Thomas "Frank" McCoy

Feb 26, 2018

Thomas "Frank" McCoy passed away on February 17, 2018.

He was born in Wichita, Kanas January 27, 1925. He attended East High School graduating in 1943, after which he joined the Army. After training in the US and as a member of the Third Armored Division, he headed to Europe where he participated in the Battle of the Bulge.

At the end of World War II, he was discharged and returned home. He received his BFA from Kansas University in 1950 and studied at the Academie Royale des Beaux Arts in Liege where he received a Diploma with High Distinction.

Before returning to the United States, Frank was the interim head of the art department at the Army's community newspaper, Stars and Stripes, in Germany.

When he returned to Kansas, he graduated from KU with a Masters in Fine Arts. He worked for several years as the men's fashion illustrator at Henry's Clothing Store in Wichita before taking a job at the Swain School of Design in New Bedford in 1954.

After Swain, Frank taught at Bradford Durfee College/New Bedford Institute of Technology which becameSouthern Massachusetts University. Frank and fellow professor, Ed Togneri, developed tahe strong drawing and painting program as SMU transitioned into the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where Frank taught painting, drawing and printmaking until he retired in 1991 after 32 years.

He continued to draw, paint and exhibit his own work for the next 25 years. Because he still loved to teach, he mentored a group of South Coast summer residents who enjoyed Frank's paint instruction as well as his critiques.

Throughout his life, he liked reading, Big Band music, jogging, tennis and, of course, art.

He leaves behind his loving and kind companion of 21 years, Gretchen Knowlton, his faithful, sweet Cocker Spaniel, Lily, many numerous friends and appreciative students whose lives he has touched.

A summer memorial service is planned for mid-August with a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Best Friends Animal Society, bestfriends.org, or Edmunite Missions, edmunditemissions.org. Arrangements are by Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth, MA.

For online tribute www.waring-sullivan.com.