Paul D. Francese

03/11/2005

Paul D. Francese, 64, of 187 South Shore and 15139 Portside Drive, Fort Myers, Fla., died early Friday morning at his home in Florida. He was a prominent building contractor, businessman and real estate developer in Berkshire County for more than 40 years as owner and president of Joseph Francese Inc., Berkshire Land Development and Grand Management Co., all in Pittsfield. Mr. Francese's death was attributed to natural causes; no additional details were available yesterday. Active in civic affairs for many years, Mr. Francese was a member of the Hinsdale Lake Management Committee, the Lee Visiting Nurse Association's board of directors, the Central Berkshire Chamber of Commerce's board of directors and the Downing Industrial Park Commission. He served on Berkshire Bank's board of incorporators, and, from 1975 to 1977, was a member of a commission appointed by the mayor to review Pittsfield's department budgets and work force. Mr. Francese also was a member of the Association of General Contractors of America and the board of directors of the General Contractors Association of Berkshire County. Since 1998, he had been a general partner of the Francese Family Limited partnership, an entity specializing in real estate holding and management. In addition, he was a founder of Arbor Development Co. of Boston, a residential development company that renovated and sold more than 600 condominiums. From 1963 to 1994, he was owner and president of Joseph Francese Inc., a general contracting firm in Pittsfield. Born in Pittsfield on Feb. 24, 1941, son of Joseph and Caroline Guristante Francese, he was a 1958 graduate of Pittsfield High School. He also graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston in 1963 with an associate's degree in building construction technology. While in Pittsfield, he was a communicant of Mount Carmel Church; he attended St. Columbkille Church in Fort Myers. He was a member of the Harbour Isle Yacht and Racquet Club's master board in Fort Myers. He and his wife, the former Susan Danielson, were married Aug. 31, 1963. Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Daniel J. Francese of Pittsfield; a daughter, Caryn Francese-Hanna of Milford, and six grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Services for Paul D. Francese, who died March, 11, 2005, will take place Friday, March 18, at 9 from FLYNN & DAGNOLI-BENCIVENGA FUNERAL HOME, 5 Elm St. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church by the Rev. Geoffrey J. Deeker, CSS, pastor. Burial will follow in the family plot at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday, March 17, from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. Survivors include his daughter-in-law, Marybeth Francese of Pittsfield; son-in-law, Gary C. Hanna of Milford; six grandchildren, Justine R. LeBlanc, Maria P., Morgan E. and Megan M. Francese, Dominic J. and Michael P. Hanna; a sister, Maryann F. Gannon and her husband, James, of Thorofare, N.J., and an aunt, Elizabeth Guristante Enser of Lee. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mount Carmel Church or the Lee Regional Visiting Nurse Association in care of the funeral home.

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