Capt. Arthur E. Francis, USN-Ret., of Pequot Trail, Old Mystic, died Wednesday morning at his home after a brief illness. He was 82.
Capt. Francis was born in Cortland, NY in 1921 the son of John P. and Marlea (Eastman) Francis. Raised in New York, he was a 1938 graduate of Central High School in Syracuse. He later received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1942. He then completed Notre Dame University’s Naval Officer Indoctrination School and MIT Naval Architecture Course.
In 1943, he was assigned to the post of Navy Supervisor of Shipbuilding at the Shipbuilding office in Houston before graduating from MIT Graduate Naval Construction and Engineering Course in 1948. He then accepted a position as Ships Superintendent/Assistant Planning & Estimating Superintendent assigned to the Philadelphia Shipyard. He then graduated from the MIT Graduate Nuclear Physics Course in 1951, before serving as Project Officer assigned to the AEC/Navy Headquarters Offices.
His long, distinguished career included over 30 years experience in design, construction, testing, overhaul and refueling of nuclear power plants. In 1968, he retired from a 27-year Engineering Duty naval officer career.In that period, he served as personal assistant Adm. H.G. Rickover and was one of the pioneers in the Submarine Program in the creation of the Nuclear Navy, and was part of the group that designed and built the USS Nautilus, and was a civil service Employee with the Naval Reactors Division of the US Dept. of Energy.
Leaving government service in 1979, he then went on to supervise shop manufacture of special quality fasteners for the nuclear industry and served as Manager of the Regional Office for Project Assistance Corporation (PAC) in New London. He retired in 1988 after 8 years of service.
Capt. Francis was an active member of the Old Mystic Baptist Church where he served on the Board of Business & Finance and was a a familiar face with the church's Wightman Fellowship Group. He was also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma XI, and the Retired Officers Assoc.
He was married to Elizabeth G. “Betty” Blethen Francis in Cambridge, MA on March 8, 1943. Mrs. Francis died October 22, 1999.
Capt. Francis leaves a nephew, Richard Agne of NY, a niece, Rose Fox and her husband David of Florida, and many special friends including Elaine & Bob Ackley of Stonington. He was predeceased by a sister, Esther Francis.
Visitation will be at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic on Thursday from 5-7pm. His funeral service will be conducted at The Old Mystic Baptist Church, Shewville Road, Old Mystic on Friday at 11am. The Rev. Lisabeth M. Gustafson, Pastor will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.
Donations in his memory may be made to Building Blocks Childcare, Old Mystic Baptist Church, PO Box 125, Old Mystic T 06372.