Frank Considine

Frank Considine became general sales manager for National Can in 1961. He rose to become president in 1969 and later added the titles of CEO and chairman. The Chicago-born executive first tangled with Victor Posner, who amassed a 38% stake. When Mr. Posner retreated, the duo of Nelson Peltz and Peter May bought National Can, merged it with a rival packaging firm and sold the combined business to Pechiney SA of France. Mr. Considine later served on the boards of dozens of institutions including Loyola University Chicago and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He died Aug. 2 at home in Glenview, Ill., two weeks before his 95th birthday. He had suffered a stroke in June.Francis William Considine, known as Frank, was born Aug. 16, 1921, in Chicago, where he grew up in the South Shore neighborhood. His father was a sales manager for a coal-distribution company. His mother worked for the local draft board and at a bank. During high school, he worked as a caddie at the South Shore Country Club—a job he later said gave him social skills that helped him the rest of his life. He graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1943 with a degree in philosophy. He then served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After returning to Chicago, he worked as a booking agent for bands and orchestras and married the former Nancy Scott, who rebuffed him the first time he asked for a date. A chance meeting with Jerry Graham, an older man he had met before the war at the South Shore Country Club, led to a job at Mr. Graham’s company, which made olive jars. Mr. Considine served on numerous corporate boards, including those of First Chicago Corp. and Tribune Co. He also was chairman of the finance committee of the Archdiocese of Chicago and served on the board of trustees of the Field Museum, among many other civic activities. Mr. Considine is survived by his wife of 68 years, Nancy, their nine children, 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.