Andres Franco

Andre Franco, who loved the Coastside people and community, died in Green Cove Springs, FL, on June

6. He was a cherished husband, father, friend, local business owner and volunteer known for Friday

Night Social Hour and his wildly, wonderful embrace of life.

He leaves behind his best friend and wife of 43 years Mary “Rocky” Law and his beloved son Dwayne

Franco. He also leaves his siblings Maria (and Bill) Brady of Petaluma, Mercedes (and Dave) Brady of

Shingletown, Rebeca (and Dale) Franco-Stanley of Weed, Laura Troy of Los Angeles, Andrea (and

Mathew) Cook of West Virginia, Anita (and Brad) Durham of Kentucky, Kevin (and Robin) Franco of

Virginia as well as 11 nephews and nieces plus countless friends who all have their own Andre stories.

Andre and Rocky moved to Half Moon Bay in 1987. Along with Dwayne, they lived in their Coastside

home until they moved to Florida in 2015. Their home was a gathering place for Superbowl parties,

Labor Day Block barbeques. Theatre goers or to enjoy a glass of wine. Ever the art lovers, their walls

were covered with paintings and photos.

Friday Night Social Hour was their brainchild. Each week Andre faithfully sent notices to everyone who

wanted to meet on Friday night at a local restaurant, bar or winery. There they would find Andre

perched with his drink, good conversation and infectious laugh. He and Rocky also started and

organized the Annual Small Business Holiday Party, which was the social event of the season for many

small business owners.

Whether it was Dwayne’s school, Boy Scout troop or a community cause that needed volunteers, Andre

along with Rocky was willing and eager to pitch in. They both poured thousands of gallons of wine at the

Chamber of Commerce Pumpkin and Art Festival booth over the years.

Andre was born to Andres Carbo Franco and Pilar Gomez-Franco on August 8, 1947 in San Francisco,

where he was raised.

After serving in the Army, he ventured to his family’s native country of Ecuador where he lived and

worked for a year. Upon his return, he began his 10-year career in banking. He worked in international

operations and loans with Security Pacific National Bank (now Bank of America) and California Canadian

Bank. He followed with 10 years in the Treasury Department of a Silicon Valley Semi-Conductor Firm

where he was responsible for Credit Management, Insurance Risk and Money Management of over $100

million in reserve funds.

Andre and Rocky were married in 1976 and lived in Sunnyvale until their move to Half Moon Bay. They

started ANDROC Business Services when Andre lost his job in a merger and Rocky lost hers in the “Black

Monday” Stock Market crash of 1987. They decided to combine their work experience and skills to

create their own business with the express purpose of helping small businesses on the Coastside. As a

boss, Andre loved picking fights with his employees knowing full well that he was going to lose.

Andre served as President of the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce, and Treasurer of the Rotary

Club of Half Moon Bay. The Chamber of Commerce awarded him the 2011 Lifetime Volunteer

Achievement Award. He was also a part of an informal Monday Night men’s group.

Andre will come home to California to be interred at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in

Shasta County. A Friday Night Social Hour to celebrate Andre and raise a glass in his memory in Half

Moon Bay is being planned.