Obituary of Francis Patrick Darcy

Francis "Frank" Patrick Darcy Sr., 94 - Francis "Frank" Patrick Darcy Sr., 94, of West Orange passed away on Friday December 27, 2013 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday December 31, 2013 at The Dangler Funeral Home of West Orange, 340 Main Street West Orange at 8:30 AM. Then to Our Lady of the Lake Church, Lakeside Ave. in Verona for the Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. VISITING WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY FROM 2:00 TO 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Franks name to Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center 95 Old Short Hills Road, 1st Fl West Orange, NJ 07052. Frank was born in Providence, RI, raised in County Leitrim, Ireland, returning to and living in Providence and East Orange before moving to West Orange 45 years ago. Frank was educated in the National School and Irish Christian Brothers School. He was an excellent student and outstanding athlete in Gaelic Football. Frank's education in America included Labor Management School Rutgers University, Machinist Leadership School and Union Officers Training at Rutgers, Labor Law & Grievance procedures and Union Organizing at St. Peter's College. He also attended courses in labor & politics at Penn State University. Frank received an Honorary Associates Degree from the Essex County College in 1987. This was awarded for applied Science in Human & Social Services. Frank was a highly skilled machinist working for Gould & Eberhardt Co., Walter Scott Co., Tromers Brew Co., Ball Brew Co., Rheingold Brew Co. & the Pabst Brew Co. and Brown & Sharp Tool Co., where putting his job on the line , Frank was instrumental in the unionization of his co-workers into the International Association of Machinist Union Local 1142. Joining Local 340 IAM while at Gould & Everhardt where he soon became Shop Steward, then ascending to the Executive Board, Treasurer, Vice President and for the next 35 years he served as their President. Frank was also Chair of their Political Action Committee. He was Delegate & Executive Board Member of IAM District #15 NY, Vice President of the NJ State Council of Machinist. In 1960 he was elected to be a Representative at the National Convention and had served every year since. He has been a delegate to the State AFL-CIO Legislative Conference for over 40 years. Frank also served on the Machine Trades Review Committee for the Essex County Vocational Schools, The Rutgers Labor Center Trade Union Consulting Committee, The Botto House American Labor Museum Advisory Council and as President of the Essex County College Labor Advisory Committee. He served as a Trustee of the United Way of Essex & West Essex Hudson Counties. Frank served on the Essex County Vocation School Board from 1966-1970. He also served as Vice President and Corresponding Secretary. He was a key person responsible for the establishment of the Essex County Labor Resource Center. He was also the First Coordinator of this Center. Frank served as the President of the Essex West Hudson Central Labor Council AFL CIO for 10 years. He worked closely with the Economic Development Programs of C.E.T.A. and P.I.C. An active member of Irish Northern Aid, Clan na Gael, and the Irish National Caucus. Frank spoke freely of his support to IRA & Sinn Fein, Frank with others carried the England get out of Ireland Banner down O'Connel Street in Dublin in 1976. This was the first time the banner was carried since 1922. Frank was a founding member of the Irish American Society of the Oranges, the West Orange St. Patrick's Parade, and the 1916 Easter Week Parade & Ceremony in Newark. Frank was elected Grand Marshall of the Newark St. Patricks Parade in 1965. He also served on many of their committees. He was a member of the Giblin Assoc., the Cryan Assoc., The Frank McGovern Assoc., the County Leitrim Society of NJ, The Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh of Essex County, the Hibernian Division 9, Montclair and the Committee for Project Children. In honor of his 90th birthday, Congress flew the American Flag over the Capital Building in Washington DC. Frank was the beloved husband of 35 years of the late Catherine Darcy (nee Morley). Devoted father of Patricia Ruane and Robert Ruane, Frank Jr. and his wife Kathleen, Eileen Herbert and her husband Pat, Brian and his wife Cindy, and the late Mary McGovern. Loving father-in-law of Eamonn McGovern. Loving brother of Mary Cullen, Alice Heran, Mena McLoughlin, Gertie Brady, and the late Sean Darcy, Junior Darcy, Denis Darcy, and Lucy Grant. Cherished grandfather of 18, great-grandfather of 33 and great-great grandfather of 1. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and his friend Margie Sheahan. Frank always knew that the working families, union workers, immigrants and the poor were always best represented by the Democrats. He voted for Democrats from FDR to Obama. During Election Time, his lawn looked like Democratic Headquarters. Frank always quoted in the words of Padraig Pearse: "the fools, the fools, the fools!-they have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace." Frank was a role model to some, a hero to others and a legend to most. He walked picket lines and demonstrations, some that were often dangerous. He fought for human rights for all people. "Frank, the Union Machinist" for 69 years never quit.