He touched many people in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where he helped organize an eastern Connecticut branch for Light the Night, one of the most important fundraising events of the year for the society. He also worked with several myeloma groups in establishing fundraising campaigns through eastern Connecticut. He loved being around people, and he put his great human qualities to work in helping to find better ways to treat the disease that he and many others were battling.

Fran was a natural talker and walker. He actually was a mailman, and he was one of those very popular mailmen that you might see portrayed in the movies. For three decades, Fran made his mail rounds in Norwich where he seemed to know everyone on his route. He watched over those who were sick and brought the mail to their doors. He was especially considerate to the elderly. But in 1997, he developed a sharp pain in his leg, and he could no longer lift the mail. At first, Lyme disease was suspected, but additional tests showed that he had a tumor on his bone and that was a result of multiple myeloma. Fran was forced to retire from a job he truly loved, but he sure didn’t retire from life.

Over the years, he and Kathy became partners in a flourishing beauty salon business. When they first met at that roller skating rink, Kathy was managing a salon, but during their marriage, they acquired and ran three beauty parlors – one in Norwich, and two others in Waterford and Mystic. This was one very busy couple, but Fran had this special talent with people, and the customers loved him. Kathy and her associates would do the work of  styling while Fran did what came naturally - the talking. He also helped keep the hair stylists on track while watching every move. He never cut anyone’s hair, but his personality and omni-presence kept the business together, and growing. He might have given up his mailbag during his myeloma years, but he was more active than ever in running the business. This, of course, while being a prolific fundraiser for myeloma patients.

For ten years, Fran never flinched from accepting responsibilities and obligations, even if myeloma was doing far more than just nipping at his heels. It was invading many of his bones, although just starting in his legs. Soon after his diagnosis in 1997, he had his first stem cell, autologous transplant. It wasn’t easy. He was in the hospital for 30 days, and then, he was in isolation at home for another 50 days. He required a special diet, and it was during this time when his 86-year old mother died. Because he couldn’t be around people during this period, the funeral service was delayed until his recuperation period was over. During this time he only went out of his house to see his doctor. But the transplant was a success, and for several years, Fran was free of active disease. He needed limited medication – until 2005.

That is when the myeloma relapsed.