Obituary: Frank Chiles Praeger

Houghton: Dr. Frank Chiles Praeger, 85, of Houghton, died on Sunday, May 26, 2019 at the Omega House, after a lengthy battle against heart disease. He was buried in the Chassell Township Cemetery on Tuesday, May 28, attended by his wife, Dr. Betzabe Praeger and friends.

Frank was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on December 30, 1933, the son of Frank Hardesty Praeger and Elizabeth Ann Chiles. Frank attended Lawrenceville Secondary School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and obtained a BA in philosophy at the University of Oklahoma. After service in the US Army, he worked as a computer programmer for the US government, obtained a MA in Mathematics, and later a PhD in molecular biology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He subsequently conducted research in cell aging at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, accompanied by his wife Betzabe, a cell biologist, whom he married in 1979.

Frank was devoted to the arts as well as to science. He painted, played the cello, and published poetry in literary journals throughout the world. He has also published two books of poetry, “Places and Occasions” with his wife, and “Sighs and Stray Gusts and Other Occasional Poems”.

Frank is survived by his wife, his sister, Betty Ann McCarthy of Bradenton, Florida, a nephew, David McCarthy, and two nieces, Susan and Janine McCarthy.

The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock assisted with the arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.