Arthur J. Franke

Arthur Franke passed away peacefully at home, as he had always hoped to, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Arthur was born October 10, 1955 in Blakely, PA to Arthur and Mary (Carey) Franke. After his family relocated to Hudson, Arthur attended Hudson High School graduating as Valedictorian of the Class of 1973. He went on to attend Princeton University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1977.

After graduation, Arthur had an extensive and successful career in High Technology including working at Data General and Sun Microsystems among other companies. He moved to Florida to manage his family’s investment properties and undertook a second successful career as a real estate developer building apartment complexes in South Florida, a career he continued in New England in later years.

Arthur was an accomplished athlete competing in numerous Century rides, bicycling across America, running in the Boston and New York Marathons and completing five Ironman Triathlons. One of his Art’s favorite athletic events was competing in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon with his son and nephews while his entire extended family watched.

During Art’s lengthy battle with cancer, he never stopped living his very best life. He served on three condominium boards, fighting to protect rights for his properties and tenants, helped his children with renovations of their homes, put endless miles on his elliptical to increase the success of his chemo treatments and enjoyed conversations with his friends around the US. He and his beloved wife and best friend, Cheryl traveled endlessly seeing Alaska, Hawaii, the Baltics, Russia, Mexico and other places all the while he fought a relentless beast. He was overjoyed to live long enough to welcome a grandchild and enjoyed every moment he had with her. Through it all he never lost his trademark smile andintelligent wit.

Art’s greatest devotion was his family. He was predeceased by his parents and his wife Elizabeth Fox Franke. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Kimmens Franke, his children, Daniel and L. Fox Franke and her daughter Sparrow Eliza, his stepson Benjamin Davis, his brother James Franke and his wife Lori Dwyre, his sister Doreen Franke and her husband Craig Horangic, his sister-in-law Sheila Kimmens, and many nieces and nephews to whom he was devoted, as were they to him.

The family is so grateful to Dr. Abrams, Dr. Sager, and Dr. Wang as well as all the staff at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Brigham who were instrumental in helping Art through the past six years. We are also grateful to Faith and Family Hospice who made his final days at home peaceful just as he wished.

A Memorial Service followed by a lunch and remembrances will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at St. Elizabeth’s Church, Sudbury MA. Burial will be private. Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Donations in Art’s memory may be made to one of his favorite charities online at thankyouproject.org.