Pantuosco, Francis A.
Francis A. Pantuosco, 64, of New Hartford, husband and best friend of Robin (Stevens) for 38 years, passed away Monday, September 20, 2021, after a long illness.
Born and raised in Springfield, MA, son of Antoinette “Babe” Pantuosco of Agawam and the late Louis J. Pantuosco, Franny graduated from Cathedral High School in 1975 having made a group of life-long friends.
Franny went on to receive his bachelor's degree from Babson College in 1979, majoring in accounting. But the real focus at Babson was soccer.
Franny was a key member of Babson's 1975 NCAA National Championship team; he was a two time AllAmerican; was named All-New England three straight years; and a New England All-Star three times. After being voted co-MVP as a junior by his teammates, Franny was elected co-captain his senior year alongside his dear friend Donnie Lake. As a senior, Franny was voted team MVP; won the Babson College Senior Athlete of the Year award; was selected for the Senior Soccer Bowl Classic; earned a nomination (out of only ten nominees) for the Hermann Trophy given to the top collegiate soccer player in the country; and was named as one of the Top Ten College Players of the Year by Soccer America. He was selected by the New England Tea Men in the 1979 NASL draft. Franny was inducted
into the Babson College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.
Not surprisingly, Franny made another group of lifelong friends at Babson, including Robin. He was a kind, humble leader with a quiet strength and a sneaky
sense of humor.
Franny's career in Large Case Pensions at Aetna
spanned over 31 years until his retirement in 2013. He earned his MBA from UConn in 1990, studying at night
while working at Aetna.
His greatest joy after moving to New Hartford was coaching youth soccer alongside his compadre, Joe Douaihy. For 23 years they brought their good cop/ bad cop dynamic to dozens of teams across multiple generations of kids in New Hartford and Burlington. Joe's friendship meant the world to Franny.
Aside from coaching soccer with Joe, there was nothing Franny enjoyed more than walking his beagle, Rooney, around the neighborhood.
An avid Boston sports fan, Franny tried to watch every game he could of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics and unfortunately, the Green Bay Packers (which is a head scratcher and source of dissent between he and his sons, Jesse and Luke, who correctly chose to be Patriots fans).
Besides his loving wife Robin and amazing mom Babe, Franny leaves his two wonderful sons: Jesse Pantuosco of Philadelphia, PA; and Luke Pantuosco of West Hartford. He leaves his cherished sisters and brothers: Barbara of Agawam, MA; Joseph (Pat) of Longmeadow, MA; LouAnne Tremblay (Mark Clefe) of Flowery Branch, GA; Michael (Luci) of Ellington; John (Shelly) of Somers; and Dr. Louis (Sherri) of York, SC. Franny also leaves his mother-in-law, Sue Stevens of Avon; brother-in-law, Scott Stevens (Anna) of Avon; 15 nieces and nephews and 10 grand-nieces and nephews. He loved you all!
Robin, Jesse, and Luke would like to thank all of Franny's devoted friends who never forgot him during his long illness and the compassionate staff at The Residence at Brookside and McLean Hospice … Franny was a doozy, but you all adored him and made him laugh!
There will be a celebration of a life well-lived, outdoors, next spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in Franny's memory may be made to The Sinclair Lab, c/o Harvard Medical School or Babson College Soccer. For condolences please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.