Frank
J. Watson passed away peacefully on July 7, 2025, surrounded by love
and family. Born on May 9, 1936, he was the only child of Mary
(Galloway) Watson and Harry T. Watson. From an early age, Frank’s
inquisitive mind and love for learning were evident traits that would
shape a lifetime dedicated to education, science and discovery.
Frank
grew up in Kenmore, N.Y., where he graduated from the local school
system with honors. He went on to pursue undergraduate studies at
SUNY Cortland and earned a master’s degree in education from
Michigan State University. It was in those early academic years that
he found not only his calling but also the deep intellectual passion
that would guide his professional journey.
His
career in education began as a science coordinator at
Wheatland-Chili, but Frank quickly moved into broader, transformative
work. At the Educational Development Center in Newtonville, Mass., he
trained educators to use ESS science materials, eventually becoming
director of the program. His expertise and leadership caught the
attention of the University of Vermont’s College of Education,
prompting a move to Underhill, Vt., with his young family — a place
they would come to call home.
At
UVM, Frank played a pivotal role in launching APEX (the American
Primary Experience Program), a nationally recognized and
award-winning initiative that brought innovation and excellence to
early education for more than 15 years. Frank’s work was not just
about science — it was about sparking wonder, nurturing curiosity
and making learning come alive.
His
love for the natural world led him to explore fossils and geodes
across New York, Montana and beyond. Travel, for Frank, was always
woven with purpose. He journeyed to California, England and Papua New
Guinea, where he served as director of a groundbreaking radio science
program in Port Moresby. There, he helped schools build science
curricula through radio-based teaching, traveling extensively across
the country to support educators.
Later,
as technology became an increasingly vital part of education, Frank
dove in wholeheartedly. At UVM, he helped usher in a new era of
computer-based learning and later led VISMT (the Vermont Institute of
Science, Math and Technology), where he championed the integration of
computers into classrooms across the state. The Watson home was often
an extension of his classroom — filled with computers, student
gatherings and APEX potluck dinners. Love, laughter and learning were
constant features in their lives.
When
he and Anne retired, they split their time between the warm sands of
St. George Island, Fla., and the charming town of Cheraw, S.C. In
Cheraw, Frank embraced the local arts and served on the committee for
the South Carolina Jazz Festival, celebrating the legacy of Dizzy
Gillespie. Wherever he went, Frank built community — through music,
science, education and joy.
In
2014, Frank and Anne returned to Vermont full time. That June, he was
diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Yet even in the face of
illness, Frank remained deeply engaged with life. He continued to
cook, garden, enjoy his family, and make others laugh with his sharp
wit and gentle humor. He was, always, a man who loved learning and
sharing the world’s wonders with others.
Frank
is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Anne (Mason) Watson, and
his loving children: Christian Watson and Jaclyn Baybrook Watson,
Lauri Anne and Mark Boyden, and Matthew Watson and Deanna Stoppler.
He will also be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Emily, Lucy,
Rachel, Edie and Tiller, and all who were lucky to know him.
A
celebration of life will be held for Frank on August 13, 2025, 2 to 5
p.m., at the Essex Resort at the Farmhouse by the Pond.
In
lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Frank’s
name to the University of Vermont’s Binter Center for Parkinson’s Disease, 1 South Prospect St., Burlington, VT 05401.
Arrangements
are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To send
online condolences, please visit cremationsocietycc.com.