Francis “Frannie” Whitford, Jr.

Francis “Frannie” Whitford, Jr. 67, of Nashua, NH died Saturday, November 11, 2023, in Nashua. To those who live and work in Nashua, Frannie’s daily walks of downtown were as much a part of the fabric of the city as is the sight of the Millyard chimney or the ringing of musical chimes from the Hunt Memorial Building. Born June 17, 1956, in Nashua, he was the son of the late Francis and Jean Whitford Sr. Frannie attended the former Mount Hope School for Special Needs in Nashua and when working, he had worked for numerous grocery stores throughout Nashua. Unfortunately, Frannie was struck by a car in 2011, while attempting to cross Amherst Street to walk across to the Amherst St. Fire Department near Hollman Stadium. Since that time Frannie lived at the Premier Rehab and Healthcare in Nashua. The family would like to thank the staff of Premier Rehab and Healthcare and Home Health and Hospice for the care and compassion they showed to Frannie while in their care. If not for being born with disabilities, there is no doubt that Frannie would have become a Nashua Firefighter or even possibly a baseball player. The Nashua NH Fire Department had adopted Frannie as one of their own for all these years. If not for the outpouring of love and support of the Nashua community, Frannie never would have had the independence he had. Everyone always looked out for Frannie and for what was in his best interest. Frannie spent many years at Holman Stadium enjoying watching the club baseball teams, starting with the Pirates, Nashua Pride and the Silver Nights. He served as batboy, dressed in full uniform for the Pirates in the 1985 Eastern Conference All Star game. Frannie was amazing when it came to the players, as he knew almost every baseball player’s STATS. It has been said, and I think most people would agree that “Frannie to a foul ball was faster than a seagull to a French fry”. The marking of time downtown unquestionably includes the ubiquitous Frannie, who was developmentally delayed. For years, Frannie, without fail, left his Vernon Street home each morning, shuffled down Amherst Street and then meandered around Main Street – along the way popping into businesses and fire departments with a joke or the familiar shout of “You did it” to merchants and firefighters, who looked forward to his daily visits and who would reply “Frannie did it”.

Survivors include his loving sister, Gayle Whitney and her husband Doug, of Milford, NH; one brother, Richard Harding, of Nashua; cousin Sandy Tuthill, of Milford, NH; nieces Wendi Simard, of Rochester, NH, Lori Montgomery, of Milford, NH and nephew Matthew Geddes, of Nashua, NH, as well as numerous other family members and friends. SERVICES: A graveside service will be held Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Woodlawn Cemetery, Kinsley St., Nashua, NH Saturday at 10:00 am. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may meet at the DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, 1 Lock St., Nashua, NH at 9:15 am to depart in procession to Woodlawn Cemetery with the route going by several locations that were part of Frannie’s daily life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Frannie’s loving memory to one of the following charities, Harbor Care, 45 High St., Nashua, NH 03060 https://www.harborcarenh.org/, Boys and Girls Club of Nashua, 1 Positive Place, Nashua, NH 03060 https://www.bgcn.com/, or to the charity of one’s choice. The DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua has been placed in charge of arrangements. An online guest book is available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com (603-883-3401) “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER”. “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER”