Francis M. McGowan

On August 19, 2024, Francis Michael “Frank” McGowan passed through this world while listening to “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” with his four surviving children by his side who were, unfortunately for Frank, singing along to the tune. After blessing his family and friends with his kindness, humor and love for almost 87 years, Frank joined the love of his life, Helen, who had passed through this world a few years earlier.

Frank was a much loved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend, Manhattan College Jasper, engineer, handball player, golf enthusiast and so much more. He also held many unofficial titles throughout his lifetime such as chef, judge of the easter egg contest, wedding singer and honorary Irishman.

Frank was the only child of his Irish immigrant parents, Michael Patrick (Co. Louth) and Kathleen McGowan (nee Hopkins, Co. Mayo). He spoke frequently and fondly of his childhood on the Upper West side of Manhattan, crediting his parents and the catholic schools for any success he had, and crediting lifelong friends from the neighborhood, such as Bernie Convery and Frankie Rooney, for the fun he had. These years also included summer vacations to the little town of East Durham, NY, in the “Irish Alps” of the Catskill mountains, with aunts, uncles and his cousins Joey and Johnny Gilbride. It was here in East Durham as a teenager Frank met Helen Noreen Smith. They went on to spend the rest of their lives together.

During his junior year in high school, Frank went on a school day trip to Manhattan College. Although he was not sure about going to college, it got him out of classes for the day. A junior at the college, John Lawler, gave the tour and explained the new environmental engineering program he was enrolled in. Frank was impressed and after graduating high school, he enrolled. By Franks junior year in college, John was now a teacher at Manhattan and taught one of Frank’s classes. They would end up being business partners for years and friends for life. Frank made many lifelong friends while at Manhattan College, including Tom Gallegher who was the best man at his wedding. Franks stories of his time at Manhattan College prompted two of his sons to go there as well. (We hear they enjoyed it). Thank you Manhattan College for the education and all those many friendships.

On September 16, 1961, Frank and Helen were married. They were inseparable every day since.

Frank’s career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service brought the young couple to Chicago, where they would have their first child, and then to the University of Michigan where they had their second child and Frank would get his Masters degree. After moving back from Chicago, Franks career continued in the Army Corps of Engineers, and then with Lawler Matusky and Skelly Engineers. Throughout his career, Frank met countless colleagues who became friends. To all those friends, thank you for making Frank’s working years as enjoyable as they were interesting.

In 1966, Frank and Helen set down roots on Bayberry Drive in Mahwah, NJ, where they would stay for 54 years, raising their 5 children - Stephen, Maura (deceased, loved and missed), Michael, Kristen (Powers) and Matthew. Many friendships grew from that neighborhood and Immaculate Conception parish. The kitchen table at 85 Bayberry Drive was a place of continuous conversation, laughter and ideas. Frank delighted in all of it. Thank you to all the wonderful friends from Mahwah and Immaculate Conception. Your friendship meant the world to them.

As Frank and Helen raised their now 5 children, they ventured into other interests including tennis, golf and skiing. But Frank never forgot handball, which he enjoyed playing for decades – it only required a ball, a wall and some good friends. Family vacations were rarely just the immediate family – there were usually four or five families of cousins involved – and the memories are priceless. Those cousins already know how much they meant to Frank, but thank you.

As their kids got older Frank and Helen traveled the world with friends. Frank loved planning trips, but always said that it was “the company you keep” that made the time special. Ireland was a favorite, and the Town of Carlingford, where Frank’s father, grandfather, and great grandfather were born, was a frequent destination. The McGowan family ancestral home on Dundalk Street was renovated by Frank and Helen in the early 2000’s and still welcomes the family today. As was his nature, Frank made some lasting friendships in Carlingford.

Their family began to expand as each of their children married. Tim Maguire, Cindy McGowan (nee Provenzano), Dennis Powers, Sarah McGowan (nee Kayal) and Marissa McGowan (nee Pagnani) joined the family to the sheer joy of Frank and Helen.

Eventually twelve grandchildren came along - Jessica, Christine and Maureen McGowan; Kate and Brendan Maguire; Meghan, Emma and Ryan Powers; Shannon and Sean McGowan; and Ultan and Josephine McGowan. Frank reveled in his role as Grandpa. After vacationing for many years in Lake Placid, NY, Frank and Helen built a house there that became a home away from home for the expanding family. “Cead Mile Failte” is how Frank would greet guests. Frank put his engineering skills to the test in figuring out how to fit all his children, sons and daughters-in law, and grandchildren into the house, but soon realized a house full of loved ones is never crowded. For the last 30+ years the entire family would get together for weeks at a time to dine, drink, laugh, boat, golf, play tennis, hike, ski, snowshoe, play cards and laugh some more. Long dinners often ended in Frank leading the group in a song. He had a marvelous voice.

Throughout his life Frank showed us all, by his words, and more importantly his actions, that family and friends were what mattered most, and that Helen was the love of his life. There aren’t words to describe the gratitude we have for all he was in our lives. We are going to miss him and cherish the memories in our hearts every day forward.

A wake will be held on Friday, August 23, 2024 from 4-7 PM at Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home at 109 Darlington Ave, Ramsey, NJ. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church in Mahwah, NJ at 10 AM on Saturday, August 24, 2024 (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH) followed by a brief outdoor burial service at Maryrest Cemetery at 770 Darlington Ave., Mahwah, NJ. A reception for attendees will be held afterward.

Years ago, Frank and Helen’s daughter Maura took a trip to Haiti and saw unimaginable poverty affecting the families, particularly the children, and could not look away. Since the 1990’s Maura dedicated much of her time to raising money for these families through the Mortel Foundations High Hopes For Haiti charity. Frank and Helen have supported this effort very generously over the decades since. In lieu of flowers, donations to this charity can be made at their website highhopesforhaiti.org Information and other details can be found at the funeral home website vanemburghsneider.com Thank you, The McGowan family