Francis J McKenna Jr.

Francis Joseph McKenna, Jr. of Hyannis, MA died May 21st at Cape Cod Hospital surrounded by family. Born and raised in Worcester and Spencer, MA, he was the son of the late Francis J. and Jessica S. McKenna. He attended Classical High School and received his B.S. in Education from Worcester State College in 1953. After graduation, he was drafted into service and served honorably in the U.S. Army Security Agency during the Korean War from 1954 to 1956. Following his discharge, he began his teaching career in the Worcester Public School System and continued his education, receiving his M.Ed. from Worcester State College.

During the summer, he brought his family to Cape Cod where he served as special patrolman with the Barnstable Police Department. In 1965, he decided that police work was destined to be his true vocation and he accepted a full time position as a patrolman. He settled with his family in Centerville, and began a thirty-one year career with the Barnstable Police Department. He also served as an instructor of criminal justice at Cape Cod Community College. He retired in 1996 with the rank of Sergeant, a cadre of lifetime friends, and an untold supply of colorful stories.

Never one to be idle, he continued to work, including a number of seasons in the Harbor Master’s office in Hyannis, and as the long time dockmaster at the Dockside Marina, a position he held up until his death.

Known as a master raconteur with a razor sharp wit, Frank enjoyed regaling friends and family with anecdotes and sharing his dry sense of humor. He loved the water and his boats, his winters in Florida, Irish music, dinner at The Black Cat, and the companionship of family and friends. He was pre-deceased by his former wife, Mary Ellen (Meehan) McKenna, with whom he maintained a lifelong, abiding friendship, and his brother Kenneth R. McKenna. He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Patricia M. Hilton and husband James of Tiverton, RI, Edward F. McKenna and wife Susan of Sandwich, MA and Andrew P. McKenna and wife Stacy of W. Barnstable, MA; as well as his five grandchildren, James and Alexandra Hilton, and Matthew, Katie, and Caroline McKenna.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at the Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 160 West Main Street, Hyannis, MA.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at Our Lady of Victory Church, 230 South Main Street, Centerville, MA.

As tribute to Francis, members of his family will be running the Falmouth Road Race as part of the Dana Farber team. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to www.rundanafarber.org/falmouth2015/teammckenna.