Retired Chief, Chelsea Police Department, Francis J. Garvin passed away on Tuesday, July 12th, 2021, after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 74 years of age.
Son of the late Francis and Bridget Garvin (Kelly), Frank is predeceased by his younger sister Jacquelynn. He is survived by his loving aunts Rose, Rita and Betty Kelly.
Despite the ravaging effects of Alzheimer’s, Frank never forgot how much he loved his siblings, Gail, Sherry, husband Roy, Edward, wife Katie, and Jacquelynn. He is survived by his beloved wife Anne Marie and his only son, Brendan, who Frank would always say was his favorite son.
Frank was born on Washington Street in Charlestown and after his father’s passing, was raised by his grandmother and his aunts and uncles on Austin Street. He spent much of his youth just being a regular Charlestown kid during the early 1960’s. With the guiding hand of his uncles Bernie, Jackie, and Phil, Frank excelled at football. He played Boston Park League Football and starred as quarterback for both the Charlestown Townies and their cross-town rivals, The Killilea Club. On one occasion, Frank was having a game of a lifetime, throwing five touchdown passes in the first half against the Roxbury Titans. The Titans took umbrage with Frank’s performance and subsequently started a bench-clearing brawl at the half resulting in such a chaotic scene that the game had to be cancelled.
After being hired by the Chelsea Police in 1974 and starting a family, Frank decided to return to school to pursue his law degree, which he obtained in 1994. Starting as a patrolman, Frank rose through the ranks and was eventually promoted to Chief of the Chelsea Police in 2001. A sort of renaissance man, Frank also graduated from the 197th class of the FBI Academy in 1995. After retiring from the police force in 2007, Frank’s passion for public service and law enforcement led him to take a job as an investigator with the MGH Police. In this spirit of giving back to his community, Frank was also a professor at Bunker Hill Community College, teaching Criminal Justice classes in his spare time.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Frank decided his next conquest would be Hollywood. Early on, Frank made his name on the stage of The Mission Hill Theatre Group, starring in such shows as “The Odd Couple” and “Plaza Suite”. Frank went on to make his television debut on the Showtime hit “The Brotherhood.” This speaking part earned him admittance into the Screen Actors Guild. It was this sort of effortless acting that caught the eye of Ben Affleck and eventually Frank was cast in, “The Town” as a Boston Police Captain, which he would jokingly remark was sort of a demotion after being Chief of Police for so many years. Despite the demotion by the elder Affleck, Frank also stared in “Manchester by the Sea” directed by the younger, less talented Affleck, Casey.
Frank cherished the love and support from his family during his illness and will never forget Jolie, Chris, Kelsey, Delaney, Shannon, Larry, Jessica, Molly, Shannon and the late Jonathan Greatorex. Frank was eternally grateful to Jackie Urbaczewski for covering for him that one Christmas Eve but swore that Jackie still owes him money…
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Frank's Funeral on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 10 A.M. from The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown followed by his Funeral Mass in St. Francis De Sales Church, 313 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown at 11 A.M.. His burial will be private. His visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 from 4 to 7 P.M. in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Frank’s name to:
Charlestown Boys & Girls Club
15 Green St.
Charlestown, MA 02129