Frank V. Mason, Jr.

This biography of Frank’s life is written by his son, Jim Mason.

One hundred years ago, on March 8th, 1923, Francis Vincent Mason Jr. was born in Quincy, Massachusetts.  His parents were the late Frank V. Mason from Winchendon, MA and the late Dorothy P. (Zunino) Mason from Dorchester, MA.   He grew up in Dorchester with his younger brother, the late Paul H. Mason.  He and Paul were on several local teams, Frank’s favorites being hockey and baseball.  Frank would be a lifelong fan of the Bruins and the Red Sox.  Paul favored the Patriots.

Frank enlisted in the Navy in 1942, completed basic training at the US Naval Training Station, Great Lakes and the Navy V-12 unit at Western Michigan College.  Toward the end of 1943 he was stationed at the Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia.   In 1944 he was attached to the newly commissioned ammunition ship, USS Mount Hood, but before the Hood set sail Frank was transferred to the USS ATA-214, a sea going tug.  The mission of the ATA-214 was to tow Naval Barrack barges, called floating hotels, throughout the Pacific.  While on that ship Frank went through the Panama Canal, stopped in San Diego, Hawaii, Ulithi, and finally ended up at the battle of Okinawa.  In 1945 the ship was decommissioned in San Francisco and Frank was reassigned to Boston where he received an honorable discharge and separation papers from the Navy in early 1946.

On November 24, 1945, Frank met the love of his life, Grace Ann McHugh, at a roller skating rink in Dorchester.  While he announced to his family, that evening, he had met the girl he would marry, Grace was not as impressed.  But by Christmas of 1945 he wore Grace down and they were engaged shortly after.   Grace and Frank were married on November 23, 1946.  They moved to Belmont to raise a family and had two children, Carol Jean (Mason) Clark, now of Florida and James Francis Mason, now of Maryland.  They lived on Newton Street and finally Alexander Avenue.

Frank worked in the family business with his father and brother Paul.  When Frank V. Mason Sr. died in 1964, Frank and Paul became partners.

Frank and Grace loved to travel and took several trips to Europe.  They spent time in England, France, Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Israel.

Frank and Grace were overjoyed as they welcomed their first grandchild, Elizabeth Alice Clark and then  Robert Bruce Clark.

In 2014, Grace lost her battle with diabetes and Frank’s life changed.  For the next nine years he would spend time remembering Grace and the wonderful life they had. 

In October of 2019, Frank now 96 and not able to care for himself went into All American Assisted living in Wrentham, MA.  For the next four years he became one of their favorite residents and also their oldest.  He would joke with his caregivers and try to join in the activities they provided.

On March 8th, 2023, the assisted living held a wonderful 100th birthday celebration for Frank.  During the party Frank ‘sparked to life’ and for the last time truly recognized me.  It was a great gift to me that I will cherish forever.

Frank passed away quietly in his sleep in the early hours of August 7th, 2023.

We will always remember Frank and his love of life and his love for his family and friends.  He will be missed by those he has left behind.  His children Carol and James, his grandchildren Elizabeth and Robert, and his late brother’s children: Thomas, Donna, Maureen, Daniel, and Patricia.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Frank's visiting hours in the Short, Williamson & Diamond Funeral Home, 52 Trapelo Road BELMONT, Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 3-7 p.m.  His funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Campion Center, 319 Concord Road, Weston, SATURDAY, September 16, 2023 at 11 a.m. (Please all meet at  the Campion Center)  Burial with U.S. Navy Military Honors at the Belmont Cemetery,  In lieu of flowers, contributions in Frank's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN, 38105, would be sincerely appreciated.  www.swdfuneralhome.com

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