A Remembrance of Frank "Mick" O'Beirne

On Monday, February 4, 2019, Groton lost one of its most valuable assets in the form of Frank "Mick" O'Beirne, Jr. of Mystic. For myself, I lost a friend for whom I had great respect, even when we didn't always agree on political issues.

Mick had a distinguished military career, starting informally at the young age of 5 years old, while living in Hawaii as a Navy son when Pearl Harbor was bombed. This incident did not deter him from enlisting in the Navy later on, eventually retiring with rank of Captain.

Mick was Commander of the Polaris missile nuclear submarine George Washington Carver (SSBN 656), launched in 1965, and he later commanded the Naval Submarine Base in Kings Bay, Georgia. In addition, he also acted in a leadership capacity at the Pentagon with both Trident and Tomahawk missile programs. After he retired, Mick's Navy background would become a major benefit for Groton.

Mick served 19 + years on the Groton Town Council, including one term as Mayor. One of his major tasks in 2003 - 2004 was to also serve as Vice Chairman of the Sub Base Realignment Coalition. The goal was to overturn federal military base closure decisions that would result in the Submarine Base leaving the Groton area completely. This effort included Mick going to Washington with another official to meet directly with the Assistant Navy Secretary. There were other officials who made supportive political efforts as well and the result of this teamwork was that the Navy Sub base remained in Groton. It was an important victory.

During Mick's career, his wife Kathleen, a teacher and author, raised their two children and devoted considerable personal time being an advocate tp help to provide support for Navy families.

My own involvement with Mick came from our mutual interest in making Groton a better place in which to work and live. Mick was a Town Council member seeking opinions on certain financial aspects of taxation and control of Town costs. At that time, I had begun taking an interest in local affairs as a part-time journalist.

Mick formed a committee to study residential property revaluations, which some felt were unfair and too high. Our group included reps from real estate, financial, corporate and accounting backgrounds. We did find areas for improvement and with some adjustments were made for future revaluations. I credit Mick with being open minded and willing to change course if it was needed.

There were other problem areas where Mick and I, along with others, felt there needed to be more control of school expansion. We were successful in helping to address a problem involving school administration as well, which set the stage for more organized school expansions later on, as we've seen recently.

Both of us were disappointed with the renovation of the downtown Mystic area, including concerns with "bump out" curbing. We felt that the Town went with an "agenda" rather than pay attention to local residential opinions. We lost that battle, but not the war, because adjustments were made with the Town planning department that made information on new projects more accessible to taxpayers.

Mick's major assets involved being well organized and knowing his subject matter thoroughly (such as the Town Charter) so that he could speak intelligently and with authority. But there was also a gracious, human side to him as well, as best summarized by our Town Mayor, Patrice Granatosky.

"I also had great respect for Mick. I met him when I first started on the RTM in 1995. I remember going to hearings where he was very kind and patient to this rookie learning the ropes in Groton. And over the years he was a wealth of knowledge, always taking my phone calls when I had questions. Great attention to detail and always well-prepared for debate. And a fair man.
I agree that he will indeed be missed."