Francis J. Gooch, Jr.

Francis (Frank) Joseph Gooch, Jr. was born in Portland, ME on July 27, 1936. He was the son of Francis and Eileen (Cash) Gooch and married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor (Ellie) Ingraham, on August 30, 1958 in the town of Houlton, ME. Frank died peacefully at home in Raleigh, NC on September 22, 2022, with his bride of 64 years by his side.

Frank was a graduate of Houlton High School and went on to graduate from the University of Maine in 1958. Thereafter, he completed the Executive Training Program at Filene’s department store in Boston, was employed by Helena Rubinstein, and spent 16 years as Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for Celebrity, Inc. headquartered in New York City. Frank concluded his time at Celebrity maintaining an office in a suburb of Los Angeles.

Several years after having two near-fatal heart attacks at age 39, Frank made a career change. He and Ellie purchased and operated a restaurant and catering company in Palm Springs, CA. The couple eventually moved on from this enterprise, and for the next 15 years owned and operated a Val-Pak direct mail advertising company in ME. The couple sold the franchise and relocated to FL in 1999 before moving to NC in 2021.

During the course of his life, Frank and his family lived in various parts of the United States, including MA, PA, OH, NJ, CA, VT, ME, FL, and NC. Frank was an avid tennis player and always active in the communities in which he lived. This included being a member of the Palos Verdes Breakfast Club, a long-time Rotarian, including a term as chapter president, a member of the Jazz Club of Sarasota, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of St. Martha’s Catholic Church and Longwood Athletic Club in Sarasota. At the time of his passing, Frank was a faithful congregant of the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh.

Frank leaves behind his loving wife, Ellie, and five children–Michael (Carole) in CA, Patricia (Roland) Deslauriers in NC, Margaret O’Connor in FL, Timothy in ME and FL, and Kathleen (Steve) Currie who reside in PA– his two sisters, Elizabeth Gooch and Mary Ford in WA, as well as his sister-in-law, Hollie Ingraham, in ME. Additionally, Frank was blessed with 16 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be October 7, 2022 at 4 PM at the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral followed by a reception and hors d’oeuvres at Overture Apartment Living, located at 600 Bilyeu Street in Raleigh.

Should friends desire, contributions maybe made in Frank’s name to Transitions Hospice Care, Raleigh NC, Catholic Charities, or charities of choice.