Francis Andrew Bassett Collingwood, Ontario Obituary

Francis Andrew Bassett

Francis Andrew (Frandy aka Frank) Bassett Born November 11, 1929 in Collingwood. Died June 28, 2016 at Sunset Manor Collingwood with his daughter by his side. Son of Francis Alvin Bassett of Collingwood and Mildred Buchanan Bassett of Philadelphia. Married July 10, 1954 to Marilyn Kulow Bassett of Collingwood. Predeceased by his parents, his wife and his sister Constance Bassett Amos. Survived by his daughter Barbara Bassett (Linda Brault) of Brampton, ON, his sister Agnes Jane Bassett of Fort Myers Beach Florida and his eight nieces and nephews. As a Collingwood east-ender Frandy attended Connaught Public School until 1936 at which time, with the passing of his father his mother moved the family to Philadelphia then to Florida where he graduated from Fort Myers High school in 1947. Shortly afterward he returned to Collingwood and joined his grandmother in running the family business, Dominion Engineers Supply Company Limited. He headed the company from 1966 until his retirement in 1981. During his career as a Shell Canada ‘jobber,’ Frandy received numerous sales awards from Shell Canada. Frandy enjoyed flying. In the late 1940s he obtained his pilot’s license flying small airplanes out of Page Field Fort Myers Florida and later the 1950s airfield at Stayner, Ontario. He gave up flying after the birth of his daughter but enjoyed many years teaching weather, etc. to Collingwood air cadets. He and Marilyn were civilian `plane-spotters’ for the Royal Canadian Air Force Ground Observer Corps during the Cold War. In 1963-64 Frandy and Marilyn built an A-frame cottage in Muskoka at Go Home Lake (Four Seasons Bay). The water-access cottage was Frandy’s weekend refuge for many summers. In his younger years Frandy was an avid sailor. Childhood summers were spent sailing with his sisters on Barnegat Bay New Jersey and in Florida. In Canada he sailed with his buddies at Craigleith; and enjoyed racing in the Albacore class sail-boat annual regattas at Lake Rosseau. After first learning to snow ski at Collingwood Ski Club in the early 1960s, Frandy joined Alpine Ski Club where he enjoyed skiing with his family until 1981 after which time he became a regular snow bird spending most winters in Florida. Frandy and Marilyn were members of Trinity United Church, Collingwood for forty years before joining the congregation of All Saints Anglican Church, Collingwood. They lived on Minnesota St for 46 years until, with Marilyn’s failing health, they moved one street over to St Paul Street and Callary Cres in June 2000. Marilyn passed away in December 2001. In 2003 Frandy fulfilled his dream of sailing around the world aboard a tramp steamer, aka a working freighter/multipurpose vessel. The passage took four months and the ship was The Bank Line’s “Speybank.” A year later Frandy sailed throughout the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway aboard “Ziemia Lodzka,” an ocean going bulk carrier owned by The Polish Steamship Company. We are deeply indebted to Lynne Abramoff his loving and devoted caregiver and to all the staff of Sunset Manor for their support and patience. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday July 6, 2016 at Fawcett Funeral Home, 82 Pine St. Collingwood, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Frandy may be made to Collingwood General and Marine Hospital or Hospice Georgian Triangle.
November 11, 1929 - June 28, 201611/11/192906/28/2016
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Obituary

Francis Andrew (Frandy aka Frank) Bassett Born November 11, 1929 in Collingwood. Died June 28, 2016 at Sunset Manor Collingwood with his daughter by his side. Son of Francis Alvin Bassett of Collingwood and Mildred Buchanan Bassett of Philadelphia. Married July 10, 1954 to Marilyn Kulow Bassett of Collingwood. Predeceased by his parents, his wife and his sister Constance Bassett Amos. Survived by his daughter Barbara Bassett (Linda Brault) of Brampton, ON, his sister Agnes Jane Bassett of Fort Myers Beach Florida and his eight nieces and nephews. As a Collingwood east-ender Frandy attended Connaught Public School until 1936 at which time, with the passing of his father his mother moved the family to Philadelphia then to Florida where he graduated from Fort Myers High school in 1947. Shortly afterward he returned to Collingwood and joined his grandmother in running the family business, Dominion Engineers Supply Company Limited. He headed the company from 1966 until his retirement in 1981. During his career as a Shell Canada ‘jobber,’ Frandy received numerous sales awards from Shell Canada. Frandy enjoyed flying. In the late 1940s he obtained his pilot’s license flying small airplanes out of Page Field Fort Myers Florida and later the 1950s airfield at Stayner, Ontario. He gave up flying after the birth of his daughter but enjoyed many years teaching weather, etc. to Collingwood air cadets. He and Marilyn were civilian `plane-spotters’ for the Royal Canadian Air Force Ground Observer Corps during the Cold War. In 1963-64 Frandy and Marilyn built an A-frame cottage in Muskoka at Go Home Lake (Four Seasons Bay). The water-access cottage was Frandy’s weekend refuge for many summers. In his younger years Frandy was an avid sailor. Childhood summers were spent sailing with his sisters on Barnegat Bay New Jersey and in Florida. In Canada he sailed with his buddies at Craigleith; and enjoyed racing in the Albacore class sail-boat annual regattas at Lake Rosseau. After first learning to snow ski at Collingwood Ski Club in the early 1960s, Frandy joined Alpine Ski Club where he enjoyed skiing with his family until 1981 after which time he became a regular snow bird spending most winters in Florida. Frandy and Marilyn were members of Trinity United Church, Collingwood for forty years before joining the congregation of All Saints Anglican Church, Collingwood. They lived on Minnesota St for 46 years until, with Marilyn’s failing health, they moved one street over to St Paul Street and Callary Cres in June 2000. Marilyn passed away in December 2001. In 2003 Frandy fulfilled his dream of sailing around the world aboard a tramp steamer, aka a working freighter/multipurpose vessel. The passage took four months and the ship was The Bank Line’s “Speybank.” A year later Frandy sailed throughout the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway aboard “Ziemia Lodzka,” an ocean going bulk carrier owned by The Polish Steamship Company. We are deeply indebted to Lynne Abramoff his loving and devoted caregiver and to all the staff of Sunset Manor for their support and patience. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday July 6, 2016 at Fawcett Funeral Home, 82 Pine St. Collingwood, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Frandy may be made to Collingwood General and Marine Hospital or Hospice Georgian Triangle.

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Events

Jul
06
Service
Wednesday, July 06 2016
11:00 AM
Fawcett Funeral Homes - Collingwood Chapel
82 Pine Street
COLLINGWOOD, ON L9Y 2N7
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