Francis Christopher Fagan

Francis Christopher “Frank” Fagan, 77, passed away on August 6, 2026, in Athens, Georgia. Born May 3, 1949, in New Haven, Connecticut, Frank lived a life centered on family, hard work, and friendship.

Frank was the son of George and Margaret “Peg” Fagan (née Collins) and the oldest of four children. He grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Cheshire Academy in Cheshire in 1967, where he was an accomplished athlete who played soccer and basketball.

Following high school, Frank enlisted in the United States Navy and served from 1968 to 1972. As an aviation electrician, he repaired helicopters and spent much of his service aboard ships operating in the Mediterranean and Middle East. His time in the Navy remained an enduring source of pride throughout his life.

After leaving the Navy, Frank became a licensed journeyman electrician in Connecticut and later joined Stanley Bostitch, where he spent 23 years in facilities maintenance and management. After holding leadership positions with other manufacturing companies, he became facilities manager for B-Way Corporation’s plant in Homerville, Georgia, where he worked for 14 years.

Throughout his professional life, Frank was respected not simply for what he knew, but for the way he treated people. He was a loyal friend and mentor, an astute judge of character, and a man who valued integrity above nearly everything else. His highest compliment was to call someone a “stand-up person” – someone who worked hard, kept their word, and could be counted upon. He respected people who gave him an honest answer even when it was not the answer he wanted to hear, and he tried to live by those same standards himself.

For all that Frank accomplished professionally, nothing mattered more to him than his family. He and his wife, Patricia Jean “Pat” Fagan (née Comiskey), were married on January 2, 1971, and celebrated 55 years of marriage together. Though Frank worked hard throughout his life, some of his family’s fondest memories came during quieter moments at home, including the big breakfasts he loved to cook for everyone on weekends.

He took tremendous pride in his children and grandchildren, not only in their accomplishments but in the people they became. Frank made a point of learning about their interests, especially subjects and activities entirely unfamiliar to him. His interest was genuine, his encouragement unwavering, and his pride in them immeasurable.

Golf was Frank’s lifelong passion. He recalled days growing up in Madison, Connecticut when he would play as many as 36 holes. Over the years, the game took him to acclaimed courses around the country, including Muirfield Village, TPC Sawgrass, and Double Eagle. He was a proud member of Brookstone Country Club in Acworth, Georgia, and later Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta.

What Frank treasured most about golf, however, was the people. He especially loved playing with his brothers and often spoke about the friendships and camaraderie he found at Kinderlou, a group of people he regarded among the very best he had known. One of his proudest golf memories came when he and his brother Mike rallied from behind to win their flight in a Kinderlou Member-Guest tournament playoff. Although Frank would never have described himself as a scratch golfer, he also accomplished something most golfers could only dream of: seven holes-in-one.

Gregarious and uplifting by nature, Frank could strike up a conversation with a stranger and soon make a new friend. He enjoyed people from all walks of life, and that curiosity extended to the world around him. His travels took him throughout Europe and to Japan and Australia, and he enthusiastically tried new foods wherever he went. He encouraged his children to approach life in much the same way: be curious, try something unfamiliar, and remain open to what the world and its people might teach you.

A devoted sports fan, Frank remained loyal to the Boston teams of his New England roots while also developing an affection for the Atlanta Braves. One of his favorite memories was attending Game 6 of the 1995 World Series and watching the Braves capture the championship.

Frank brought determination and perseverance to the greatest challenge of his later years. For 15 years, he lived with Parkinson’s disease, facing its progression with dignity and grace. He never allowed the disease to diminish his devotion to his family or his interest in their lives. Through it all, he remained their supporter, their encourager, and one of their greatest believers.

Frank is survived by his wife, Pat; his son, Christopher Fagan, and daughter-in-law, Christine Fagan, of Athens, Georgia; his daughter, Jennifer Baker, of Murphy, North Carolina; and three grandchildren, Hannah Baker of Murphy, and Mary Anne Fagan and Frank Fagan of Athens. He is also survived by his brother, Thomas Fagan of Madison, Connecticut; his sister, Virginia Boddie of Weymouth, Massachusetts; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Peg Fagan, and his brother, G. Michael Fagan of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Frank’s life can be measured in many ways: 55 years of marriage, a proud Navy career, decades of professional leadership, seven holes-in-one, places traveled, friendships made, and challenges overcome. But those who knew him best will remember something simpler. He loved his family without reservation. He worked hard. He was interested in people. He valued honesty and character. He remained curious about the world. And he believed that the people he loved were capable of extraordinary things. By the standard Frank himself valued most, he was a stand-up person.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be considered to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

A visitation will be held Thursday, August 13, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 at Lord & Stephens Funeral Home WEST. 

Lord & Stephens Funeral Home WEST has been entrusted with arrangements.