Transcript of Eulogy Presented at his Funeral Mass on May 15, 2009
For Father Silcox, our priest, Pam, Frank’s wife, Greg, Frank’s son, Regina Frank’s sister, Michael, Frank’s brother, Theresa, Frank’s aunt, Frank’s friends, neighbors, Partners, clients, we thank you all for your enormous outpouring of support.
This eulogy to Francis T. McGlone represents contributions from a deluge of kind recollections and thoughts, inundating the last two days and testaments to Frank which extend over a lifetime.
Frank McGlone was:
blessed by a wonderfully warm sense of humor.
As a scholar, while attending Monsignor Bonner High School, he met Pam McGlone 41 years ago at age 15 and after graduating from Villanova University, he married the love of his life which matured into a relationship brimming with mutual respect. As a father, and family man he developed a pride for his son Greg, and Frank would beam at the mention of Greg’s name. I understand that Greg’s close friends held Frank in the highest esteem.
Frank was a brother to his sister, Regina Mungan (married to Charles Mungan) and a brother to his brother, Michael (married to Debbie) and a nephew to his Aunt Theresa.
Consistently, the consummate professional, Frank’s genius was manifest in the architecture and design of financial statements, the primary communication tool for the business community. As such, Frank had an enormous impact upon Hanna, McGlone clientele, whose financial statements clearly conveyed the story and message of their financial position. Financial statements as a communication tool under Frank’s supervision left no question in the reader’s mind. Frank’s impact upon the local business community was profound and he rose to reviewing not only Hanna, McGlone financial statements, but peer reviewing other CPA firms and serving as member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Committee on Peer Review, he most recently was responsible for reports for the eastern one-half of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Frank possessed the exceptionally unique ability to wallow in the dissection of baffling details to parse from the miasma of data the correct analytical conclusions and then step back and summarize his findings in such an eloquent manner that simplicity seemed to rule the day. Numerous times, when hired by attorneys to serve as expert witnesses, we sidestepped the experience of a lengthy trial, our written expert report carrying the day and convincing the judge, all to the elation of the law Firm who had anticipated a lengthy trial.
For Frank’s Partners, for Tom McGlone, for Eddie Keebler, for Justin Nepo and for me, Frank was heroic. Please remember, Tom McGlone, is not related by blood, however, in our Firm, you might as well be related by blood because of our close relationship. For our Partners, Frank will never be forgotten, having been associated with the Firm of Hanna, McGlone for almost 30 years.
As a teacher and mentor, his most striking qualities were his humility and enormous intellect, his honor, and his integrity all underscored by his unbounded sense of humor. As a citizen and patriot, he took great satisfaction in keeping well-informed and especially enjoyed a vigorous debate with respect to the conduct or political inclinations of a particular Supreme Court Justice or a legal ruling and its impact upon international relations. Frank was respectful of matters requiring respect, insightful in matters requiring depth of insight, thoughtful beyond ordinary thinking. Frank was an exceptional listener and at times gleaned thoughts the speaker never realized they had uttered. Amazing!
Frank connected with everyone he met and truly cared for each and every person. Every Team Member at Hanna, McGlone, Frank’s work family, has acknowledged enjoying a special relationship with Frank. His smiling face and his ever-dependable open heart telegraphed to everyone the promise of a lighter moment, ultimately culminating in his generosity – generosity with his time and time “goes at a premium” in our certified public accounting firm. As he connected, if you knew him long enough, the connection was almost telepathic. He could stand in one’s doorway and you knew he wanted to find out about lunch plans. He possessed an uncanny sixth sense of knowing when to shift without grinding the gears, from the serious nature of a conversation as it was winding down to introduce the irony of the situation which would customarily erupt in laughter, infectious laughter, most times putting into perspective in the context of eternal life the matter at hand in order to illustrate its truly ridiculous nature.
Frank’s conversation skills were legendary. There were no short conversations, even when saying good night, and, some of us have now lost our favorite excuse for being late for dinner.
Ever the voice of reason, Frank was the guardian of other people’s self-esteem as all of our Team Members from Frank’s work family realize, and he established a bedrock culture in our Firm, a foundation of professionalism. As a standard bearer for one who so enjoyed a love of the profession, his role modeling was truly exemplary as was much in evidence when he spoke at our off-site Firm-Wide retreats, the most recent occasion having taken place at the beginning of this year.
In his quest for ever achieving within the profession, he was always bounded by the qualities of a true gentleman. As a humanitarian, Frank understood and was completely forgiving of everyone else’s humanity, frequently adding the final kind words to a conversation underscoring the most redeeming qualities possessed by another.
His character was exemplary and as a role model for other accountants, he left virtually nothing to question as to his honor and as to his integrity as a certified public accountant and as a certified valuation analyst. Frank was a giant of a man in our profession, a fact completely dwarfed by his humble nature.
That kind gentleman, that kind gentle giant, Francis T. McGlone, scholar, husband and father, professional and partner, the teacher and mentor, the citizen and patriot, is with us no longer but the impression he left on all of us is a life-long, indelible one.
Delivered on May 15, 2009, following Frank McGlone’s 11:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Dorothy’s Church in Drexel Hill, PA.