Obituary: Francis Churchill, 1967-2025

Francis Churchill saw each day as an opportunity for connection. He nurtured the brightest parts of life through teaching, caring and volunteering. He welcomed all the joy and love and connection that came back to him. Francis knew that the magic lay in the experience of living and often remarked that “life, at its very best, is a series of ups and downs.” Francis’ intellectual curiosity informed his actions, resulting in a deeply purposeful and well-considered life. Francis made us feel seen and encouraged us to be our truest and weirdest selves. He loved us for who we are.

Francis was born on November 26, 1967, to Delores Howe and Rodney Churchill in Richmond, Vt. He graduated from Mount Mansfield Union High School in 1985, then attended the U.S. Air Force Academy for two years, before graduating from the University of Vermont with a degree in biology in 1990. Francis worked at UVM for 32 years, most recently as the director of environmental health and safety.

Francis had a deep connection to his home. He grew up with five older brothers, running wild in the rivers and hills surrounding the family home in Jonesville. He later raised his own family in the same house and passed on his love of the land. Even with 57 summers of diving into the same swimming holes, he still thought he was the luckiest person in the world to live across the road from the “healing powers of the Huntington River.” He loved exploring deep in the woods on his skis in search of untracked snow and other small wonders. He learned to ski at Cochran’s, taught his daughters to ski at Cochran’s and volunteered for 15 years on the Bolton Valley Ski Patrol. Francis celebrated his 50th birthday by hiking the Long Trail, relishing both quiet reflection and making new friends on trails and mountains he had loved all his life. He particularly enjoyed “taking a lichen” to everyone he hiked with. He was called to stewardship and took care of the rivershore trail in Richmond for many years: mowing, lopping, building bridges and rerouting the trail as yearly floods changed the path of the river. He rejoiced in sunrises, evening light and great blue heron sightings.

Franny was a really good friend. He deeply valued his lifelong friendships and delighted in meeting new people. Franny connected with his friends over bike rides, ski trips and local beer. He delivered still-warm blueberry muffins to neighbors on Christmas morning. His colleagues became like family through his years of service to UVM. He loved to linger in the company of friends, and he never rushed a conversation or moment of connection (which made for long trips to the Richmond market).

His playful spirit also made Francis a certified “funcle,” and he brought giggles and guidance to his many nieces and nephews at Churchill reunions in Vermont and at annual Dugan beach weeks in North Carolina. When they hosted an exchange student for a year, Gabby became a bonus daughter to Franny, and he loved her dearly.

In a life of many joys, Francis found his most profound happiness in his family. He married the love of his life, Molly Dugan, in the Round Church on a chilly April day in 1998. Over their 31 years together, they shared hikes and paddles and books and meals and road trips. He loved Molly’s sense of humor, her encouragement and her less-than-impressed reactions to his worst jokes (yes, Francis … you are a “fungi”). Francis and Molly were true partners, whose strength came from their differences and their deep respect and admiration for each other. Who else could convince Molly to try winter camping? Who else could convince Francis to raise backyard chickens? They chose, each day, to love each other.

When it came to his daughters, Francis was in 100 percent. He read every Harry Potter book. He baked every birthday cake. He attended — and more than that, actively participated in — every cross-country meet and basketball game. Francis was in awe of his girls’ pursuits of music. “They practiced!” he would exclaim. At every concert (and there were so many concerts), he would close his eyes, take in the music they made and puff up with pride during their solos. Francis took Ellie and Ginny rock climbing, skiing and hiking. He taught them how to change tires and use a table saw, tie knots and load the dishwasher — the correct way. Even when he played with them, he played 100 percent. Flying kites, swamping the canoe and constructing cavernous snow forts. He passed along his delight of sweets — and proper dental hygiene.

Francis loved Ginny and Ellie. He told them so and showed them so.

Francis died on October 11, 2025, after suffering a severe hemorrhagic stroke while on his morning run along the rivershore trail with his dog Roux. He was 57 years old. He is deeply missed by his wife of 27 years, Molly Dugan, and their daughters, Ginny and Ellie Churchill; his older brothers, Rodney (Madine), Oscar (Audrey), David, Nigel (Barb), and Herb (Laurie) Churchill and their children; the entire Churchill and Dugan families; and countless friends, colleagues and neighbors. He adored his mother and remained devoted to her through her death in 2024.

A celebration of life will be held on November 1, 2025, 3 p.m., at the Ponds at Bolton Valley. Donations can be made to the Warmth program of CVOEO and the Green Mountain Club.

Please remember Francis through caring for your community and outdoor spaces. Talk (and listen) to your neighbors, pick up litter, annihilate knotweed, put a smile on someone’s face. Do all that you can to rejoice in the good in this world, because it is there, and Francis knew that.

This article appears in The Tech Issue • 2025.