I am so grateful to Mr. France for creating a school with a  inclusive culture that valued each child as a unique individual and celebrated diversity. It is lovely for children to feel safe and loved at school and so excited about learning. Mr. France was an excellent role model for the children. He was a clear communicator and imparted his values of hard work, courage and perseverance. 

I am usually pretty good with words, but today, find myself at a loss, unable to truly describe in words the magnitude of just what a profound influence Mr. France was in my life and how dear he has always been to me.  Blessed to know him both inside and outside of school, my life has been grounded and shaped by his relentless demand that we build good character and integrity as human beings and always do our best. I am eternally grateful that he set a  high standard and held values and morals as important as a quality education. I am forever grateful,  Mr France, for the incredible learning environment you created for all of us and for the powerful influence and exceptional mentor you proved to be. Memories of your teasing, as well as inspiring me, will forever make me smile, and I will have a hot dog in your honor this week! ( only you and my parents will likely recall that story) Meanwhile, forever grateful and with much love and appreciation, Jennifer Case Nevarez (aka Goggles, as you use to call me when I was young)

Mr. Frank France.
Mr. France was a bright light spreading his love through a prism allowing all colors to acknowledge that they not only exist but were aspects of the myriad ways he loved people and inspired so many children.
Mr. Frank’s Love was his essence, and he shined this light on so many, inspiring children, teachers, parents, and all he came in contact with.
Mr. Frank France’s Light is and will continue to shine influencing all whoever came in contact with him and his bright shining light of love and inspiration. 
And, thank you Mr. France for shining your light on me.
I loved you then, and I love you now, and I will love you in the future.
Peace and Love,
Neal and Marilyn Villarrubia.


Frank France was a special man. He was Head Master when our children were attending Kehoe-France. It was a wonderful school and the teachers were terrific. Frank was a good Catholic and true to God and his Country. He will be missed by many.
Sincerely,
Peggy Duffel Simmons

Mr. Frank was an inspiration to all of us in business and public life.  Always professional - always smiling - always positive - always dressed appropriately.  He was a true southern gentleman.  He raised some great kids and influenced thousands of young lives at Kehoe France.  He left this earth way better than he found it.  I often asked Kyle, "How is your Dad doing?"  And Kyle would respond, "Jim, he is unbelievable.  He is unstoppable.  He went to dinner last night and was calling me about work first thing this morning. " And that was happening just months ago.  Thanks Mr. Frank - you will be missed. 

Our family had a long and happy relationship with the France family.  Many times we remarked that Frank had the amazing ability to become semi-members of the many families with whom he interacted.  For example,  we have photos of the 1997 LSU medical center graduation.  There, in our group family photos taken during the ceremony, sits Frank.  
May memories of happy time bring your comfort ; hugs and God bless.

We, as so many others, are beyond grateful for the lessons learned........academic, character, spiritual, by our children and for the great start in life they received by attending Kehoe-France and by being guided by the France family led by Mr. France.   We are appreciative of the continuing interest and support Mr. France gave to all his students, well beyond their time at Kehoe-France.   He had an enduring influence on so many lives.  We are forever thankful.   Definitely a life well lived.
  

So sorry to hear about Frank France--really liked and respected him.  In junior high at NOA in the 50's, had a kind of respectfull fear of him. Got to know him a little differently in high school, and saw him and wife Pat a lot away from school when I was driving the train in Audubon Park one summer and they were doing their Kehoe France Day Camp there. Later,when my boys started school at the new Kehoe France Metairie campus in early 70's around time I was appointed dir/chief probation officer of Orleans Juvenile Court, we had many good talks at pta and open house. 'Twas nice to get to know him on adult level. He wrote me an amazing reference letter for Federal Probation and told the FBI agents doing my background investigation, they couldn't find a better candidate. 
   When he received a prestigious award from Loyola a few years ago, I wrote him a long letter Thanking him for teaching me so many things in and out of the class room, and helping me build character to make my path in life.  And,received a long reply  from him saying how proud he was of me.  It was never about Frank, it was always about the other person.  Sure glad a rebellious kid like  me  had a teacher--later friend--like him.
   Frank France came from humble beginings, rose to become a Great educator, leader, and human being--always full of enthusiasm and can do spirit.  He truly wanted everyone to be the best they can, not necessarily in the sense of an A student but as a human being.  And, he led by example.                                                                     
                  Bill  McGuire,  Black Mountain,NC

Mr. France was for me one of the most unforgetable characters I will ever meet. He loved his Teresian Sisters, and was very proud of his Teresian elementary education. He once shared with me that a good part of the man he had become he owed it to the Sisters who taught him. Out of his gratitude he became one of our benefactors, always ready to lend a hand whenever a need arose. The last time I saw him was at our Rock-n-Bowl event two years ago. He felt he needed to be present to show his love and support. I will never forget you, Mr. France. You were a very special person. May the good Lord grant you the new life He promised to those who loved Him and cared for others.

Frank A. France was the epitome of a fine immigrant's son who lived and learned and gave back to America the greatest gift those of us who knew he and Pat could be given, the gift of an exemplary education for our children .
  The broadness and the depth, not just book learning , but the formation of character  , personal  responsibility , respect, and love of God and country.
Telling parents that homework and studying  was the responsibility of the 
student only, not the parent!!! The
Consequences always remained with
the KF student and those students have thrived  and moved on prepared for further scholastic and life challenges.
    What a gift!!! Frank we love you. Your earthly life is over, your work is done.
May you forever rest in joy and peace.

I will have Frank and all of you, his family, in my prayers. The first thing I think of when I think of him is the sometimes long and sometimes shorter talks we would have when I went on campus to see students. I always enjoyed 'solving world problems' with him ... he was an amazing and special man who shared his Faith and his philosophy. He will be missed.
Love,
Mary T

     Frank France and his wife Pat and their boys have always been part of my family. My mother Belle taught school there, my brother and I learned to swim there, I was a camp counselor there, and both my children went to elementary school and summer camp at Kehoe France Metairie.
     When my brother Hank died at a young age, the France family established an award in his honor. My parents and I will always appreciate that remembrance, and over the years, my parents were honored to attend the award ceremony and meet the wonderful young people who would win it.
     When my father was dying from cancer, Frank supported my family and visited more than once. My father greatly appreciated his kindness and comfort. 
     I know that Frank's sons carry on this tradition of honor, respect, and caring in their own lives and in the Kehoe France schools.  That will always be the legacy they give to their parents.

Frank France was my teacher in the 6th through 8th grades, the last years he taught at New Orleans Academy.  His influence on my life was profound.  To this day I frequently think to myself, "What would Mr. France say?" Back in the 1980s, many years afterward, I actually sat down and wrote him a sincere letter of thanks for all the positive things I learned from him. He called to thank me for the letter, and I recall the great conversation we had. He brimmed with that old familiar boundless enthusiasm for everything life had to offer. 

He was outspoken, charismatic, stern but compassionate, highly opinionated, forceful and passionate in is beliefs, unafraid to say what he thought, and completely committed to building character in young people during their most formative years. 

Politically Frank was a committed die-hard Democrat and was completely enthralled by Jack Kennedy. After Kennedy's assassination, I noticed a palpable negative change in Frank's personality. Soon thereafter he left N.O.A. to fully commit his efforts to build the Kehoe France School. But I always wondered how his politics may have evolved during those tumultuous years. I was much surprised to see he had contributed to George W. Bush against Al Gore. I'm sure he died a Democrat, but his principles were always so uncompromisingly high that he would never suffer fools of any political stripe.

I often think of his many stories about his youth growing up in the French Quarter and all the history that surrounded him as well as his fascinating family background. He, like me, had a very acute appreciation for history in all its manifestations. I remember discussing this briefly with his son, Kyle, at one of the Civil War Round Table events I used to attend. Kyle certainly had that bug too.

I last saw him briefly a few years back when he attended an all-class reunion of N.O.A. students. He was just as I had always remembered him. I'll never stop thinking about him.

I met Frank about 35 years ago when I started working with his son Kyle on Senator Russell Long’s staff. From almost the first time I met Kyle, he talked to me about his dad. It was evident from the beginning of my friendship with Kyle that he loved and worshipped his father. When I finally met Frank sometime in 1985 or 1986, I immediately understood why. Frank had a rare kind of charisma. I immediately loved him for how he (and Pat) welcomed me into his big family and made me feel completely at home in his presence. 

When I think about Frank, I remember his remarkable ability to carry on a conversation for an hour and never speak about himself. He always wanted to know about me and Cindy, whom he knew even before Cindy and I met. (They worked out at the same gym in Metairie and he was always so kind and sweet to her.) Frank was endlessly fascinated by the lives and experiences of others. We should all strive to be more like that.  

Frank also loved to laugh and tell great, funny stories. I never spent time with him that I didn’t laugh because he was a joyous person.  

More than anything, I saw how much he loved his family — his children, grandchildren, and other loved ones. Family was everything to him and is his greatest legacy. 

Rest In Peace, dear friend.

I met Mr. Frank in the 1980s when I joined the board of our alma mater, Holy Cross. He and my dad were longtime friends, and he immediately took me under his wing and mentored me by showing me the proper role of a board member. Mr. Frank taught me much more over the years and led by example. His example was always one of integrity, selflessness, joyful service, and loyalty. Through the years whenever we saw each other it was always like a homecoming. We will all miss him, but if we carry him in our hearts his kindness and wisdom will always be with us. God bless you, Mr. Frank. You are a true Holy Cross Man.

Seeing Mr. France walk around the Kehoe-France campus was a lot like coming across Walt Disney in Disneyland... All of a sudden there he is - the man who created this place, who taught us about respect and treating others with kindness, the man who accepted you as his extended family and provided an environment to learn and grow. Every year we looked forward to celebrating his birthday in the gym and watching him blow out those candles. We looked forward to getting those “Mr. France hugs” and greeting him each morning. Mr. France truly transformed school into something much more than a place to learn - it was a second home. That’s what made my time and education at Kehoe invaluable. 

Thank you Mr. France for instilling the importance of tradition, family, and discipline into our lives.  ❤️

Mr. Frank, a man filled with compassion to help so many to reach their potential. A man with a purpose and a plan. A man that leaves a great legacy through his family, friends and to everyone he came in contact with, including us. His heart shows through in everything he has touched in his life! We are blessed to be apart of the France family! 

The entire staff at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home wishes to express our sincere condolences. 

OBITUARY

Frank Andrew France, Sr.

21 September, 1925 – 11 June, 2019

Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries

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