SACO, Maine—Francis J. "Skip" Savage, 84, of Saco, formerly of Grand Beach in Old Orchard Beach, Maine and Port Charlotte, Florida, died April 21, 2016, at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford, Maine.

A native of Torrington, Connecticut, Skip lived in Connecticut for the first 40 years of his life.  He was an Honors graduate from the University of Connecticut where he also received his Masters of Business Administration.  While at UConn, he served as manager of the basketball team for four years and twice attended the NCAA tournament as a team member.  He also served as business manager of the U of C Little Theatre for two seasons.

His first career employment was in the advertising business prior to joining Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in 1962.  He was later transferred to the Aetna Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut in 1971.  In 1981 he transferred to Philadelphia to help form GIGNA.  He spent over 31 years with the Corporation prior to retiring in 1991 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as Marketing Vice President.  His responsibilities included Insurance Agency Relations which placed him in contact with many sport celebrities and entertainers, including Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Jacobsen, Steve Melynk, Hubert Green and many others.  His job enabled he and his late wife, Bette, to act as hosts to hundreds of customers at 4 British Opens and 4 Wimbledon tournament as well as numerous insurance meetings conducted by the Independent  Insurance Agents of America.

Mr. Savage is  a Past Chairman of the Greater Hartford Open (Travelers Championship), for years New England's  only PGA  Tour stop.  For the past 30 years he acted as one of the official starters and tee announcers for the tournament.  In Maine, he was a member of the Biddeford-Saco Country Club and a member of the Maine Seniors Golf Association.

From 1951 to 1954 he served the  U S Coast Guard .

For many years he served as an usher at the early morning Sunday Masses in St. Margaret's Church in Old Orchard Beach.

His loving wife, Elizabeth A. "Bette" Walsh Savage, predeceased him.  She died February 1, 2013.

Survivors include two sons, Scott of Greensboro, North Carolina and Kyle of Pinehurst, North Carolina; a step son, Michael Schwartz of Hawaii; 5 grandchildren, Meghan, Sarah, Mollie, Kashner and Annie.

Visitation will be 9:30-10:30 AM, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, at the OLD ORCHARD BEACH FUNERAL HOME, 36 Portland Avenue,  Old Orchard Beach.  A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 AM in St. Margaret's Church, Corner of Old Orchard Street and Saco Avenue in Old Orchard Beach.  Interment will be in the family lot in Mt Hope Cemetery, in Lewiston with Military Honors.

Arrangements are by the OLD ORCHARD BEACH FUNERAL HOME.