Obituary of Frank Dominic Nigro

NIGRO, FRANK DOMINIC Born March 5, 1935 in Boston to Francis and Filomena (Palumbo) Nigro and raised in Malden, Revere, and Everett. Graduated Everett High School Class of 1952, followed by graduation from Northeastern University as a mechanical engineer with a penchant for aerospace. As a rocket scientist fascinated with the vast, largely unexplored universe, Frank worked at Raytheon Company and Avco Corporation prior to and during the highly active space exploration eras, earning U.S. patents for his Apollo and Shuttle spacecraft and missile design components. He concluded his lengthy aerospace career as senior staff scientist at Ryan Associates in Gloucester, MA and later focused the entirety of his professional acumen on his parallel, ever-developing financial advising and investment planning service which he loved. Frank maintained several close financial client relationships that lasted for decades, yet never lost his lifelong fascination with space and life beyond Earth, even after his formal space career ended. Shortly after graduating college, Frank courted the former Doris DeMarco of Watertown, in his new 1957 pearl white and aqua Thunderbird convertible, purchased with his father to celebrate the completion of his years at Northeastern. In 1961 they married, honeymooned in Acapulco and Mexico City, and relocated to the Arlington/Winchester area. They remained together for eight years and had three children. Following the children's early move to Florida, Frank always eagerly anticipated their semi-annual visits to his home in Winchester; two of the children later permanently relocated to Winchester. An only child, Frank was embraced by dearest friends and family for his irrepressible warmth and affection. He enjoyed profound longtime relationships with sister-in-law Phyllis (DeMarco) DiPrisco of Arlington and Woburn; Paul and Elaine Mastrocola of Medford; Richard and Carol Ryan of Lynnfield and Gloucester; Ken and Irmgard Bryant of Weston; and Paula Sline of Wellesley and Gloucester. Introduced by the Ryans in the 1970s, Frank and Paula remained exceptionally close for nearly 40 years until his death, often traveling together and enjoying meaningful conversations and wonderful life experiences that Frank cherished. Frank was an avid reader, golf enthusiast, science aficionado, chess player, blackjack master, and witty conversationalist with a quick, keen sense of humor. At his core, however, he was a private man who asked for nothing and lived quietly and modestly, yet was abundantly generous with his spirit and personal resources when it came to helping his children and those he loved. He was immensely proud of his children's achievements and a constant, profound advocate of their pursuits. During his five-week hospitalization, Frank reiterated his earlier written directive that there be no funeral services following his death. Instead, he encouraged those he knew to simply remember him fondly, with laughter and jokes and lightened hearts and spirits. In addition, he asked that his family and friends enjoy a jovial lobster dinner in his memory. (Frank was often known for teaching shellfish novices the proper way to consume a lobster: always eat the tail first, just in case an emergency might unexpectedly take one away from the dinner table.) Frank is survived by his deeply loving children: Laura of Durham, NC; Sheryl of Santa Cruz, CA; and Rob of Newport, RI. Also survived by loving best friend Paula Sline; former wife Doris (DeMarco) Nigro and her sister Phyllis DiPrisco; dearest family friend Elaine Mastrocola; and several other wonderful family and friends. He left this world after a courageous, strong-willed struggle during which he was cared for by wonderful and caring professionals at Lahey Clinic in Burlington and New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Woburn. Friends and family so inclined are encouraged to donate to a charity of their choice, or make a special gesture in Frank's memory. In closing, Frank hoped that those in his life might continue to look for his spirit in love, wherever they may find it, long after his passing.