RALEIGH, N.C. – Francis “Frank” Joseph Gooch Jr. was born July 27, 1936, son of Francis Gooch and Eileen (Cash) Gooch. On Sept. 22, 2022 he died peacefully at home in Raleigh, N.C.

Frank graduated from Houlton High School and the University of Maine (1958). In August 1958, he married Eleanor Ingraham Gooch.

During his lifespan, he worked at Filene’s in Boston as a sales manager for Helena Rubinstein, Inc. For 16 years, he was in sales and marketing for Celebrity Inc., with headquarters in New York City, N.Y. and Louisiana. After having two heart attacks at 39 (almost “left his heart in San Francisco”), he made a career change. He and Ellie bought a restaurant/catering company in Palm Springs, Calif. Eventually, they sold the business and moved back to Portland. For the next 15 years, they owned/operated a direct mail franchise(VAL-Pak).

They retired to Sarasota, Fla. in 1999. He gave his time to several organizations in Sarasota, Fla.: Rotary (past president), St. Martha’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Sarasota Jazz Club, and Longwood Athletic Club where he was an avid tennis player.

In August 2021, they moved to Raleigh, N.C. to be closer to family.

Frank leaves behind his wife, Ellie (64 happy years together); five children, Michael (Carole) of California, Patricia (Roly) DesLauriers of North Carolina, Margaret O’Connor of Florida, Timothy of Maine, and Kathleen (Steve) Currie of Pennsylvania; 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; his sisters Elizabeth Gooch and Mary Ford, and sister-in-law, Hollie Ingraham.