Joseph S. Franzone, 92, of Haverhill, died Thursday morning, July 23, at Merrimack Valley Hospice House, Haverhill.
He was born in Haverhill, May 16, 1923, son of the late Giustino S. and Julia (Baldassarre) Franzone. Educated in the Haverhill school system, Franzone graduated from Haverhill High School, class of 1941. During World War II he served in the United States Army in the Company C 594th Engineer Amphibian Regiment. He earned an American Theater Campaign Ribbon Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal. Upon being honorably discharged from the Army, Franzone began a career of more than 35 years as a civil engineer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, from where he retired in the early 1980s. A former Haverhill city councilor, Franzone was a well known die-hard Democrat and enjoyed reading about the Democratic Party. He was also a passionate Boston sports fan.
His survivors include three daughters, Laura Franzone of Bradford, Valerie Franzone of Amesbury, and Karen Milnes of Newmarket, N.H.; a brother, Frank Franzone of Atkinson, N.H.; two sisters, Rosalie and her husband Ralph Gaeta of Stoneham and Irene Davis of Haverhill; daughter-in-law, Darlene (Thompson) Franzone of Methuen; eight grandchildren; two great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and his longtime friend, Mary Duchemin and her family of Haverhill. Franzone was the father of the late Justin “Keith” Franzone and brother of the late Dan Franzone.
His funeral took place this morning. In lieu of flowers, donors may give to Genetics Department at Boston Children’s Hospital, in memory of Joseph Franzone. Contributions can be made online at www.bostonchildrens.org/givenow or checks made payable to Boston Children’s Hospital can be mailed to Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215. Please include Franzone’s name on the memo line of the check.