Obituary of Fr. Francis R. Wolfram

FR. FRANK WOLFRAM, SDB Fr. Frank Wolfram, SDB, 79, died of cancer at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx on Jan. 25. Fr. Wolfram was secretary of the New Rochelle Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco and a member of the provincial residence community in New Rochelle, N.Y., from September 2004 until his death. Fr. Wolfram was born to Frederick and Catherine Wolfram on Mar. 18, 1932, in Riverside, N.J. After graduation from Camden Catholic High School in 1949, he entered Don Bosco Seminary, and he made his first profession of vows on Sept. 8, 1951. Fr. Wolfram studied theology at Salesian theological schools in Aptos, Calif., and Benediktbeuern, Germany. He learned German by immersion, which later proved useful not only for teaching it at the high school level but also for preaching, confessions, and ministry at the German and Austrian consulates in New York City. Having earned a master's degree in theology, Fr. Wolfram was ordained at Benediktbeuern on June 29, 1962. Most of Fr. Wolfram's Salesian life was spent in the province's schools: Salesian High School in New Rochelle (teacher 1954-1956, 1962-1964, vice principal and principal 1966-1973, director 1978-1980), Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J. (teacher 1956-1957), Don Bosco Technical High School in Paterson, N.J. (teacher 1957-1958, 1990-1991), Don Bosco Technical High School in Boston (dean of students 1964-1966), St. Dominic Savio High School in East Boston (teacher 1973-1974), Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, La. (principal 1974-1978), LaSalle High School in Miami (principal 1980-1985), and Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa (director 1994-1997). He was a skilled teacher of religion, English, German, and world history at all levels of high school. While he was principal in New Rochelle, Salesian High reached its peak enrollment of 567 boys. He maintained relationships with many of the alumni for years, which he happily refreshed annually at the President's Dinners. The school honored him thrice, in 1984 as its first honorary alumnus, in 2003 with its Distinguished Faculty Award, and in 2005 with the St. Francis de Sales Award for Outstanding Service. Having earned a master's degree in educational administration and supervision at Boston College (1975), he served as the province's superintendent of schools from 1979 to 1985. He also served on the provincial council in those years. Fr. Wolfram was director of the provincial residence in New Rochelle twice (1982-1985, 2005-2008) and of the Salesian Center in Columbus, Ohio (1991-1994), where he guided the students of theology, their pastoral ministries, and the Salesian Boys & Girls Club. His service in the field of Salesian formation also included preaching retreats to novices and giving courses in Scripture, Salesian history, and Salesian education to novices and prenovices. For seven years Fr. Wolfram preached adult retreats at Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw-Stony Point, N.Y. (1997-2004), and until his final illness he remained a popular retreat preacher for both religious and parishes with constant requests for a weeklong or a weekend retreat for various groups. As a spiritual director and confessor, he was a compassionate listener who was able to bring his broad experience to the assistance of penitents and counselees. Throughout his priestly years he enjoyed assisting in local parishes on weekends. He took great care to celebrate the liturgy as Don Bosco insisted: "fervently, devoutly, attentively," which people very much appreciated. Likewise, they found him to be a superb homilist who always had a message to deliver in a way that made it easy to follow his line of thought. Fr. Wolfram is survived by two sisters, Margaret Picklo of Delran, N.J., and Mary Bernadette Kavanaugh of Dallas, Texas; a brother, Michael of Moorestown, N.J.; a sister-in-law, Mae Wolfram of Westmont, N.J.; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Two brothers, Joseph and Anthony, died earlier. Fr. Wolfram will be waked in the chapel of Salesian High School, 148 Main Street, New Rochelle, N.Y., 10801. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Augustine Church, 18 Cherry Avenue, Larchmont, N.Y., 10538. Fr. Wolfram will be buried in the Salesian Cemetery in Goshen, N.Y.