Francis C. Megaro

Colonel Francis C. Megaro, U.S.A. (Ret.), of Weston, died Thursday, June 4, 2009 at the Chelsea Soldiers Home. He was 87. Francis was born in Boston on November 14, 1921, a son of the late Joseph and Amelia (Palmer) Megaro and had been a Weston resident for the past fifty years. Until his retirement, Francis worked as the manager of industrial engineering for Tambrands, Inc. in Springfield. During World War II he served as a captain with the United States Army and participated in the Battle of the Bulge during the winter of 1944/45, the Rhineland campaign and the Allied push into Central Europe. After the war he attended Boston University where he earned his bachelors degree in 1952 and a masters degree in engineering a year later. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1952. Francis also served with the United States Army Reserves until 1976. The Department of the Army announced in September, 1971 his promotion to the grade of full colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. Col. Megaro, a 1967 graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General College, had returned from a two week tour of duty at the college where he was assigned as an instructor for the third time in as many years. He leaves his wife, Rita C. (Peltier) Megaro; two step-sons, John J. O'Brien of New York City and Bradford K. O'Brien of Sanford, North Carolina; and his step-grandson, William Bradford O'Brien. He was also predeceased by five step-sisters. Family and friends will honor and remember Francis' life by gathering in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte.20), Waltham on Wednesday morning, June 10th, at 9 a.m. before leaving in procession to Saint Julia's Church, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Linwood Cemetery, Weston. Memorial donations may be made to Saint Julia's Church.