were also active volunteers in the St. Joseph Regional School library. He served several terms on the St. Joseph Regional School Board and the Diocesan school board. He was a long time active member of the New Hampshire Catholic Charities as a director, vice president, state campaign chairman and committee member. He also served on the Diocesan Long Range Planning Commission.
To honor their work for the Catholic Church, Austin and Mary were inducted into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem in 1986 and were currently serving as Knight Grand Cross and Lady Grand Cross respectively.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Monaghan Frain; a sister-in-law Mrs. John (Leora) Frain, many nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.
A con-celebrated funeral Mass of Christian burial was celebrated in St. Joseph Cathedral, corner of Pine and Lowell Streets, Manchester, NH on Saturday, September 4, 2010. The principal celebrant was the Very Rev. Daniel O. Lamothe, VF and the con-celebrants were Rt. Rev. Msgr. John P. Quinn, the Rev. Gary Kosmowski, and the Rev. Robert Biron. Burial followed in the New St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford, NH.