NORTHFORD - Donald L. Franco, a resident of Northford, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016, at Yale New Haven Hospital. He was 78 years old.Don was born on Oct. 15, 1938, in New Haven, to Louis and Camilla Franco. He was preceded in death by his parents.Don is survived by his wife, Lorraine; brother, Leonard (Janis); beloved nieces, Debbie and Maura; aunt, Georgeanne DiVito; and several close cousins. He was especially close to Anthony, Frank and Vinny Finelli, Lenny, Mike, Erica, and Ashley Hottin. Don attended Quinnipiac University, and the National School of Real Estate Finance at Ohio State University. He had an extensive early career in banking and real estate serving as senior appraiser, and assistant vice president of the Colonial Bank and Trust in Waterbury. In 1972, he commenced his health care career when he acquired Teresa Guest Home in East Haven. This then led to expanding his healthcare career when he designed and built Talmadge Park Health Care in East Haven and in1986, he acquired Astoria Park Rehab and Nursing Center in Bridgeport. In 1993, he became owner of East Shore Development, Inc. which built Laurel Woods Nursing home in East Haven. He was also owner of DLF Associates, a professional health care management firm. His professional activities included a strong affiliation with the Connecticut Association of Healthcare Facilities where he served as a member of the board of directors and was founder and treasurer of the Nursing Home Industry Political Action Committee (NHI-PAC and served in several capacities in the American Heath Care Association. He was a certified fellow of the American College of Health Care Administrators. He was an administrator-in-training preceptor in association with Quinnipiac College and the University of Connecticut. He was awarded the Distinguished Administrator Award from American College of Health Care Administrators. His community activities included founding board member of East Shore Regional Adult Day Care, chairman of the board of East Haven Counseling Services, board of directors of the East Haven Mental Health Services, president of the Exchange Club, East Haven Chapter. His hobbies included photography, sports cars, car racing watching Notre Dame football, the New York Giants and Yankee baseball. He loved playing cards with his cousins and friends. He loved to travel to Italy, France, London, Aruba and Las Vegas, Nev. He enjoyed music, concerts and Broadway plays. He loved spending time with his family, friends and Portia his beloved Malamute. Family and friends attended a Mass of Christian burial in St. Therese Church, North Haven on Saturday, Dec. 17, and were invited to attend the committal services following in the All Saints Mausoleum. The North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Ave., has been entrusted with the arrangements. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Donald L. Franco Memorial Scholarship Fund, Notre Dame High School, 1 Notre Dame Way, West Haven, CT 06516. www.northhavenfuneral.com