Francis F. Doran, a former Town Attorney for the Town of North Hempstead whose professional career was given to public service, died unexpectedly on Saturday, May 23 at the age of 92 at St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn, NY. He and his late wife, Libby, were residents of Port Washington from 1952 to 1983.
Doran had been living with his daughters, Pam Geary, and Fran Gruen in Silverhill, Alabama. His wife, Libby, of 70 years, died in Silverhill on January 6, 2015. Frank had just recently come up to Port Washington for Libby’s Memorial Service at St. Peter of Alcantara Church on May 23, 2015. However, Frank experienced a fall requiring surgery and succumbed to heart failure the day of his wife’s memorial.
Frank Doran was born on December 29, 1922, in Manhattan, New York, the third son of J. Ethel Finotti and Dr. William T. Doran. His mother was a nurse. His father was a brilliant surgeon, credited for the beginnings of gallbladder surgery. His father, a New York City Police surgeon, was awarded numerous citations and awards for his public service. Dr. William T. Doran was named a Knight of Malta, and a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by the Pope for his ministrations to the poor as well as to the Catholic Church. He attended the clergy and the Sisters, without fee, in New York City as well as at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn.
Frank attended local schools in Jackson Heights, then graduated from Canterbury Prep School, before studying at Georgetown University. World War II called and Frank Doran enlisted in the Army Air Corp to join the US war effort. He studied Cryptology at Trinity-Pawling School before being deployed to the European Theatre of Operations in Greenland to decipher American and German code. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and served as a cryptographer with Army/Air Force Intelligence.
London in 1944 was a favorite target for the Nazi Luftwaffe and blackouts were the norm. One of the only opportunities for a G.I. to meet a lady and enjoy each others company was the afternoon tea dances for the troops. At one of them, Frank spotted Libby Torres dancing with another G.I. He was immediately taken with this pretty expatriate from Gibraltar and cut in. Miss Torres was living in London with her family and working for the American Red Cross. The feelings were mutual. And on September 22, 1944, at All Saints Cathedral in Ballymena, Ireland—where Libby’s family had relocated—Miss Torres became Mrs. Francis F. Doran. Their love remained true for over 70 years.
After Doran’s honorable discharge, the newlyweds returned to the United States and headed back to Georgetown University Law School where he completed his law degree. Eventually the Dorans settled in Port Washington, raised a family and became enmeshed in civic affairs.
For over 10 years, Doran served the Town of North Hempstead. In 1965, he was appointed Deputy Town Attorney under Supervisor Sol Wachtler. Then in 1970, he was promoted to Town Attorney by Supervisor Robert Meade and continued his tenure as Town Attorney with Supervisor Michael Tully from 1972 through 1975.
Doran made his mark in the Law Books when the US Supreme Court heard arguments in the landmark case of Doran v. Salem Inn. The court decided that Doran decisively proved his position and received a unanimous decision, upholding the Town of North Hempstead Law.
Doran, with his legal expertise, briefly sat on the Nassau County Board of Assessors. Soon after, he was named Chief Counsel to the Joint Bar Association Committee for the Tenth Judicial District, New York. Doran, known for his honesty and integrity, was ultimately responsible for the conduct and discipline of hundreds of attorneys in Nassau and Suffolk County.
In 1983 Libby and Frank retired to Miles Grant in Stuart, Florida. There, they enjoyed many years of companionship. He liked to be on the golf course, and he enjoyed sailing, dancing, and singing with his family and friends. He also enjoyed traveling and visiting new places.
In 2001 they moved to the Fort Myers area to be closer to their daughter, Maureen and Libby’s brothers Richard, John and Joseph Torres. Only recently did Libby’s health fail, at which time they moved to Silverhill, Alabama, near the Gulf of Mexico, where they enjoyed living with their daughters Pam and Fran.
Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Libby, his parents, Dr. William T. and J. Ethel Doran, his two brothers, William Thomas Jr. and A. Benedict Doran. He is survived by his four daughters: Bonnie Doran of Port Washington; Maureen Carlough and her husband Stephen Carlough of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Fran Gruen and Pam Geary, both of Silverhill, Alabama; 10 grandsons, a granddaughter, and nine great-grandchildren.
There will be a Memorial Mass for Frank Doran at Saint Peter of Alcantara Church in Port Washington, Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. Interment of his Ashes will immediately follow at Nassau Knolls Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations would be gladly accepted by Saint Francis Hospital, 100 Port Washington Blvd, Roslyn, NY 11576, in his memory.
