Frank P. Creane, 78, of Guilford, cherished husband, father, uncle, and grandfather, passed away early Feb. 4 at Connecticut Hospice, a place of beauty and compassionate comfort.

He is survived by his wife Ellen Creane of Guilford. He also leaves children Kyle Creane and wife Gaines of Brooklyn, New York, Deirdre Creane and husband Mark of Marshfield, Massachusetts, Brett Creane and wife Jennifer of Plymouth, Massachusetts; and grandchildren Seeger, Matilda, Grace, Manfred, and Quintin.

Born on March 11, 1938, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Frank was a graduate of the University of Maine in forestry and wildlife management. Discovering a gift for writing, he became a journalist, specializing in environmental reporting. He was a reporter for The Enterprise daily newspaper in Brockton, Massachusetts, for 10 years, and also held positions as editor of The Courier, a weekly newspaper in Wareham, Massachusetts, staff writer at the Old Colony Memorial weekly newspaper in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and public information representative and publications editor for Boston Edison Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Massachusetts, for seven years. In retirement he raised funds for non-profit organizations, schools and colleges, arts and cultural groups. Prior to college he served honorably for four years as a hospital corpsman in the US Coast Guard.

He was known to his family and friends as a quiet man who without warning could launch affectionate and witty verbal zingers. Frank was passionate and exceptionally knowledgeable about classical music, especially Mahler, and jazz. Frank loved all aspects of publishing. He often read for pleasure books on editing, grammar, punctuation, and typography. He was a son of immigrants from Ireland embraced by an exuberant family. His kind and caring nature, his wit and sincerity, his strength in the face of pain and adversity will always be remembered with admiration and deeply abiding love.

As he arranged, his body has been donated to Yale Medical School with grateful thanks to the Yale medical staff. Memorial services are pending.