Frank R. Binette, 91, of the Taylor Retirement Community, 21 Ledges Dr., Laconia, NH died February 22, 2010 under hospice care after a period of declining health.
Born in Manchester, NH on July 30, 1918, he was the son of Joseph Mederic and Philomene (Lambert) Binette. He has spent most of his life residing in Laconia.
After attending West High School for three years and joining the Civilian Conservation Corps he was assigned to the US Forestry Department and served with the 1177th Co. Swift River Bridge Crossing in Passaconway. In July 1942, he joined the US Army as a volunteer officer candidate and completed his training at Fort Lee, VA. He served in the Panama Canal Zone as an Army Locomotive Fireman/Engineer stationed at Fort Amador and was discharged on January 6, 1946. Under the Bill of Rights he completed two years of college with La Salle University in Chicago.
Over the years he worked at Lambert Funeral Home in Manchester and the Boston & Maine Railroad as a Trainman/Conductor, all the while operating several seasonal businesses in the Lakes Region. He retired after 20 years from the US Postal Service, first as a letter carrier and then a clerk and passport agent in 1980.
After retirement, he developed a passion for history and genealogy. His study of the French Canadian people and their ethnic backgrounds prompted him to join the speakers circuit. He appeared in many places throughout New England, New York State, and the Canadian Provinces. He frequented the Archives of Montreal, Trois Rivieres, and Quebec City. In the process of discovering his own family connections he began to develop methods for others to do the same in a more simplified way. With his ingenuity he created courses for beginners and advance studies in genealogy. His lectures also included in-depth studies of the Acadian Migrations from Canada. He had been privileged to document some 800 linkages, to lecture at some 150 gatherings, and to publicize over 100 articles all with great zeal and mental excitement, all this became his life work. He and his wife Suzanne traveled extensively all over the US, Canada, and several parts of Europe. Achieving the title as a designated Genealogist Emeritus by the Federation Quebecoise des Societies de Genealogie based in Quebec, Canada for his far-reaching work in French genealogy over the past three decades.
He holds life memberships in the following groups and societies: VFW, American Legion, DAV, Am Vets, and the American-Canadian Genealogical Society in Manchester.
He was predeceased by his wife Suzanne (Guimont) Binette in September 2001 and his son, Michael R. Binette, CSP in July 1990.
Members of his family include a daughter, Jocelyn and her husband Nelson T. Currin of Derry; three grandchildren, Todd Cooper and Eric Cooper, both of Belmont, and Shannon Coyle of Derry; five great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; one brother, Bertrand Binette resides in Candia; several nephews and nieces.
A committal service was held in Mt. Calvary Mausoleum on Monday, March 1, 2010, with the Rev. Adrien Longchamps officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to the American-Canadian Genealogical Society, PO Box 6478, Manchester, NH 03108-6478 or Community Health & Hospice, Inc., 780 North Main St, Laconia, NH 03246.