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Francis Draeger, Started Markets

Posted on: Friday, 8 July 2005, 21:00 CDT

Jul. 8--Francis "Frank" Draeger wasn't looking to cater to the rich when he opened the first of his Draeger's Supermarkets in San Mateo in 1949.

"Affluence is not what my dad was all about," said Joany Draeger, the youngest of Mr. Draeger's 10 children. 'He just liked sharing all the things he enjoyed." And the things he enjoyed happened to be gourmet foods.

So last Friday, it was work as usual for the inveterate grocer. After daily mass at St. Bartholomew Church in San Mateo with his wife, Mary, Mr. Draeger headed for his office in South San Francisco. The next day, the couple planned to drive to Ben Lomond for a weekend with their family. But early Saturday , Mr. Draeger, 86, died in his sleep at his home in Hillsborough.

"Frank was a person who deserved a nice quiet death," reflected John Keller, a fellow parishioner and family friend for 35 years. He was a man who loved his family, his work and his religion.

"Catholic to the core," said Joany Draeger of her folks. "How else would you explain 10 kids?"

Mr. Draeger was born April 1, 1919, in San Francisco. His love for the grocery business blossomed early on, working alongside his father, Gustave, in the family's Draeger's Delicatessen.

As the store prospered and Mr. Draeger's appreciation for good food and wine developed, there was never a question that he would do anything else.

Since its start in San Mateo, Draeger's has added stores in Menlo Park and Los Altos and employs 600 -- including six of the Draeger children. Saturday, Draeger's stores will be closed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to allow employees to attend Mr. Draeger's funeral.)

The secret to Mr. Draeger's success: "He loved everything he did," Joany Draeger said. That carried over into his charitable work for Sacred Heart schools, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

For years, the Draegers and Kellers accompanied sick and frail people on pilgrimages to bathe in a sacred spring in Lourdes, France.

Mr. Draeger served with the Army Air Corps in World War II, Keller said. And at home, he racked up a number of awards for community service. His secret for determining doneness: "Poke it with your finger," she said, adding, "Dad was the happiest man I have ever met."

FRANCIS JEAN DRAEGER

--Born: April 1,1919, in San Francisco

--Died: July 2, 2005, in Hillsborough

--Survived by: His wife, Mary Diepenbrock Draeger; 10 children, including John Draeger of Los Altos Hills, Clotilde Lockwood of San Mateo, Anthony Draeger of Menlo Park, James Draeger of Belvedere, Richard Draeger of Woodside, Patrick Draeger of Sonoma, Peter Draeger of Portola Valley, Mary Claire DeSoto of Redwood City, Rebecca Peters of San Carlos and Joany Draeger of Redwood City; sister Harriet Draeger of San Mateo; and 22 grandchildren.

--Services: Rosary vigil is 7 p.m. today and funeral is 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Bartholomew Church, 300 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, 94402.

--Memorial: Donations in Frank Draeger's name can be sent to St. Bartholomew or Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 50 N. B St., San Mateo, Calif., 94401.

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Copyright (c) 2005, San Jose Mercury News, Calif.

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Source: San Jose Mercury News

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