Trustee Frank Powers, 67, dies Sunday, June 22

   Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Todt Hill resident was ultimate success story

By CLAIRE REGAN
Advance Associate Managing Editor

            STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — His friends would agree with a nod and a grin that Francis H. Powers was larger than life. 

            The ultimate American success story and self-made millionaire exuded confidence and authority when he walked into a room wearing a characteristic tuxedo or custom-made dark blue suit — his “uniforms,” his wife, Dianne, said yesterday.

            But underneath the no-nonsense Wall Street demeanor was a generous and compassionate man, a loving father, a steady philanthropist and a “go-to man” who chose to share much of his wealth with countless Staten Island charities and causes.

            Mr. Powers had seemed invincible lately in his retirement from a career with the New York Stock Exchange, conquering several health problems and accepting the Republican party nomination for Congress. His death on Sunday at age 67 from an apparent heart attack left his family, friends and political supporters reeling and regrouping.

            “He was planning to meet with about 20 business leaders tonight, right here at this table,” in their Todt Hill dining room, said his son, Brian, a recent Wagner College MBA recipient who was his father’s Staten Island campaign finance chair.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

            Born July 6, 1940 in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn, Mr. Powers was one of eight children. His parents, Francis Augustus Powers and the former Mary Elizabeth Pedel, were Irish immigrants who had met at a dance.

            From a young age, Mr. Powers worked hard at odd jobs to supplement his father’s income as a janitor. He shined shoes, loaded trucks and beginning at age 15, worked in various positions for Atlas Florist in Brooklyn — including floral designer.

            His work ethic was so intense that he seemed to toil 18 hours a day at every job, his son, John Christopher, recalled. “He knew the only way to make more soup was to add water,” his son said.

            Mr. Powers graduated from Holy Name of Jesus Elementary School and the former Manual Training High School, both in Brooklyn, excelling in carpentry and gymnastics. He enjoyed a brief stint as an amateur boxer with the Golden Gloves.

            At age 17, he landed a an entry-level position as a messenger on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, unknowingly launching his career as a financier.

            He joined the Wall Street firm of Faulkner, Dawkins and Sullivan in 1968, serving as its executive vice president until 1977, and was a partner and managing director with Weiss, Peck and Greer until his retirement five years ago.

            “That’s what Frank was all about,” said Jay Nadel, a WPG colleague, referring to Mr. Powers’ rise from bottom to top. “He didn’t grow up going to Choate and Harvard; he grew up on the streets of Brooklyn and was willing to work very hard for his family. At the end of the day, it worked for him.

            “He was straightforward, direct, smart. What you saw was what you got with Frank,” Mr. Nadel said. “At the same time, he was very good natured, very kind. Frank was used to breaking the mold. He started with the odds against him, and the Wall Street community knew he would have won” the race for Congress.

            Mr. Powers gave many young entrepreneurs a chance to make it on Wall Street, providing the push they needed to take that first step.

            “He hired me as an order clerk when I was just 20 years old,” said Teresa Pelosi, now a neighbor of the Powers family. “Because of him, I became a partner in the firm.”

            Mrs. Pelosi said Mr. Powers was also a critical influence on her brother-in-law, who was a no-show on the first day of his new job on Wall Street.

            “Frank called him and offered to take him to breakfast and drive him to the job,” she recalled. “He said, ‘I know how you feel,’ and that was all he needed to say.”

            Mr. Powers felt compassion for those who struggled with self-confidence, Mrs. Pelosi continued. “And he always fought for his employees. He defended those who needed it most because he related to them.”

            “He helped hundreds of people and never asked for anything in return,” said his wife, Dianne.

FAMILY MAN

            Mr. Powers met the former Dianne Molloy on Wall Street, where she was also working, and they were married on Feb. 22, 1981 in the United Nations chapel. After a reception at the Downtown Athletic Club, the couple honeymooned in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which would become their annual family vacation destination.

            They settled on Emerson Hill and moved to their present Todt Hill home — light green with three sculpted shamrocks on the front — eight years ago.

            Mr. Powers was a family man who enjoyed boating and fishing at his summer home in Mantoloking, N.J., and liked to play an occasional good-natured practical joke on his sons. “He loved a good laugh,” said son, Brian.

            John Christopher remembered his father making the trip one cold day in winter to St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., “just to visit and say hello” while he was a student there.

            In the community, Mr. Powers was a powerful fund-raiser whose financial ideas and skills were always in demand.

            While three of their sons attended Staten Island Academy, Mr. Powers became involved in annual fund-raising campaigns for the school, collecting enough money to purchase a Mercedes- Benz and raffle it off several years in a row.

            He served as president of the Academy’s board of trustees from 1990 to 1996.

            At Wagner College, Mr. and Mrs. Powers were co-founders of the Parents Association, and Mr. Powers was named a trustee in 2006. He chaired the college’s investment committee and capital campaign steering committee.

            “He was a counselor, a friend and a good mentor, always concerned about the success of the college,” said Dr. Richard Guarasci, Wagner president, who, like Mr. Powers, grew up in Brooklyn. “He lived life fully, taking on every challenge. He didn’t back down.

            “And he so loved Dianne,” Guarasci continued. “He often talked about how smart, how beautiful and how caring she was.”

            Mr. Powers was a founder of the Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team; a founder and past chairman of the USS The Sullivans Foundation; a former board chair for St. Elizabeth Ann’s Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Stapleton, and a former trustee of the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences. At the time of his death, he was a board member and assistant treasurer of Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton.

            He served as president of the Downtown Athletic Club from 1995 to 1998 and president of the Heisman Trophy Foundation from 1995 to 1999. He was appointed by former Governor Mario Cuomo in 1991 as a commissioner to the Staten Island Secession Charter Commission, and was president of the Knights of St. Patrick. He was a founding member of the Chicago Board of Options and a board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

            In 1996, Mr. Powers received the Albert V. Maniscalco Community Service Award honoring the legacy of Staten Island’s ninth borough president and recognizing outstanding service to the community.

            “Nothing could be nicer than to receive an award with Al Maniscalco’s name on it,” Mr. Powers said after accepting the award from then-Borough President Guy V. Molinari. “This is a great honor, and I don’t know what I’ll do for an encore. I couldn’t be more happy to have this bestowed on me and I will cherish it always.”

ARRANGEMENTS

            In addition to Dianne, his wife of 27 years, and his sons, Brian Devlin and John Christopher, Mr. Powers is survived by sons Douglas Barrett, Robert John and Francis Michael; his daughters, Kelly Ann Timbrell and Kathleen Goodwin; three sisters, Betty Susino, Margie Hall and Lillian Calcaterra; his brother, Bobby; a godson, Anthony Molloy, and nine grandchildren.

            The funeral will be Friday from the Hanley Funeral Home, with a mass at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, both in New Dorp. Burial will be in Moravian Cemetery, also in New Dorp.