Francis (Frank) Joseph Gould of Bethlehem, Pa. died on Dec. 19, 2022. He fought relentlessly against ALS but ultimately succumbed to the disease, dying peacefully with his children and wife Deborah at his side. He was 73.

He was born Oct. 28, 1949 to Joseph Anthony and Carole Loughlin Gould. He grew up in North Philadelphia with siblings Mary Ann and Joseph Jr. and younger brothers William and Robert. He spent his youth roaming the neighborhood in search of pick-up baseball games and good fishing spots.

He graduated from LaSalle College with a B.A. in 1971. He enrolled at Notre Dame and earned his J.D in 1974, finishing first in his class together with one other student who also maintained a perfect straight-A record — which was a first at the law school. He then attended New York University School of Law and earned his tax LLM in 1975.

After a judicial clerkship in Doylestown, Pa., he accepted a position at the Appellate Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He argued many cases before the United States Supreme Court, advocating for the people of this country. After four years with Justice, Frank was hired at Prudential in Newark, N.J. He eventually took a business role at Prudential to become head of the structured transactions group and earned the Chairman’s Award in 2000.

He met his wife, Deborah Jean Contreras, in Washington, D.C. in 1976. In search of a loan for a MGB sports car, he walked into a credit union and saw a beautiful woman sitting inside. He immediately asked her for a date. They married on Nov. 4, 1978 at Saint Matthew’s Cathedral in D.C. The couple had three children: Paige, Logan and Halley.

Though Frank would achieve much in his life, he often claimed that his children were his greatest source of pride. He celebrated each of them as they entered the professions of education, law and medicine.

In 1981, Deborah and Frank took a vacation that would change their lives: they visited Martha’s Vineyard. They would then spend the next 38 summers on Island, initially for only a few weeks and eventually for entire summers.

In 1992 they purchased a cottage on the grounds of the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. The house was a labor of love: they spent years remodel ing, building, re-building and annually re-painting the salt-licked gingerbread. They transformed the cottage into a home that became the center of their family and community life. After retirement, Frank focused on the preservation work of the MVCMA. He later joined the board of directors to lead efforts to rehabilitate the Tabernacle and grounds and to resurrect Montgomery Square. It was among the oaks and cottages that Frank found great joy and peace.

In 2008, Frank and Deborah began a new and final adventure in Costa Rica when they purchased a mountainside house in Guanacaste. They would stay for the winter, inviting family and friends to join them. They found dear friends there and committed their time to local volunteering.

Their adventures were cut short by the cruel progression of ALS. Frank spent his last years surrounded by his family and friends.

Frank is survived by his loving wife Deborah Gould; brothers Joseph Gould Jr. of River Vale, N.J., Robert Gould of Coatesville, Pa. and William Gould of Humble, Tex.; his children Paige Black of Takoma Park, Md., Zachary Logan Gould of Yardley, Pa. and Halley Contreras-Gould of Riegelsville, Pa.; and his grandchildren, Jude Black, Callum Black, Hopkins (Poppy) Gould and Hans Gould. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Ann Gould, of Richboro Pa.