Lt. Col. Francis T. McCoy [86] died in his Gainesville home on May 22, 2009. His death was unexpected but of natural causes.
Although of southern ancestry, Frank McCoy was born in New York City on October 15, 1922.
His father died an untimely death and he and his mother returned to Florida which was his permanent residence for the remainder of his life.
Frank McCoy entered the University of Florida in 1940 and received his BA degree in 1944.
His undergraduate education was followed by service in the United States Army and the Office of Strategic [Services] during World War II. Trained as a paratrooper, McCoy was posted to China where he worked with Chinese forces in the war against Japan. McCoy remained in the reserve forces after the war and retired from the military with the rank of lieutenant colonel
After the war, McCoy completed a masters degree at the University of Florida, where he was received the first masters degree awarded by the geography department. As a part of his degree work, McCoy wrote a thesis on the Miami International Airport. To gain first hand background, he spent 6 months as a flight attendant on Pan American Airways planes flying routes to and throughout Central [and] South America. These were the days when airplanes were slow, flights of long duration, and flight service demanding and of high caliber.
Thereafter, McCoy entered the United States Foreign Service and served in missions in Shanghai, Tokyo and Madagascar. He was at his post in Shanghai when the Nationalist troops sailed away to Taiwan and the Chinese Communist troops marched in to take over.
McCoy then returned to the University of Florida and earned his law degree in [1955]. Upon graduation, he joined the law library staff and soon entered the law faculty where for upwards of 40 years he taught a panoply of courses including admiralty, family law and legal history.
McCoy's teaching was eclectic in scope and enriched by his deep study of ancient history. Although widely traveled, including through Iraq and Iran when camel trains still plodded across deserts, Frank's life was centered on thought and contemplation. To augment his vast knowledge of modern and ancient cultures, he read and spoke many languages. This made him an especially accessible resource for internationally minded students and foreign visitors.
Frank had a special love for the French language and French royal history. He officially retired in [1998], but [taught classes until 2003 and] until the last few months continued to come to his law school office every day and participate in college activities.
Late in life Frank McCoy married Mary Watson McCoy, who was a long time University of Florida librarian and also a World War II "China hand."
Mary McCoy predeceased Frank and he continued to live alone in their Gainesville home where he died.
Frank McCoy died leaving no children, but is survived by a number of distant relatives in Florida and elsewhere.
McCoy may be remembered by donations to the reserve collection of the University of Florida College of Law Library, Law Center Association, Inc, 2500 S.W. 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, Fl. 32611.
An occasion to remember Frank will convene on Friday, June 5, 2009, at 12:15pm, in the Baughman Center, 928 Museum Road, University of Florida Campus. No flowers, please.
--Published in Gainesville Sun from May 28 to June 1, 2009
Name: Francis Tyrone McCoy
Last Residence: 32607 Gainesville, Alachua, Florida
Born: 15 Oct 1922
Died: 22 May 2009
State where SSN issued: Pennsylvania (Before 1951)
Although of southern ancestry, Frank McCoy was born in New York City on October 15, 1922.
His father died an untimely death and he and his mother returned to Florida which was his permanent residence for the remainder of his life.
Frank McCoy entered the University of Florida in 1940 and received his BA degree in 1944.
His undergraduate education was followed by service in the United States Army and the Office of Strategic [Services] during World War II. Trained as a paratrooper, McCoy was posted to China where he worked with Chinese forces in the war against Japan. McCoy remained in the reserve forces after the war and retired from the military with the rank of lieutenant colonel
After the war, McCoy completed a masters degree at the University of Florida, where he was received the first masters degree awarded by the geography department. As a part of his degree work, McCoy wrote a thesis on the Miami International Airport. To gain first hand background, he spent 6 months as a flight attendant on Pan American Airways planes flying routes to and throughout Central [and] South America. These were the days when airplanes were slow, flights of long duration, and flight service demanding and of high caliber.
Thereafter, McCoy entered the United States Foreign Service and served in missions in Shanghai, Tokyo and Madagascar. He was at his post in Shanghai when the Nationalist troops sailed away to Taiwan and the Chinese Communist troops marched in to take over.
McCoy then returned to the University of Florida and earned his law degree in [1955]. Upon graduation, he joined the law library staff and soon entered the law faculty where for upwards of 40 years he taught a panoply of courses including admiralty, family law and legal history.
McCoy's teaching was eclectic in scope and enriched by his deep study of ancient history. Although widely traveled, including through Iraq and Iran when camel trains still plodded across deserts, Frank's life was centered on thought and contemplation. To augment his vast knowledge of modern and ancient cultures, he read and spoke many languages. This made him an especially accessible resource for internationally minded students and foreign visitors.
Frank had a special love for the French language and French royal history. He officially retired in [1998], but [taught classes until 2003 and] until the last few months continued to come to his law school office every day and participate in college activities.
Late in life Frank McCoy married Mary Watson McCoy, who was a long time University of Florida librarian and also a World War II "China hand."
Mary McCoy predeceased Frank and he continued to live alone in their Gainesville home where he died.
Frank McCoy died leaving no children, but is survived by a number of distant relatives in Florida and elsewhere.
McCoy may be remembered by donations to the reserve collection of the University of Florida College of Law Library, Law Center Association, Inc, 2500 S.W. 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, Fl. 32611.
An occasion to remember Frank will convene on Friday, June 5, 2009, at 12:15pm, in the Baughman Center, 928 Museum Road, University of Florida Campus. No flowers, please.
--Published in Gainesville Sun from May 28 to June 1, 2009
Name: Francis Tyrone McCoy
Last Residence: 32607 Gainesville, Alachua, Florida
Born: 15 Oct 1922
Died: 22 May 2009
State where SSN issued: Pennsylvania (Before 1951)
Lt. Col. Francis T. McCoy [86] died in his Gainesville home on May 22, 2009. His death was unexpected but of natural causes.
Although of southern ancestry, Frank McCoy was born in New York City on October 15, 1922.
His father died an untimely death and he and his mother returned to Florida which was his permanent residence for the remainder of his life.
Frank McCoy entered the University of Florida in 1940 and received his BA degree in 1944.
His undergraduate education was followed by service in the United States Army and the Office of Strategic [Services] during World War II. Trained as a paratrooper, McCoy was posted to China where he worked with Chinese forces in the war against Japan. McCoy remained in the reserve forces after the war and retired from the military with the rank of lieutenant colonel
After the war, McCoy completed a masters degree at the University of Florida, where he was received the first masters degree awarded by the geography department. As a part of his degree work, McCoy wrote a thesis on the Miami International Airport. To gain first hand background, he spent 6 months as a flight attendant on Pan American Airways planes flying routes to and throughout Central [and] South America. These were the days when airplanes were slow, flights of long duration, and flight service demanding and of high caliber.
Thereafter, McCoy entered the United States Foreign Service and served in missions in Shanghai, Tokyo and Madagascar. He was at his post in Shanghai when the Nationalist troops sailed away to Taiwan and the Chinese Communist troops marched in to take over.
McCoy then returned to the University of Florida and earned his law degree in [1955]. Upon graduation, he joined the law library staff and soon entered the law faculty where for upwards of 40 years he taught a panoply of courses including admiralty, family law and legal history.
McCoy's teaching was eclectic in scope and enriched by his deep study of ancient history. Although widely traveled, including through Iraq and Iran when camel trains still plodded across deserts, Frank's life was centered on thought and contemplation. To augment his vast knowledge of modern and ancient cultures, he read and spoke many languages. This made him an especially accessible resource for internationally minded students and foreign visitors.
Frank had a special love for the French language and French royal history. He officially retired in [1998], but [taught classes until 2003 and] until the last few months continued to come to his law school office every day and participate in college activities.
Late in life Frank McCoy married Mary Watson McCoy, who was a long time University of Florida librarian and also a World War II "China hand."
Mary McCoy predeceased Frank and he continued to live alone in their Gainesville home where he died.
Frank McCoy died leaving no children, but is survived by a number of distant relatives in Florida and elsewhere.
McCoy may be remembered by donations to the reserve collection of the University of Florida College of Law Library, Law Center Association, Inc, 2500 S.W. 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, Fl. 32611.
An occasion to remember Frank will convene on Friday, June 5, 2009, at 12:15pm, in the Baughman Center, 928 Museum Road, University of Florida Campus. No flowers, please.
--Published in Gainesville Sun from May 28 to June 1, 2009
Name: Francis Tyrone McCoy
Last Residence: 32607 Gainesville, Alachua, Florida
Born: 15 Oct 1922
Died: 22 May 2009
State where SSN issued: Pennsylvania (Before 1951)
Although of southern ancestry, Frank McCoy was born in New York City on October 15, 1922.
His father died an untimely death and he and his mother returned to Florida which was his permanent residence for the remainder of his life.
Frank McCoy entered the University of Florida in 1940 and received his BA degree in 1944.
His undergraduate education was followed by service in the United States Army and the Office of Strategic [Services] during World War II. Trained as a paratrooper, McCoy was posted to China where he worked with Chinese forces in the war against Japan. McCoy remained in the reserve forces after the war and retired from the military with the rank of lieutenant colonel
After the war, McCoy completed a masters degree at the University of Florida, where he was received the first masters degree awarded by the geography department. As a part of his degree work, McCoy wrote a thesis on the Miami International Airport. To gain first hand background, he spent 6 months as a flight attendant on Pan American Airways planes flying routes to and throughout Central [and] South America. These were the days when airplanes were slow, flights of long duration, and flight service demanding and of high caliber.
Thereafter, McCoy entered the United States Foreign Service and served in missions in Shanghai, Tokyo and Madagascar. He was at his post in Shanghai when the Nationalist troops sailed away to Taiwan and the Chinese Communist troops marched in to take over.
McCoy then returned to the University of Florida and earned his law degree in [1955]. Upon graduation, he joined the law library staff and soon entered the law faculty where for upwards of 40 years he taught a panoply of courses including admiralty, family law and legal history.
McCoy's teaching was eclectic in scope and enriched by his deep study of ancient history. Although widely traveled, including through Iraq and Iran when camel trains still plodded across deserts, Frank's life was centered on thought and contemplation. To augment his vast knowledge of modern and ancient cultures, he read and spoke many languages. This made him an especially accessible resource for internationally minded students and foreign visitors.
Frank had a special love for the French language and French royal history. He officially retired in [1998], but [taught classes until 2003 and] until the last few months continued to come to his law school office every day and participate in college activities.
Late in life Frank McCoy married Mary Watson McCoy, who was a long time University of Florida librarian and also a World War II "China hand."
Mary McCoy predeceased Frank and he continued to live alone in their Gainesville home where he died.
Frank McCoy died leaving no children, but is survived by a number of distant relatives in Florida and elsewhere.
McCoy may be remembered by donations to the reserve collection of the University of Florida College of Law Library, Law Center Association, Inc, 2500 S.W. 2nd Avenue, Gainesville, Fl. 32611.
An occasion to remember Frank will convene on Friday, June 5, 2009, at 12:15pm, in the Baughman Center, 928 Museum Road, University of Florida Campus. No flowers, please.
--Published in Gainesville Sun from May 28 to June 1, 2009
Name: Francis Tyrone McCoy
Last Residence: 32607 Gainesville, Alachua, Florida
Born: 15 Oct 1922
Died: 22 May 2009
State where SSN issued: Pennsylvania (Before 1951)
