John F. McDermott

ProvidenceJohn F. "Fran" McDermott, 88, of Gentian Avenue, died Tuesday at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, North Providence. He was the loving husband of the late Elizabeth A. "Betty" (Lovett)McDermott. Born in Providence, and raised in Fox Point, he was a son of the late Hugh P. and Mary Ellen (Thompson) McDermott. Fran was a firefighter for the Providence Fire Department for twenty years, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant, in 1965. He continued his fire safety career as the Fire Marshall at Brown University for nineteen years, retiring in 1984. He was a 1933 graduate of Cleary School, and a 1937 graduate of LaSalle Academy. A survivor of the December 7th, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. McDermott served his country proudly in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a communicant of Saint Augustine Church, a member of the Providence Firefighters Union, Local 799, Providence Permanent Fireman's Relief Association, and the Retired Providence Police and Firefighters Association. He leaves two sons, John R. McDermott, Esq., of Providence, James H. McDermott, (Lt.PFD Ret) and his wife, Joan, of Wakefield; and three grandchildren, Amanda, James and Ryan McDermott. He was a brother of the late Robert McDermott. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, at 10:00 am, in Saint Augustine Church, 639 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence, to which relatives and friends are invited. Burial, with military honors, will be in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. In lieu of flowers, donations to Providence Permanent Fireman's Relief Association, P.O. Box 28054 Providence, RI 02908 in his memory will be appreciated.