1921
Frank
2012
Frank Watson Mead
April 24, 1921 — May 13, 2012
Grand Marais
Frank Watson Mead, age 91, of Grand Marais, Michigan, died peacefully on Sunday, May 13, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family.
Frank was born April 24, 1921, in Bath England, the son of Frank Watson Mead, Sr. of Westbury, England and Alice Reed of Kingston, Jamaica. He came to Detroit in 1926 and graduated from Highland Park High School and Highland Park Community College before serving in the 103rd Army Division in the European Theater and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. Upon returning from the war, he attended Wayne State University where he received a B.S. in Chemistry. In 1949 he obtained his teacher certification from Northern Michigan University. Later in 1953 he received his M.A. in school administration from the University of Michigan. Frank's first contact with the Upper Peninsula came in 1946 when he was hired as part of a team of chemists at Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay that studied the nutritional needs of the residents. During this period, after hiking from Whitefish Pt. to Grand Marais, he met Ruth Newberg whom he was married (Sept 25, 1948) for 63 years. Together they raised four children and were active members of the Grand Marais community.
Frank prided himself on being a public servant. For ten years he worked as a teacher in Grand Marais, Germfask, Gladstone, Quilcene (Washington), and Newberry. For the next eleven years (1958-1965) he served as Superintendent of Burt Township Schools in Grand Marais. Concurrently, he was Supervisor of Burt Township (1960-1966). In 1963, he chaired the steering committee that established the Upper Peninsula Commission on Area Progress (UPCAP). From 1965-1968 he served as the community action specialist for UPCAP in Escanaba and during that time was responsible for establishing the six Community Action Agencies in the Upper Peninsula as well as one of the first Head Start programs in the United States. In 1968 Frank became Superintendent of the Marquette-Alger Intermediate School District where for the next ten years he helped establish such programs as early childhood intervention, substance abuse intervention, vocational education and special education. He was also co-founder of the Upper Peninsula Health Education Corporation, which was responsible for training family doctors and health care workers for the Upper Peninsula. In 1978, Frank retired and moved back to Grand Marais where for the following decade, he once again served as Burt Township Supervisor. Frank's love and commitment to the community of Grand Marais can be seen through his work as Supervisor. He was instrumental in establishing the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park as well as the Lakeshore Scenic Drive from Sault Ste. Marie to Munising. Through grant-writing he procured funding for the marina, the community center, ice rink building, and senior citizen annex, the baseball diamond and tennis courts, a bathhouse and walkways at Woodland Park, a bathhouse and stairs at Bayshore Park, the bike path, Grand Marais Senior Housing, and the formation of the township Economic Development committee. Frank was also co-founder of Grand Marais Historical Society, which was responsible for the renovation of the Lighthouse Keeper's residence on Coast Guard Point.
During retirement, Frank served on and chaired numerous boards: the State of Michigan Community College Board (1979-1988); Alger County Board of Commissioners (1984-1994); UPCAP Board of Directors (1988- 2012); Alger County DHS board (1999-2012); LMAS Public Health Board (1984-1994); Burt Township School Board (2004-2007). Beginning in 1983, he served as a member of the Grand Marais Coast Guard Auxiliary. From 2000-2009, he served as site manager for the Grand Marais Senior Housing. Frank was also a life-long member (and Chairman) of the Grand Marais United Methodist Church.
Frank's hobbies included boat building, sailing, woodworking, singing, music, and bicycling.
Frank is survived by his four children: Philip Timothy (Marjorie Decker) of Concord, NH; Katherine Alice (Robert Alexander) of Madison, WI; Jonathan Stanley (Barb Minor) of Escanaba; and Andrea Mary (Ralph Broerman) of Green Bay, WI; six grandchildren (Jessica, Sarah, Adam, Erica, Laura, and Benjamin); one great-grandchild (Duccio), and his sisters Nina Roach of Alden, MI and Senta Mead of Holiday, FL.
Visitation will be on Friday, May 25, 2012 at the Grand Marias United Methodist Church from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Pastor Paul Mallory and Pastor Meredith Rupe will conduct Frank's funeral at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Rose Hill Cemetery where American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Grand Marais Public Schools.
Frank Watson Mead, age 91, of Grand Marais, Michigan, died peacefully on Sunday, May 13, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family.
Frank was born April 24, 1921, in Bath England, the son of Frank Watson Mead, Sr. of Westbury, England and Alice Reed of Kingston, Jamaica. He came to Detroit in 1926 and graduated from Highland Park High School and Highland Park Community College before serving in the 103rd Army Division in the European Theater and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. Upon returning from the war, he attended Wayne State University where he received a B.S. in Chemistry. In 1949 he obtained his teacher certification from Northern Michigan University. Later in 1953 he received his M.A. in school administration from the University of Michigan. Frank's first contact with the Upper Peninsula came in 1946 when he was hired as part of a team of chemists at Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay that studied the nutritional needs of the residents. During this period, after hiking from Whitefish Pt. to Grand Marais, he met Ruth Newberg whom he was married (Sept 25, 1948) for 63 years. Together they raised four children and were active members of the Grand Marais community.
Frank prided himself on being a public servant. For ten years he worked as a teacher in Grand Marais, Germfask, Gladstone, Quilcene (Washington), and Newberry. For the next eleven years (1958-1965) he served as Superintendent of Burt Township Schools in Grand Marais. Concurrently, he was Supervisor of Burt Township (1960-1966). In 1963, he chaired the steering committee that established the Upper Peninsula Commission on Area Progress (UPCAP). From 1965-1968 he served as the community action specialist for UPCAP in Escanaba and during that time was responsible for establishing the six Community Action Agencies in the Upper Peninsula as well as one of the first Head Start programs in the United States. In 1968 Frank became Superintendent of the Marquette-Alger Intermediate School District where for the next ten years he helped establish such programs as early childhood intervention, substance abuse intervention, vocational education and special education. He was also co-founder of the Upper Peninsula Health Education Corporation, which was responsible for training family doctors and health care workers for the Upper Peninsula. In 1978, Frank retired and moved back to Grand Marais where for the following decade, he once again served as Burt Township Supervisor. Frank's love and commitment to the community of Grand Marais can be seen through his work as Supervisor. He was instrumental in establishing the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park as well as the Lakeshore Scenic Drive from Sault Ste. Marie to Munising. Through grant-writing he procured funding for the marina, the community center, ice rink building, and senior citizen annex, the baseball diamond and tennis courts, a bathhouse and walkways at Woodland Park, a bathhouse and stairs at Bayshore Park, the bike path, Grand Marais Senior Housing, and the formation of the township Economic Development committee. Frank was also co-founder of Grand Marais Historical Society, which was responsible for the renovation of the Lighthouse Keeper's residence on Coast Guard Point.
During retirement, Frank served on and chaired numerous boards: the State of Michigan Community College Board (1979-1988); Alger County Board of Commissioners (1984-1994); UPCAP Board of Directors (1988- 2012); Alger County DHS board (1999-2012); LMAS Public Health Board (1984-1994); Burt Township School Board (2004-2007). Beginning in 1983, he served as a member of the Grand Marais Coast Guard Auxiliary. From 2000-2009, he served as site manager for the Grand Marais Senior Housing. Frank was also a life-long member (and Chairman) of the Grand Marais United Methodist Church.
Frank's hobbies included boat building, sailing, woodworking, singing, music, and bicycling.
Frank is survived by his four children: Philip Timothy (Marjorie Decker) of Concord, NH; Katherine Alice (Robert Alexander) of Madison, WI; Jonathan Stanley (Barb Minor) of Escanaba; and Andrea Mary (Ralph Broerman) of Green Bay, WI; six grandchildren (Jessica, Sarah, Adam, Erica, Laura, and Benjamin); one great-grandchild (Duccio), and his sisters Nina Roach of Alden, MI and Senta Mead of Holiday, FL.
Visitation will be on Friday, May 25, 2012 at the Grand Marias United Methodist Church from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Pastor Paul Mallory and Pastor Meredith Rupe will conduct Frank's funeral at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Rose Hill Cemetery where American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Grand Marais Public Schools.
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