Fancis W. Richmond

Francis W. “Fran” Richmond, 83, of 900 Market St., (Kepler Condos), died Wednesday October 17, 2007, at the Cleveland Clinic, from complications, after successful by-pass surgery three weeks ago.

Fran was born in McKeesport, May 11, 1924, a son of the late Rev. Charles F. and Mildred Whittier Richmond.  He married Betty Ann Hubbell, January 31, 1951, and she survives.

He was a graduate of Bucksport, Maine, High School in 1942 and Allegheny College in 1949.  During World War II he was a sergeant serving as a combat medic with the Sixth Infantry in New Guinea and Luzon in the Philippine Islands.

A disc jockey and continuity writer in the early days of radio station WMGW, Richmond later became commercial manager and play-by-play announcer for broadcasts of Meadville High School and Allegheny College football and basketball games.  Much of Meadville listened regularly to his nightly 6:00 Avisco newcast for five years.

He went to work for the late Bill Bainbridge as a real estate salesman in 1953.  In 1955 he opened Richmond Real Estate.  He was a certified real estate broker and a state certified residential appraiser.  For fifteen years he taught real estate appraisal classes for the Penn State Extension program.  A past president of the Greater Meadville Board of Realtors, and a founder of the local Multi-list Service, he was voted Realtor of the Year in 1986.  ERA-Richmond Estate was sold to Linda Peters in 1989.

Fran was active in the Meadville Community Theater, appearing in more than twenty plays at MCT and the Academy Theater.   Some of his favorite roles were Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey,” Weller in “The Gin Game,” and Ben Franklin in “1776.”  He received the prestigious Kit Wagner award in 2000.

For more than fifteen years, Richmond enjoyed being a weekly “Grandpa Reader,” first for his wife’s third grade class, for twelve years for Kathy Powell’s second grade at First District, and most recently for Mrs. Costello’s class.

Active in community affairs, Richmond was elected to City Council in 1989, defeated in 1993, appointed to a vacancy in 1994, and re-elected in 1995, retiring in 1999.  For 25 years he was chairman of the Meadville Market Authority, and instrumental in keeping the Market House space from becoming a parking lot.  He also served on the boards of the YMCA, Crawford County Development Corporation, the Recreation Authority, and the Drug and Alcohol Commission.  He was a long time member of the Meadville Kiwanis Club.

He was an active member of the Meadville Unitarian Universalist Church, most recently as chairman of the Worship Committee.

Survivors in addition to his wife of 56 years, include 2 daughters, Ruth Richmond of Bow, WA, and Kathy Richmond of Pittsburgh, 2 sons, Kent H. Richmond of Chicago, and Mark W. Richmond of Fairview, 2 grandchildren, Jonathan and Allison Richmond, 2 brothers, Stanley Richmond of New Bern, NC, and Stephen Richmond of Saco, ME and Lithia, FL, and also nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Phillip Richmond.

Following cremation, burial will be in Greendale Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at a date and time to announced at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 346 Chestnut St. Meadville, with the Rev. Kate Walker, pastor, officiating.

The family suggests that memorial tributes may be made to the Unitarian Church, 346 Chestnut St. or Allegheny College 520 N. Main St. Meadville, PA 16335

Arrangements are under direction of Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut St., Meadville, PA.