Mr. Francis Frederick LaPlante Obituary (1927

ATTLEBORO - Francis Frederick LaPlante, 87 of Attleboro died peacefully with family at his side on Saturday May 2, 2015. Fran grew up nomadically moving up and down the east coast as his father, a carpenter followed construction work during and after the Great Depression. The family settled on a farm in Mansfield in 1943. A Mansfield High School graduate (class of 1946), the 5’6” oldest son of French Canadian immigrants played varsity basketball and baseball and was the President of his senior class. He excelled academically, as his parents with a 3rd grade level education encouraged him to get the best education achievable. He took advantage of the G.I. Bill and graduated with honors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1954 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He reached the level of Sergeant in the U.S. Army during his military service which included time in Japan following World War II and service later during the Korean War. At the Mansfield Public Library, he met his bride of over 59 years, Carla Jean DePrizio and asked her to go dancing. The devout Catholics and longtime parishioners of St. John’s married on Oct 1st, 1955 and had 7 sons: Stephen LaPlante, of Walpole MA; Mark LaPlante (wife Michelle LaPlante), Cumming GA; David LaPlante, (widower of Brenda LaPlante), Kingston MA; Greg LaPlante (wife Darlene LaPlante), Rumford RI; James LaPlante (wife Deborah Race), Arlington MA; Robert LaPlante, Brighton MA; Jeffrey LaPlante (wife Veronica LaPlante), North Attleboro MA. His 40 Year Career in Real Estate Development and Construction included stops at Vappi Company construction, Forest City Enterprises, and his own firm: LaPlante Mastropieri Construction. He was most proud of his 16 year experience as Vice President of National Medical Care, supervising the construction of over 200 kidney dialysis centers (now called Fresenius Dialysis Centers) throughout North America as well as Spain, Portugal, and China that today serve thousands of patients of kidney disease. His construction experience was applied to volunteer work as the Chairman of the Attleboro School building committee for several years during the expansion of Attleboro High School and development of Hyman Fine and Hill Roberts Schools. In retirement, Fran enjoyed summers on Cape Cod (even though he wasn’t a fan of the beach) because of the family gatherings and spending time with his children, 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He was always ready for a card game. Fran loved trivia contests and would typically win as a result of voracious reading of historical and political works, as well as suspense novels. Fran was a builder in career and his hobbies. He enjoyed building elaborate model airplanes, woodworking projects, and puzzles. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Tuesday, May 5th, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck St., Attleboro. A funeral will be conducted on Wednesday, May 6th, at 9 a.m. from the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, at 10 a.m., in St. John the Evangelist Church, 133 North Main St., Attleboro. Burial with military honors will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Attleboro, MA.