Frank and Doris celebrating his 90th birthday.
Of our country’s greatest generation, fewer and fewer of those brave and self-sacrificing men who served in World War II are left with us. On July 12, 2022, we lost one of our own. Frank Marcon, Lafayette '48, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 with his wife, Doris, at his side.
After completing his high school education, Marcon was drafted and served in the 30th Infantry Division—nicknamed the “Old Hickory” Division and recently awarded the Presidential Unit Citation in recognition of its heroic stand at the Battle of Mortain, France, August 7-12, 1944. Marcon’s service saw him land on Ohama Beach just four days after D-Day at the age of 18, and carried on as he and the 30th fought their way across France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. Following the Battle of the Bulge, Marcon suffered a grievous shrapnel wound from an exploded 88m shell that landed fifteen feet from his position. Following surgery and a recovery period in France, Marcon returned to the front lines and remained there until the war ended.
Upon returning home, Marcon used the GI Bill to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering from Lafayette. It was there that he became a brother of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, while also playing football. Following graduation, Marcon’s career took him from Pennsylvania to Florida, then eventually settling in San Fransisco where he worked in the mining division of Bechtel Corporation. Through the years he was building his career, Marcon met and married Doris, and the couple raised four children.
Frank and his daughters.
Frank was preceded in death by his son Peter, and his sisters Virginia Curto, Linda and Pierina "Buckie" Marcon. Frank lives on in the memories of his survivors: Doris, his wife; daughters, Rebecca Marcon of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, Mary san Marcon of Santa Cruz, CA, and Patricia Bower of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; brother John Marcon of Pen Argyl, PA; three grandchildren, Katie Kinne, Tommy Bower, and Erin Bower; two great grandchildren, Chase and Grady Kinne, and many nieces and nephews.