Montague- Francis “Frank” E. Abbondanzio, 70, died Wednesday 5/9/18 at his home in Millers Falls. He was born in Brighton, MA on July 16, 1947, to the late Frank and Leona (Hogan) Abbondanzio. Frank was a graduate of Braintree High School Class of 1965.
After graduation, Frank served in the United States Air Force as an intelligence analyst in Okinawa, Japan and Darmstadt, Germany. In 1973, Frank received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in European History from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Frank continued his education, receiving his Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada in 1974.
He then received a second Master’s Degree in Regional Planning, including studies in Landscape and Natural Res Planning from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1979. In 1980, Frank became the Administrative Assistant/Community Planner for the Town of Montague, becoming Executive Secretary when the position was upgraded in 1986. He held post of Town Administrator of Lee, MA from 1992 until returning to Montague in 1997, where he served as Town Administrator for another nineteen years until his retirement in 2016.
Having completed a total of thirty-two years in Montague, Frank was the longest lasting municipal administrator in Western Massachusetts. In his years of municipal service, Frank accomplished the revitalization of Montague with grants for streetscape projects, preservation of historic buildings, the Great Falls Discovery Center, the Canalside and Riverside Bike Trail, commercial homesteading programs and encouragement of community groups such a Riverculture. Frank had a passion for improving the quality of life for the people in his community and for highlighting the natural and man-made beauty of the Connecticut River Valley.
In his retirement, Frank enjoyed writing and loved telling stories about his life experiences and travels. He had a great sense of humor and especially loved spending time with his two grandchildren. Frank is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Stevenson; a son, Breton and his wife Reina and their two children, Adrian and David, all of Indian Orchard; two sisters, Sheila Watson of Holbrook, MA and Kathleen DiBona of Weymouth, MA, and his brother, Robert Abbondanzio of Putney, VT; and several nieces and nephews.
Frank was predeceased by his sister, Diane DelVecchio and his nephew, Kevin DiBona. Funeral services will be held Monday 5/14 at 9:15am from the Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square, Turners Falls followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10am at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in Turners Falls. Burial will follow at the parish cemetery.
Calling hours will be held Sunday from 2-5pm at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN, 38148-0142 or to Our Lady of Czestochowa Church Renovation Fund, 84 K Street, Turners Falls, MA 01376.
Sympathy message available at www. kostanskifuneralhome.com.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
