This article appeared in the 2/21/2019 editions of the GROTON and MYSTIC TIMES
Notes from the Old Noank Jail
“Mick” O’Beirne – remembered
by Ed Johnson
On Monday, February 4, 2019, Groton lost one of its most valuable assets in the form of Frank “Mick” O’Beirne, Jr. of Mystic. For myself, I lost a friend for whom I had great respect, even when we didn’t always agree on some political issues.
Mick had a distinguished military career, starting very informally at the young age of 5 years old, while living in Hawaii as a Navy son, when Pearl Harbor was bombed. This major incident did not deter him from enlisting in the Navy later on, as well as eventually retiring with the rank of Captain.
Mick became the Commander of the Polaris/Poseidon missile nuclear submarine George Washington Carver (SSBN 656), which had been launched in 1965, and later took command of the Naval Submarine Base in Kings Bay, Georgia. In addition, he also acted in a leadership capacity at the Pentagon with both the Trident and Tomahawk missile programs. After he retired, Mick and his previous Navy background would become a major benefit to the Town of Groton.
Mick served for over 19 years on the Groton Town Council, including one full term as Town Mayor. One of his major tasks in 2003 – 2004 was to also serve as Vice Chairman of the Sub Base Realignment Coalition. The goal was to overturn or thwart federal and military base closure decisions that would result in the Submarine Base leaving the Groton area completely. This effort included Mick, as a retired Navy Captain, going to Washington with another official to meet directly with the Assistant Navy Secretary. There were other officials who made supportive political efforts as well and the happy end result of this teamwork was that the Navy Sub base remained in Groton. It was an important victory.
During Mick’s career, his wife Kathleen, a teacher and author in her own right, raised their two children and devoted a considerable amount of her personal time being an advocate and helping to provide support for Navy families.
My own involvement with Mick came from our mutual interest in making Groton a better place in which to work and live. Mick was the Town Council member seeking opinions from others on certain financial aspects of taxation and control of Town costs. At that time, I had begun taking an interest in local affairs, primarily as a part-time journalist.
Mick formed a committee to study residential property revaluations, which some of us felt were unfair and too high. Our group included representatives from real estate, financial, corporate and accounting backgrounds. We did find areas for improvement and with Mick’s support some adjustments were made for future revaluations. I credit him with being open minded and willing to change course if we could prove it was needed.
There were other problem areas where Mick and I along with several others felt there needed to be more control, and school expansion/new construction was one of these. We were successful in helping to address a problem involving school administration as well, which set the stage for a more organized school expansion program later on, as we’ve seen recently.
Both of us were disappointed with the manner in which the renovation of the downtown Mystic area was handled, including concerns with the “bump out” curbing. We felt that the Town had gone with an agenda rather than paying more attention to local residential opinions. We lost that battle, but not the war, because adjustments were made in co-operation with the planning department that made information on new Town projects more accessible to the taxpayers.
Mick’s major assets involved (a) being well organized and (b) knowing his subject matter thoroughly (such as the Town Charter) so that he could speak intelligently and with authority. But there was also a gracious, human side to him as well, as best summarized to me by our present Town Mayor, Patrice Granatosky.
“I also had great respect for Mick. I met him when I first started on the RTM in 1995. I remember going to hearings where he was very kind and patient to this rookie learning the ropes in Groton. And over the years he was a wealth of knowledge, always taking my phone calls when I had questions. Great attention to detail and always well-prepared for debate. And a fair man.I agree that he will indeed be missed.”
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