Frank Richard Tarrio left us on Oct. 3, 2026, just two months shy of his 100th birthday. Born on Dec. 20, 1926, in Lewiston, Maine, to Frank Leslie Tarrio and Marguerite Sutcliffe Tarrio, he was the only boy among seven sisters.

He grew up in Auburn and Wayne. Frank graduated from Edward Little High School and, after a stint in the Merchant Marines and Army, moved to Connecticut and attended Mitchell College. Soon after graduation, he married the love of his life, Marjorie Frances Baldwin, in Norwich, Connecticut. Frank raised his family in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, and worked as a technical writer at Electric Boat in Groton, while raising his five children. He was very proud of the fact that he sent all five to college and that, among his children and grandchildren, there were several master’s degrees and Ph.D.s.

Frank and Fran both got their pilot license and spent many years in their little Cessna, flying along the coastline and visiting their far-flung family. Frank and Fran loved to travel, and after the kids were grown, traveled with friends to the Holy Land as well as South America, Europe, and Africa. After his retirement, he became a volunteer, doing such work as hospice visiting, food pantry stocking, and driving the dialysis van.

Ten years ago, in hopes of some support taking care of Fran as her Alzheimer’s disease progressed, they moved back to Frank’s beloved Maine, settling in St. Andrews Village in Boothbay Harbor. They loved driving around Ocean Point, and along the coast. With the help of staff at the memory care unit, Frank took wonderful care of Fran after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. After Fran’s death, Frank spent many trips around the Point scattering small amounts of her ashes off the coast, and revisiting these places to remember her. Frank made many good friends at St. Andrews, and loved to greet the women by smiling and saying, “Hey girl!” We loved him dearly and will miss that smile. Everywhere he went, we always heard, “Everybody loves Frank.”

Family was deeply important to Frank. He was predeceased by Fran, as well as sisters May, Louise, Alice, Nell, Norma and Pat, and his son-in-law, Duff Swanson.

He is survived by his sister Dorothy; five children, Lee Lucas (Scott) of East Boothbay, Maine, Chree Perkins (Doug) of Leicester, Vermont, Anne Swanson of Center Conway, New Hampshire, Rich Tarrio (Chris) of Greenfield, New Hampshire, and Charlie Tarrio (Danielle) of Rockville, Maryland. Frank also leaves his beloved 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family would like to extend deep appreciation to the staffs of St. Andrews Village and Cove’s Edge for their wonderful care for Frank, over many years as well as the last few weeks of his life, respectively.