Father of Harvard man, company founder
Francis Maxwell. (Courtesy photo)
Francis William Maxwell of Wellesley Hills, born on July 7, 1916, in North Dakota, died peacefully at home on June 10, 2018, at the age of 101. He is the father of Harvard resident James Maxwell.
Francis was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kathleen Margaret (Kane) Maxwell (d. 2016). They had seven children: James (Mary Flaherty), Daniel (d. 1968) (Betty Coggins), Thomas (Lynn Hamlin), Kathleen (Paul Sullam), Josephine Grahn (Allen), Jack (Dana Morel), and Carroll (Buzz Kuhns). They also had 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Francis was born in Belcourt, North Dakota, the eldest child of Mary (Emma) Borden and William Maxwell, Jr. He is predeceased by his two siblings: Ralph (Buzzy) Maxwell and Marjorie Hammer.
Francis received a degree in civil engineering from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. Francis and Kathleen moved to the Boston area in 1956 and settled in Wellesley. He founded Hub Foundation Company in 1966. When he retired, his son Jim took over. Francis enjoyed family dinners (and the obligatory daiquiri) and woodworking in his capacious and well-designed workshop at home.
The Maxwells would like to thank Annie Pokumensah for the wonderful care she provided their father in the last years of his life.
All are invited to attend visiting hours at the George Doherty Funeral Home in Wellesley from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 6, and a funeral Mass Saturday, July 7, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church in Wellesley. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Nature Conservancy or to the scholarship fund of the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association.
