Obituary: Francis J. (Frank) O'Malley, 86, of Weston

WESTON, CT — Husband of 67 years to his beloved wife Patricia (nee Coar), father of nine, grandfather of 20, great grandfather of three, a life-time athlete, voracious reader, a self-made man who rose to the highest ranks of business, a man of integrity and strength, Francis J. (Frank) O'Malley was a man you don't meet every day.

Born in 1932 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the third of eight children to Francis and Frances O'Malley, Frank attended Scranton Central High where he played on the football and basketball teams and first met Pat. Pat was a cheerleader and came from a prominent local family, but Pat and Frank's love could not be proscribed, and they married in 1951 when they were both 19.

Frank attended the University of Scranton while still working to support his growing family, and his graduation picture, complete with six children, needs to be seen to be believed.

After graduation Frank continued his career, and a job with Pepperidge Farms took him to Weston, Connecticut in 1965 where he was to spend the rest of his life. Frank rose through a number of corporate positions, from Mattel to Marx to Atari to Electronic Arts, and retired at 74 as Vice- President for Sony PlayStation.

Frank loved to play basketball. Well into his 40's he would ride his bike 25 miles round trip to Compo Beach to play with players 20 years his junior. He continued to play until his early 70s, and he was a proud member of the Connecticut State champions in the Senior division of 3 on 3 basketball when he was 68. Frank enjoyed the camaraderie of his hoop friends in Fairfield for many years.

Pat, a great beauty, and Frank, at 6'3" with jet black hair and blue eyes, made a striking couple. They managed to see a good bit of the world during their lives together, but the absolute greatest joy of Frank's life was his family. While Frank was always demanding of his children, and not always the most demonstrative man, he was fiercely proud of their achievements, and enjoyed his greatest happiness surrounded by his family. Frank mellowed with time and was a loving and loved presence in his grandchildren's lives.

Frank knew right from wrong, he was not afraid to have an opinion, and to let you know what he thought of yours, but he was always fair in his arguments, and respected yours if you could bolster your position with facts and intelligence. He had a sly sense of humor and had little patience for any person or group that put on airs and forgot from where they came. Frank's legacy to his family is his 67 years with Pat, and a life lived with dignity and the knowledge that he treated everyone in his life with fairness and honesty. Frank O'Malley will be missed by all who knew him.

Frank is survived by his loving wife, Pat, and his children: Jerry of Mystic; Brian (Anne) of Westport; Ellen (Tony) of Carson City, NV; Kevin of Rye, NY; Karen of Sacramento, CA; Tim (Paula) of San Rafael, CA; Sean of Redondo Beach, CA; Chris (Wendy) of Manhattan, NY; Kathy of Westmount, NJ; and his 20 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.