Bob Francy, the original Eagle

It’s kind of odd, but at times like these when you want to say

something that is enlightening, there’s not a lot which can be said,

because everyone who knew him already knew it.

Bob Francy, seemingly indestructible in my eyes, lost his fight

with cancer at age 67. Services are Friday at the Saddleback

Community Church in Lake Forest, where a sea of his friends will

gather at noon.

The church is at 1 Saddleback Parkway, just south of the 241. From

the Santa Ana Freeway, drive inland on El Toro to Portola, and left

to Saddleback Parkway.

There’s an old saying which usually holds true: Most of what

happens starts at the top.

While Bob Francy was in control of the ship at Estancia High as

the Eagles’ principal, from time to time I’d find myself in a

conversation with someone and the question would arise, “Which is the

best school in the Newport-Mesa School District?”

My knee-jerk response during the 1970-1984 reign was “Estancia.”

It wasn’t meant as a put-down to any of the other schools. Newport

Harbor, Corona del Mar and Costa Mesa hardly need any defense.

But in that span the Eagles really had a great stretch of success

athletically, and was well-rounded in every area.

They also had Bob Francy, a man who seemed to be everyone’s

friend, at Estancia, and anywhere else he traveled.

Even on issues Bob Francy felt very strongly about, I never heard

an angry word, or tone. And, for me, he was even more special because

he would take me aside, explain an issue with all the warts, then

trust that I’d treat the information accordingly.

He had ties with all four schools, teaching at Costa Mesa, a vice

principal at Estancia when the doors opened, and administratively at

Corona and Harbor, as well as at the school district level.

And in every instance he gave off those same vibrations and

received the same.

After his retirement it seemed he spent more time filling in for a

special need by the district than he did in retirement, even filling

a void at Estancia for a while until the district could make

necessary changes.

Whenever I think of the Eagles ... Paul Troxel or Art Perry, Tim

O’Brien or Larry Sunderman, Bill Wetzel or Ken Millard, Jim Gleason

or Jim Scott, or the exceptional athletes who have graced the Eagles’

campus, the familiar and supportive figure of Bob Francy always

enters the picture.

He was a part of every championship and every disappointment.

His wife, Phyllis, and daughters Erin and Cara, carry the burden

now, and I’m sure this is no news to them, either. Many, many others

share the moment.