Francis ""Frank"" J. McGovern

Francis (Frank) J. McGovern died Sunday, January 10, 2016, after a long illness. Born on Long Island, New York, on July 30, 1932, he graduated from parochial school and entered the Air Force during the Korean War. He served as a chaplain's assistant, which he enjoyed, and was honorably discharged in 1953. While in the service, he participated in several skits to entertain the base. After his discharge, he attended Fordham University where he acted in several of their productions, including ""The Caine Mutiny"". Afterwards he remarked, ""It was electric to hear the audience so excited when I came on stage and did my part to great cheers."" Thus began a lifelong vocation/avocation. His Air Force buddy , Jim Hartley, invited Frank to come to Denver in the summer of 1956, to participate in melodramas at the historic Windsor Hotel on Larimer Street. Theater in Denver was not common in those days, and the Windsor Players were successful the very first summer. Frank landed the role of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, in a melodrama based on the original 1840 play. That show was a hit, ran for nine months, and led to features on local and national TV. While with the Windsor Players, Frank met Leo Haberthier, who was to become his life partner until Leo's death in 1987. A fire at the Windsor Hotel caused the group to move to Henritzi's Restaurant. As the company wound down in the early 1960s, Frank faced the choice of a theater career, prompted by an offer of a role in a movie being filmed in Colorado, or a career as an audiologist. He opted for audiology. He earned a degree in Speech Pathology at the University of Denver and a Master's degree in audiology from the University of Northern Colorado, which included study at Northwestern University. Frank was hired by the Colorado Department of Health and worked in the Hearing and Speech Section of the Handicapped Children's Program for 32 years. He and his supervisor, Hal Weber, pioneered a technique for testing the hearing of infants and young children. He excelled in this career that he loved and became known all over Colorado for his dedication, creativity, competence and exceptional interpersonal skills. To meet Frank was to love him. He received recognition and honors along the way. Also during this time he used his multiple talents to write and direct highly entertaining and successful melodramas as fund raisers for non-profit organizations. After retirement, Frank returned to his love--the theater. He began taking voice and piano lessons and appeared in productions of ""Camelot"", ""The Fantastics,"" and ""She Loves Me,"" with the Evergreen Players. He also appeared in Gilbert and Sullivan's ""Ruddigore"" with the Empire Lyric Company here in Denver and with Magic Moments and Rainbow Bridge, local groups involving children with disabilities, as well as non-disabled actors. This second career brought joy to both Frank and his audiences. First and foremost, Frank was a collector of, and connector to, people. He simply loved them--all ages, colors, nationalities, religions and personality types. Everywhere he went, people were drawn to his wide smile, welcoming demeanor, kindness, generosity and humor. Most importantly, he had the ability to maintain many close friendships through the years by use of the phone and frequent personal contact which made people feel special. And then there were his stories; they were legion and legendary. He could entertain for hours with his ability to skillfully and humorously relate them to the delight of anyone within listening range. He was at his best when he had an attentive audience. Frank was preceded in death by his father, Francis T. McGovern; his mother, Lillian McGovern; and his sister, Mary Ahlquist. He had several adored dogs through the years upon which he lavished unconditional love. He leaves behind his partner of twelve years, William Lundgren; a nephew, John Ahlquist and a niece, Nancy Bove, both in Florida; two grandnieces; one grandnephew and a multitude of loving friends. Visitation will be Friday, January 22, 2016, at Horan & McConaty, 1091 South Colorado Boulevard at Mississippi in Denver from 6:00–8:00 PM. Funeral services will be held the following day (January 23) at 1:00 PM at the temporary home of St. Barnabas Episcopal Parish, at Warren Methodist Church located on East 14th Ave. and Gilpin St. in Denver. Interment will follow at Pershing Memorial Cemetery in Limon, Colorado. Memorial donations may be made to St. Barnabas Restoration Fund, 1630 E. 14th St., Denver, CO 80218 or Dumb Friends League, 2080 S. Quebec St., Denver, CO 80231. Share memories of Frank by visiting the Guestbook link below.