Francis Fahey, 76, former official

Francis J. Fahey, a longtime Ridgefielder and former member of the Board of Finance, died Saturday, Dec. 13, at his new home in Sandy Hook. He was 76 years old and the husband of Catherine Selzer Fahey, who died in April 2002.
Mr. Fahey was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on April 7, 1927, a son of the late Francis and Estelle Fahey. He graduated from Regis High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. John’s University. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Mr. Fahey had a 40-year career with the American Can Company, retiring in 1986. His assignments took him from Brooklyn to Chicago to Baltimore and finally back to New York. He held a variety of financial management positions supporting the company’s metal can, meat packaging and flexible packaging businesses.
After retiring from American Can, he worked for several years for the U.S. Can Company.
Mr. Fahey, who had lived here since 1968, served as a Eucharistic minister at St. Mary’s Parish and was an active member of the Ridgefield Men’s Club. He also served on the town’s Board of Finance from 1981 to 1988.
During his retirement, he became an avid shopper and was familiar in town for his early morning shopping rounds, his family said. “He was always up-to-date on the specials at all the local grocery stores.”
His family said “Frank also enjoyed traveling and always looked forward to attending the many American Can retiree events in Las Vegas and Florida. He took great pleasure in helping family and friends with their travel plans. Frank met regularly with his many friends to play pinochle and was a much sought after partner.”
Mr. Fahey is survived by his son, Kevin Fahey and his wife, Christine; two daughters, Catherine DeCesare and her husband, Donald, and Virginia Aloise and her husband, Christopher; four grandchildren, Shaleighne Fahey, Caitlin Fahey, Elizabeth DeCesare, and Matthew Aloise; a brother, Edmund Fahey and sister-in-law Doris; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 10:15.
Contributions in Mr. Fahey’s memory may be made to the Regional Hospice of Western CT, 405 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810.
The Kane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.