Bro. Frank Norris, M.M.

Brother Frank J. Norris died on December 2, 2025 in the Skilled Nursing Unit at Maryknoll, New York. He was 99 years old and a Maryknoll Brother for 75 years.

Frank John Norris was born on February 14, 1926 in Cincinnati, Ohio, one of five children of Frank and Stella Reidy Norris.  He attended St. Clare and St. Martin Parochial Schools, graduated from Elder High School, and attended Xavier University for one and a half years.  Frank served with the United States Army Air Corps for two and a half years, serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre. He also spent one year in the Occupation Force in Japan immediately after World War II ended and was honorably discharged as a sergeant on November 10, 1946.

Frank developed an interest in mission through reading about and spending time with people in foreign lands. He entered Maryknoll on October 1, 1948. His Novitiate took place in Akron, Ohio, where he took his First Oath on June 29, 1950, and chose the Religious name Brother Eric. Later, he returned to using his Baptismal name, Frank.  

Brother Frank was first assigned to the Brookline Junior Seminary in Massachusetts as Physical Plant Manager, and from 1951 until 1961, he did boiler and general maintenance work at Maryknoll Junior Seminary (Venard), Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.  

In March 1961, Brother Frank was assigned to the Maryknoll Mission Region of Tanzania, East Africa. He served in the Shinyanga Diocese for 14 years, doing construction and maintenance work in the various missions of the diocese, primarily at the Buhangija mission. Brother Frank was known for being very attentive to people’s needs. He always stopped in to visit other Maryknollers in the Region, and was very helpful to newly arrived missioners who were “learning the ropes.” Maryknollers appreciated his enthusiasm and his knack for finding humor in situations. 

In 1975 Brother Frank was assigned to the Maryknoll Residence in Los Altos, California, where he served as Physical Plant Manager for two years. During his early years as a Brother, he completed specialized courses in carpentry and plumbing, and in 1977 took an intensive course in Photojournalism taught by a former Life magazine photojournalist. Brother Frank invented and received a Letters Patent in 1977 for a miniature diode/battery power-pack device to illuminate various beverage and cocktail glasses; however he did not pursue its manufacture.

In August 1978, Brother Frank was assigned to the Brothers Unit in Western Samoa where he worked as Chancery Administrator and Technical Director under Cardinal Pio Taofinu’u. His responsibilities included the maintenance and upkeep of the various Archdiocesan facilities.  

In October 1992 Brother Frank entered the Special Society Unit, but continued working in Samoa until mid-1997, when he returned to the United States. In 2001 he became a member of the Retirement Community (now called the Senior Missioner Community) after the Special Society Unit was discontinued. He resided at the Society Center in Maryknoll, New York, where he was near his many Maryknoll friends. 

Around the Center, Brother Frank was known for being a master repairman and could restore seemingly unfixable things to better than their original condition. He was especially appreciated for his sense of humor and for enthusiastically telling stories and jokes. He loved to laugh and to make others laugh, and his fellow Maryknollers enjoyed being in his company. He was described as generous, always available, and was a friend to everyone. He would bring daily communion to his neighbors who were sick, and check on them regularly to see if they needed anything. He was also very loyal to Maryknoll and never criticized or complained. Brother Frank had deep faith in God and was devoted to the Blessed Mother. He was very aware of his blessings and was grateful to God for them. 

Wake services were held on December 10, 2025 in the Holy Spirit Chapel and the Queen of Apostles Chapel at the Maryknoll Society Center. Mass of Christian Burial followed at 11:00 a.m. and was concelebrated in the Queen of Apostles Chapel. Father Lance Nadeau was the Celebrant and homilist. Father Alfonso Kim read the biography and Brother Brendan Corkery read the Oath. Burial followed in the Maryknoll Society Cemetery with Father Lance Nadeau presiding at the graveside prayers.

Each Maryknoll priest is requested to offer Mass for the repose of the soul of Brother Norris; all Maryknollers are requested to remember him in their private and public prayers.