Frank J. Realin

WEYMOUTH, MA – Frank J. Realin, age 92, formerly of St. Augustine, Florida passed away peacefully on September 1, 2021.

Frank was born in Dorchester, MA, on September 11, 1929, to Italian immigrants who did not speak English. In his early childhood, he lived with his parents in an attic with no bathroom, subsisting on bread, milk, beans, and other staples dispensed by a Federal Program created under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. His parents’ dream was for him to have a good education. He learned English by listening to the radio, attended St. Peter’s School in Dorchester, graduated from Boston Latin School, earned a bachelor of science degree in premedicine from Boston College, and a master’s in business administration from Suffolk University. Frank made possible that same dream for his daughters, Donna and Cheryl, providing them the opportunity to each earn a bachelor’s degree and for Donna to go on to earn a master’s degree.  He was delighted to see his granddaughter, Jaina, enter the University of New Hampshire as a freshman this fall, and was often seen proudly sporting a “UNH Grandpa” shirt.

Frank was a kind, generous, gracious man who was a dedicated father, grandfather, and life partner to Joan Beairsto. Ambitious and accomplished, his passions and pursuits included music, politics, business, teaching, writing, consumer advocacy, finance, service to his country, animal welfare, volunteerism and philanthropy.

While working his way through college he taught himself how to play the drums and led a swing band in the 1940s. Almost five decades after putting away his drumsticks, his passion for the “big band sound” stoked his creative fire and he assembled a 14-piece orchestra of Berklee musicians, arranged his favorite songs of that era, and produced a CD that would have made Glenn Miller proud.

Frank’s primary career was in hospital administration where his experience ran the gamut from Special Assistant to the Administrator of Massachusetts Memorial Hospital (now part of Boston Medical Center) to a health facilities consultant for the U.S. Public Health Service in the New York and Boston regional offices, where he served for 20 years.

Frank always had an interest in politics, truth and justice and once was a candidate for election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives from Ward 15, Boston. Frank was designated as one of five Registered Parliamentarians in Massachusetts by the National Association of Parliamentarians in 1980. He lectured on parliamentary law and procedure for many labor, professional, and fraternal organizations, and taught parliamentary law and procedure at the Catholic Labor Guild of Boston for several years.

Frank’s interest in judicial reform led him to co-found an organization dedicated to correcting injustices and biases that existed in the Massachusetts probate courts. He co-wrote House Bill No. 287 in the MA legislature, a bill to provide accountability for child support monies. He also served as a member of the Judiciary Committee of the Boston Chapter League of Women Voters, and held office in several organizations, including chambers of commerce, MA Heart Association, Parents Without Partners, and the MA Council for Public Justice.

Frank proudly served for eight years in the Massachusetts National Guard and as a Reserve of the U.S. Army.

During his retirement, Frank enjoyed his winter residence in St. Augustine, FL with his loving life partner and soulmate of 36 years, Joan, with whom he traveled the world, biked, boated, dined, danced, laughed, and loved. Frank was a hospital volunteer; served on the Economic Advisory Panel of the Patriot Ledger newspaper; and was a guest speaker for many organizations. His continued strong sense for truth and justice led him at the age of 85 to author and publish a 365-page book titled “Diving Deep: How to Find Truth in a Sea of Lies, Bias, Spin, Scams, and Fraud.” He even developed and copyrighted a board game called Sk biRuk™.  The winner ends up in Heaven- how perfect.

While visiting Frank shortly before his passing, his dear friend of nearly 75 years, Bernie Broide, said to family “Frank did everything he ever wanted to do.”  A true testament to a life well lived.

Frank was predeceased by his brother, Aldo, of Cadrezzate, Italy, and his parents Frank and Louise Realin of Quincy, MA. He is survived by his two lovely daughters and their husbands, Donna and Daniel Farrington of Scituate, MA, and Cheryl Lee and Chip Kuzborski of Plaistow, NH, and granddaughter Jaina Louise Farrington, whom he adored, his dear Joan A. Beairsto, and their kitty, Bella.  A celebration of life will be held on October 15 at 1:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Weymouth located at 83 Sea Street.  Family/friends are welcome to attend to share fond memories of Frank, however, the church requires masks due to COVID.  Interment will be private at New Calvary Cemetery in Mattapan on a later date.

In honor of Frank’s love of animals, memorial contributions (in lieu of flowers) may be made to the Quincy Animal Shelter, 56 Broad Street, Quincy, MA 02169 (www.quincyanimalshelter.org.)