Frank Gorham Thacher II, 88, of Centerville passed away September 24th after a long illness. Born in Hyannis, he was the son of Henrietta (Chase) and Hinckley Thacher and the grandson of the Walter B. Chases and Frank G. Thachers. A twelfth generation Cape Codder, he was a direct descendent of Mayflower passenger John Howland.
During his youth, Frank participated in the town’s recreational leagues and was also active in DeMolay as well as groups at the Federated Church. He played varsity football for Barnstable High School and graduated in 1951. In September of that same year, he enlisted in the U. S. Marines and served for three years as an aviation mechanic and subsequently completed the Marine Officer’s School.
After his military service, he attended UMass-Amherst, then transferred to Wentworth Institute where he graduated with distinction in 1962. Following college, he was employed overseas as a civil engineer in several countries throughout Africa and Southeast Asia. When he returned home, he worked in the carpentry field and was a master carpenter.
Throughout his later life, Frank enjoyed travelling abroad and taking cruises, but always enjoyed returning to his home on Wequaquet Lake, which he constructed himself and his Sandy Neck cottage. He was a life member of both the Fraternal Lodge, A.F. & A.M. and National Rifle Association. Along with being an avid wild game hunter and member of Ducks Unlimited, Frank was a conservationist, making generous donations to various Cape Cod organizations trying to preserve its beauty and educating others to do the same, notably the Thornton Burgess Society and Barnstable Land Trust. He loved shell-fishing and received several Certificates of Appreciation for his volunteer efforts from the town’s Natural Resources Staff.
Patriotism was paramount to Frank and he made sizable donations to the USO, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, and was a member of The Cape Cod Detachment Marine Corps League and Gold Circle Member of the VFW.
Also at the receiving end of his benefactions were the Hyannis Public Library, where his grandmother was the librarian for many years, as well as the Sturgis Library, both housing annals of his family history. He was also a member of the Barnstable Historical Society.
He is survived by his sister Prudence (Thacher) Stewart and her husband Robert of Barnstable; a niece Beth (Charles) Adamopoulos of Groveland and nephews Bruce (Sandra) Stewart of Dunstable, and Andrew (Carol) Stewart of Barnstable; several great nieces and great nephews; two great-great nieces and a great-great nephew; and his companion Sandra Baldini of Osterville, along with several generations of Chase, Thacher, and Hinckley cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cape Cod Alzheimer’s Family Support Center, 2095 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631 or to any of the above-mentioned charities.
Per Frank’s request, there will be a military graveside service for family and close friends on October 16, at 11a.m., Oak Grove Cemetery, Sea Street, Hyannis.
Services are under the direction of Doane, Beal & Ames in Hyannis. To share a memory or for online condolences please visit www.doanebealameshyannis.com.
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