A Moment of Silence for Franklin Fryer

At the beginning of the first full Town Council meeting since Franklin Fryer died at age 91, councilors remembered the longtime Weymouth Town Clerk with a few words and a moment of silence.

"He dedicated his life to giving back to his community and his country," Council President Arthur Mathews said. "Frank devoted his life to the Town of Weymouth and will be remembered by all he touched."

Fryer passed away Feb. 11. The Weymouth native earned a Purple Heart for service during World War II, and afterward worked at the Fore River Shipyard and joined the Board of Selectmen.

From 1954 until 1999, when Weymouth switched forms of government, Fryer was a Town Meeting member. He was elected Town Clerk in 1976, serving until his retirement in 2011.

Fryer oversaw nine Presidential elections and performed about 1,500 marriages as Justice of the Peace, according to his obituary on Legacy.com. He was buried in Old North Cemetery.

"We will certainly miss Frank dearly," Councilor Michael Smart said.