Obituary of Frank J. Maguire

WILTON, CONN Lt. Col. Frank J. Maguire, 90, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 3, 2020 at Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Dr. Maureen R. Maguire; his parents, Mary Flannery Maguire and Frank Maguire; and his sister, Mary Margaret Maguire. Lt. Col. Maguire is survived by his four children: Shevaun Macari, Barrett Maguire, Bevin Maguire and Leslie Gerber; their respective spouses: Joseph Macari, Rosa Maguire, Craig Hunt, and Jay Gerber; as well as his nine grandchildren: Thomas Macari, Neassa Hunt, Iliana Gerber, Elizabeth Macari, Sinead Hunt, Ian Macari, Aine Hunt, Sasha Gerber, and Aidan Maguire; and his sisters-in-law and brother-in-law; along with numerous nieces and nephews, friends, neighbors and caregivers. Lt. Col. Maguire was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended St. Augustine High School and graduated in 1952 from the City College of New York, where he majored in history. A decorated veteran, he began his military career in the Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC). As a career army officer with 20 year of service, he served combat duty in the Korean conflict and the Vietnam War, with additional tours in Turkey and Germany. In addition to combat duty, he managed the 7th Army Symphony during their tour of Europe; spent a year at the U.S. Army Language School in Monterey, where he learned Greek; and trained National Guard units in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Duran, Oklahoma. In 1993 he had the great honor to be invited by the Black Veterans for Social Justice to join their delegation as an ally, returning to South Korea for an official government visit. During his military career, Lt. Col. Maguire was the recipient of several medals and awards including the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in Vietnam, four Bronze stars, and the Gallantry Cross. He retired from the military in 1973. Following his military career, Frank returned to work first for the State of New York – Veterans Reemployment Division and then later for the Veteran’s Affairs Division of the Federal Government. During that portion of his career he focused on helping veterans find employment, housing, and recovery -- especially those who were unemployed, homeless, disabled or struggled with addictions. In June of 1976 he married Maureen Reidy in Brooklyn, NY. As a couple, Frank and Maureen loved to travel, read, attend the theater, ballet and opera, visit museums and compete on who could do the daily NYT crossword puzzle faster. A hands-on father and grandfather, Frank loved to attend his children and grandchildren’s school events, ceremonies and sporting events. In 1990 Frank and Maureen moved to Wilton, CT, where Frank became active in the community including his parish of Our Lady of Fatima, the Kiwanis, The Retired Officers Association, the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Charities. In recent years, Frank and his Wilton “guys” could be found sipping coffee in town while “solving the world’s problems.” Due to current CDC Federal guidelines in keeping with public safety standards, the family is holding a private interment here at Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main Street, Westport, with the hope of funeral mass at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Frank’s memory to CHiPs (Community Help in Park Slope, Inc.), a Brooklyn soup kitchen and the Brooklyn Museum. The Bouton Funeral Home of Georgetown is directing the arrangements.