Frank Martin Drigotas, Jr.,

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Frank Drigotas

KENNEBUNK — Frank Martin Drigotas, Jr., 68, died January 3, 2011 at his home with his life-long love and wife Connie and family members at his side after a lengthy illness. He was born January 25, 1942 in Lewiston, the son of the late Frank M. Drigotas Sr. and Sophie (Kantaskaus) Drigotas.

Mr. Drigotas led an eclectic life full of personal adventures that were wide and varied. Although he enjoyed many athletic accomplishments, business successes and numerous life experiences, he considered his greatest satisfaction to be his 47-year marriage to his wife Connie and the raising of their four children.

Graduating from Edward Little High School in 1960, he attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick. There he served as President of the Class of 1964. He found success on the football field, and was named Captain of the 1963 Polar Bear squad that claimed that year’s State Football Championship by defeating Bates, Colby and the University of Maine. For his efforts, he was named to the All-Maine Team as a tight end, and both UPI and AP named him to the All-New England Team. In addition, he was named an All-American and a National Scholar-Athlete, earning selection to the National College Football Hall of Fame.

Upon graduating Cum Laude from Bowdoin in 1964 with a degree in Government and Legal Studies, he received a free agent invitation from the New York Giants, but declined the offer to attend the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1966. After graduation he served on the Bowdoin Alumni Council, chairing several reunion committees.

His professional career was wide and varied. He held positions as assistant city manager in Enfield, CT, City Manager in Medina, NY, vice president of Depositors Trust Co., vice president of Northeast Bank and President and CEO of Norway National Bank.

In 1981 he became self-employed and embarked on many projects, administrator and co-owner of Market Square Health Care Facility in South Paris, owner of Paris Heights Real Estate also in South Paris, Dollar Mortgage and Financial in Scarborough and Biloxi, MS. He retired in 2008.

His civic contributions were many, including serving as Chairman for Rotary International, United Way fund drives and various charitable organizations.

Mr. Drigotas loved to write, and authored three books: “One Man Alone,” “Frank’s Store For Men” and “Takeover." He was nearing completion of his fourth book when he died. In addition, he wrote a weekly column for the Lewiston Sun Journal in the 1980s.

His love for travel and gambling were a constant in his life. From delivering estates to Lithuania and Moscow to conducting research for his books in Rome, London and the Amazon, he saw much that the world has to offer. His favorite destination of recent years was the island of Culebra in the Caribbean.

He also owned racehorses and was a renowned blackjack player in Casinos nationwide. He was (proudly) restricted to flat betting, a high honor for a legitimate blackjack player.

He is survived by his wife, Connie of Kennebunk; brother, Martin of Naples, FL; his four children, Frank Drigotas III and wife Vickie of Kennebunk, Kathy Traficonte and husband Jon of Natick, MA, Stephen Drigotas and wife Elizabeth of Baltimore, MD and Amy Misczak and husband Gary of Warren, MI and seven grandchildren, Conner Drigotas, Ethan Drigotas, Sophie Traficonte, Griffin Drigotas, Claire Drigotas, james Traficonte and Elaine Drigotas, all of whom brought him great joy. He was predeceased by his father in 2004, his mother in 1957 and his sister Carolyn in 1966.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street in Kennebunk, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, January 7 at 11 a.m. at Holy Spirit Parish at St. Martha’s Church in Kennebunk. A private burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Lewiston. Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, www.bibberfuneral.com.