Obituary for Frank Mauran
Frank Mauran died peacefully Friday, July 22, at home with his family in Providence. He was 97 years old. Born in Providence he was the son of Marion Amcotts Hunter Mauran and Frank Mauran, Jr. His wife of 59 years, Esther Elise Metcalf Mauran, died in 2014.
Growing up in Providence, he attended Moses Brown School through seventh grade before going to St. Georges School in Middletown, Rhode Island. As a boy in the 1930s, he attended Camp Mowglis, a boys’ summer camp in New Hampshire. Always fond of Camp Mowglis, he later served as a Trustee in the 1970s. As with most of his generation, he served in the military during World War II, in his case as a paratrooper in the Army. After his military service he went to Yale, graduating in 1949, and later to Harvard Law School. He did a second stint in the Army during the Korean War.
After law school, he worked as a lawyer in Providence, before leaving to work on the staff of Governor John Chafee. After several years on the Chafee staff, he left to manage the family’s tugboat business. He worked as President of the Providence Steamboat Company from 1967 until 1982. Thereafter, he turned most of his attention to other activities, serving as trustee for several entities and overseeing the Metcalf family farm in Exeter.
With a long family history in Providence and Rhode Island he took a strong interest in historic preservation. In the late 1950s, he restored the Sullivan Dorr house, a house which had been built by his ancestor. The restoration of the house marked a significant milestone in the preservation of Benefit Street. From 1969 to 1977, he served as President of the Providence Preservation Society and helped oversee the restoration of Providence City Hall.
Long a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, he was active in the Rhode Island Society since 1945 and was President several times. At the national level, he served in several offices including that of President General from 1989 to 1992 after which he continued to be devoted to the Society’s library. An avid rare book and manuscript collector, he worked closely with the librarian to add to its collection throughout his life.
He was a member of the Hope Club, the Agawam Club, the Dunes Club, the Clambake Club, and the York Harbor Reading Room. He was also a member of the Club of Odd Volumes in Boston and the Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association in York Harbor, Maine.
He leaves behind his son, Frank Mauran IV, daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Rollins Mauran, son-in-law Nigel Stirling Blackwell, five grandchildren, Georgina Stirling Blackwell O’Sullivan, Marion Rollins Mauran, Richard Raphael Holliday Blackwell, Cecily Lippitt Mauran, John Ormsbee Ames Mauran, and three great- grandchildren Connie Eliza Hedderwick O’Sullivan, Nancy Susan Blackwell O’Sullivan, and Henry August Metcalf Blackwell. His daughter, Eliza Pumpelly Mauran Blackwell predeceased him.
According to his wishes, a private burial service is planned at Swan Point Cemetery at a time to be determined. A reception will be held at noon at the Agawam Club in East Providence on Thursday August 4. If so inclined, please make a contribution to the New England Wireless and Steam Museum in East Greenwich, 1300 Frenchtown Rd., East Greenwich, RI 02818
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Growing up in Providence, he attended Moses Brown School through seventh grade before going to St. Georges School in Middletown, Rhode Island. As a boy in the 1930s, he attended Camp Mowglis, a boys’ summer camp in New Hampshire. Always fond of Camp Mowglis, he later served as a Trustee in the 1970s. As with most of his generation, he served in the military during World War II, in his case as a paratrooper in the Army. After his military service he went to Yale, graduating in 1949, and later to Harvard Law School. He did a second stint in the Army during the Korean War.
After law school, he worked as a lawyer in Providence, before leaving to work on the staff of Governor John Chafee. After several years on the Chafee staff, he left to manage the family’s tugboat business. He worked as President of the Providence Steamboat Company from 1967 until 1982. Thereafter, he turned most of his attention to other activities, serving as trustee for several entities and overseeing the Metcalf family farm in Exeter.
With a long family history in Providence and Rhode Island he took a strong interest in historic preservation. In the late 1950s, he restored the Sullivan Dorr house, a house which had been built by his ancestor. The restoration of the house marked a significant milestone in the preservation of Benefit Street. From 1969 to 1977, he served as President of the Providence Preservation Society and helped oversee the restoration of Providence City Hall.
Long a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, he was active in the Rhode Island Society since 1945 and was President several times. At the national level, he served in several offices including that of President General from 1989 to 1992 after which he continued to be devoted to the Society’s library. An avid rare book and manuscript collector, he worked closely with the librarian to add to its collection throughout his life.
He was a member of the Hope Club, the Agawam Club, the Dunes Club, the Clambake Club, and the York Harbor Reading Room. He was also a member of the Club of Odd Volumes in Boston and the Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association in York Harbor, Maine.
He leaves behind his son, Frank Mauran IV, daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Rollins Mauran, son-in-law Nigel Stirling Blackwell, five grandchildren, Georgina Stirling Blackwell O’Sullivan, Marion Rollins Mauran, Richard Raphael Holliday Blackwell, Cecily Lippitt Mauran, John Ormsbee Ames Mauran, and three great- grandchildren Connie Eliza Hedderwick O’Sullivan, Nancy Susan Blackwell O’Sullivan, and Henry August Metcalf Blackwell. His daughter, Eliza Pumpelly Mauran Blackwell predeceased him.
According to his wishes, a private burial service is planned at Swan Point Cemetery at a time to be determined. A reception will be held at noon at the Agawam Club in East Providence on Thursday August 4. If so inclined, please make a contribution to the New England Wireless and Steam Museum in East Greenwich, 1300 Frenchtown Rd., East Greenwich, RI 02818
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