The second youngest of 7 kids—Earnest, Burt, Norman, Pat, Betty, Fran, and Esther Marie (who passed away at 15 months)—he proved to be resilient early on. At 2 years old, he lost his left arm playing by the train tracks near his childhood home (or in a spat with an alligator, depending on who you ask). There exists only one known photo of Fran with both arms. He learned quickly that it wasn’t going to stop him from doing everything anyone else could do, like learning to tie his own shoes when his mother said she was “done doing it for him!”
In his teen years, he developed a keen interest in sports and academics, which he carried throughout his life. He loved “shining” for deer in the forest with friends and took advantage of the snowy Upper Peninsula, developing a talent for skiing and ski jumping.
Fran received a Biology degree from Northern Michigan University—the first of his siblings to attend and graduate college. A lifelong learner, Fran continued his education over the years with advanced training in marine biology, conservation (agriculture), and math.
His college years were packed with extracurriculars including joining a fraternity and sports, as part of the track team he ran a 4:23-mile. He even attended the occasional school dance. During his senior year, he attended a dance and met Irene Matero, who would become his first wife (and whose mother introduced him to his favorite food: Finnish pasties). Fran and Irene married after graduation and started their family, welcoming four children: Diane, Denise, David, and Daniel.
Fran understood the value of persisting through tough times—after putting himself through college he worked hard to provide for his growing family. In 1955, Fran began his long, illustrious teaching and coaching career in Martin, Michigan. The family shared many happy memories in Martin. In the mid 1960s, however, Irene’s doctors advised them to move to a dry climate due to her mounting health concerns. Fran was determined. He sent many applications to schools in California and secured a teaching position at Riverdale High School just outside of Fresno. The St. Andrew family arrived at their newly purchased home in the sweltering Riverdale heat in the summer of 1966. Fran and the children did everything they could during those years to help Irene. She regrettably passed away in 1972.
A couple years later, Fran made a call to United Airlines and a representative named Freda answered. They hit it off. After a few tries, Freda finally agreed to go dancing at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California. Shortly after, in 1973, the two wed in Alameda, California and blended their two families with Freda’s children John and Bill. They welcomed their daughter, Carol, in 1974.
Throughout their 49 year marriage, Fran and Freda were two peas in a pod. They shared a love of traveling and explored nearly half of the U.S. by camping or by motorhome. The trips they cherished most were to see family in Michigan and the mountains nearest to Riverdale, including Yosemite Lake, with the family each summer. Fran and Freda made friends everywhere they went.
Teaching and coaching brought Fran some of the greatest joys of his life. He taught Biology and Math to thousands of students, including most of his children at Riverdale High School and Freda at West Hills Community College. Even decades later, former students would eagerly greet him around town—notably, the Costco in Fresno. He was a confident teacher (except for the time he just about lost his hair as Denise’s driving instructor) who had high standards for his students. No exceptions.
Any student of Mr. St. Andrew’s knew: he was an excellent teacher, but he was a mighty fine coach, too. He began his coaching career in Michigan, rising to Athletic Director for Martin High School, and in Riverdale, Fran’s coaching career for the Riverdale Cowboys flourished. A few of his coaching accolades include:
- 1964: winning the AAA Michigan state high school football championship
- 1972: being selected California High School Football "Coach of the Year"
- 1974: being selected County Head Coach of Fresno County for the City/County All-Star football game. This was one of the highlights of his coaching career and one of the biggest honors a Central Valley high school coach could receive.
- Winning the East Sierra football league championship 6 out of the 10 years he coached the team.
- As Head Track Coach of the Riverdale High School track team, school records were set under his leadership that, to this day, still stand.
Several of Fran’s track and football players went on to lead accomplished careers themselves: Alan Autry Jr., professional football player, actor, and former Mayor of Fresno; Roger George, a NCAA Decathlon champion and an alternate on the 1976 Olympic Decathlon Team; and JD Williams, Defensive Backs Coach at Fresno State and former professional football player.
Fran’s impact extended beyond the field, as well. After track meets, he made sure all his track team members made it home, sometimes getting himself home very late. After he left coaching full-time, he consulted for other coaches, advising them on techniques and plays. He also performed stats for basketball games until retirement in 1993.
Fran and Freda fulfilled their lifelong dream of moving to the mountain community of North Fork near Bass Lake in 2000. They built their home in the Teaford Meadow Lakes area where they hosted countless barbecues with their children, grandchildren, and friends from near and far. They spent hours chatting with neighbors and enjoying a well-deserved slower lifestyle. Fran would often say, “I pinch myself, I feel like I am on vacation every day,” while sipping on his morning coffee, evening glass of red wine on the deck, or enjoying a Lindt Lindor chocolate truffle after dinner.
But, it wasn’t all slow! A lifetime of sports prepared him for his daily walks, a Turkey Trot 5K in 2014, and hikes up Goat Mountain with neighbors. Many walking partners will attest: he was difficult to keep up with!
Fran was a gregarious, caring, intelligent man who let nothing stop him from living a full and meaningful life.
Francis Lee St. Andrew passed away on February 14, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Freda St. Andrew, his children, Diane, Denise, David, Daniel, and Carol, stepsons, John and Bill, and his grandchildren, Annaliisa, Aaron, Geena, Irene, Abigail, AJ, and Michael.
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In their own words, here is how his family would describe him:
Diane: My dad was non-judgemental, gregarious, and “never met a stranger”. He loved his family and, following retirement, was a very important part of his life.
Denise: He had the gift of the gab; he was very social. He was a provider/family man, old school. Intelligent teacher and coach. Stubborn!
David: He was a kind, caring man who would give an appendage if he thought it would help. He loved people. He loved to teach and help people learn, I think because he really wanted to see people be their best. “Grandpa” had a love for fun stuff, which explains his love for sports. I have never met anyone that understands how to play football and basketball as much as Dad. Not to physically play but how to play the game, what to do, how to do it, when to do it, in addition to the strategy. I owe the good parts of my character to my dad.
Dan: The experiences I had with my father growing up influenced me becoming a coach. I will miss calling him after my track meets and sharing all the highlights.
Carol: He never let the fact that he had one arm set him back. He was determined to conquer any obstacle. When people doubted him, he proved them wrong. He had a thirst for knowledge. He loved to learn. He read textbooks and trade magazines (PopularScenice) for fun. Everywhere he went, he knew someone. That is how many lives he touched. Many of my friends adopted him as “grandpa”. He was very social. When we would go camping, he’d go for walks and end up finding people to just chat with and before you knew it, the new group was hanging out at events, campfire nights, and shared potluck dinners. He had a sense of humor. He would joke of how he lost his arm, no one ever knowing the true story.
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