Fr. David M. Franco, OSFS, died April 4 after a long battle with heart, kidney and respiratory disease. He was born in Detroit in 1948 and attended Salesian High School in Detroit, received a Bachelor of Science from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, N.Y., in 1971, a Master of Divinity from St. Michael’s University, Toronto, in 1975, a Master of Science in business administration from Notre Dame in 1980 and an M.S.W. from the University of Michigan in 1990. He made his first profession as an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales in 1967 and was ordained to the priesthood nine years later.

Fr. Franco became the assistant to the principal of Aquinas High School in Southgate in 1976, taught briefly at St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo, Ohio, and then returned to teach at Aquinas until 1981. After two years as associate pastor at Our Lady of Fatima from 1981-83, he returned to his love of teaching and began a career with the Archdiocese of Detroit in various roles, including interim superintendent of Schools. Returning again to pastoral work, he became chaplain of McAuley Health Care Center, St. Joseph Hospital in Ann Arbor, from 1988-92, pastor of St. Ursula parish in Ypsilanti from 1992-93, and pastor of Transfiguration Parish in Ypsilanti from 1994-2007. Fr. Franco was an avid follower of the Tigers and “managed” the team from his living room TV set. In 2007, he retired to Florida for health reasons.

Fr. Franco was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Ann (Demaestri) Franco, his brother John Franco and his sister Christina Franco. He is survived by his nephews, Philip Gerhardt and Frank Franco II, and his niece Victoria Franco. His Oblate brothers all over the world mourn his loss and pray for the repose of his soul.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 12 at Our Lady of Loretto Parish, Redford, with entombment afterward in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.