On December 10th, Arthur Francis Fallon,(77), – devoted husband, beloved father & grandfather, and loyal friend— ended his long and arduous struggle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marianna (Pierson), and children Matthew (AnnaMarie Ricci), Kelley (Peter Kobella), Rachel (James Webb), Aasha (Bill Trowbridge), Gayathri (Enaksha Wickremsinhe), and his grandchildren Marisha, Fiona, Liam, Lawrence, Thomas, Nina, David, Greta, Abram.
Born in Quincy, MA, December 16, 1941, Arthur moved to Terre Haute, IN, as a student and athlete of Indiana State University, his time & professors there being a life-changing turning point for a positive new trajectory. He met and married his wife, started a family, and after graduating began his first career of teaching. He taught history and coached both football and wrestling at Marion High School. After earning his Master’s, he taught at Schulte High School, a place he remembered ever-after as an exemplar of both academic and collegial character.
Upon moving back to Quincy, he was a teacher and coach at North Quincy High School for several years before changing careers and becoming a merchant mariner with Exxon Mobil. Family, viewed expansively as “what you make it,” was always his focal point, opening his home to many people throughout the years including numerous exchange students. He eventually moved back to Indiana, settling in Indianapolis and Franklin; each step open to new experiences, and in each finding special friends who would remain significant throughout his life.
Upon retirement, he had more time for his interests: reading, gardening, collecting thought-provoking quotations or merely funny jokes and tall tales to share with his growing clan of grand children, which eventually numbered nine. Retirement allowed he and his wife to travel extensively, and make new friends around the world. Even in illness, he prioritized family and lived true to his beliefs. One of his favorite quotes, from the poem Invictus: “Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the horror of the shade. And yet the menace of the years finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. A funeral mass will be said for Arthur at St. Monica’s Catholic Church on Thursday, December 20th, at 10:00 a.m. A celebration of his life will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the 9 Irish Brothers Pub on Massachusetts Ave. in Indy. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to ISU. Albertson’s Mortuary, www.albertsonsmortuary.com