Francis W. Dubreuil
Sept. 15, 1948-Aug. 22, 2026
Pasadena, California
Francis William Dubreuil died peacefully in Pasadena, California on August 22, 2026, after a long illness. He was 77.
Frank was born and raised in Westport, Massachusetts, the fifth of seven children born to Lydia (Banville) Dubreuil and Leo R. Dubreuil. He was a student at Saint George School and at Bishop Stang High School, and he credited his teachers there with inspiring him to pursue his education. Frank distinguished himself early on as a bright and curious student who excelled and took pleasure in academics. After graduating magna cum laude from Boston College with a BS in Economics, he went on to receive a JD from Harvard Law School and an MS in Business from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
A long-time partner at Goodwin Procter & Hoar in Boston and at Wilson Sonsini in Palo Alto, Frank focused on family estate planning and tax law. He took great satisfaction in using his legal acumen to steer clients toward effective philanthropy. For four years he was Senior Vice President and National Managing Director of Global Wealth Management at AllianceBernstein in San Francisco, and he retired in 2015 as a practicing shareholder at Hopkins Carley in Palo Alto. Frank loved and respected the law, and believed in the ethical responsibilities that accompanied his work.
An avid student of history, Frank enjoyed historical biographies and documentaries. He loved libraries, college campuses, the seashore and the halls of Congress as they were when he was young. A lifelong Democrat, Frank never stopped believing in democracy and good government.
Dearest to Frank’s heart were his children and grandchildren. He believed in and supported their dreams and helped them in every way he could. He was a devoted husband to Marcia and a steadfast and beloved son-in-law to her parents, Charles and Jessie Beall. He was a loyal and generous son, brother, uncle, mentor and friend. Frank adored his dogs and found immense joy in his garden. It felt appropriate that he shared his name with ‘Francis Dubreuil,’ a prize-winning tea rose introduced in 1894. He was a dedicated, adopted Californian who always rooted for the Red Sox. Frank had a beautiful singing voice and a resonant laugh. He loved George and Ira Gershwin, Ella Fitzgerald, James Taylor, and Otis Redding. The shifting of the constellations fascinated and delighted him, and he never missed an opportunity to stand outside taking in the full moon with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcia Beall Dubreuil; his three children: Jessie Dubreuil, her spouse, Aran Nichol, and their daughter Helen Dubreuil Nichol; Owen Dubreuil, his former spouse, Rachel Hirshberg, and their children Henry Dubreuil and Lola Dubreuil; Ellen Dubreuil and her spouse Timothy Finn; his sister, Claudette Rowland; his brother-in-law, Charles R. Beall, Jr.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Lydia Dubreuil, and his siblings, Irene Wright, Leo Dubreuil, Lucille Dubreuil, and Michael Dubreuil. His brother James Dubreuil died on August 25, 2026.
Frank’s family wishes to extend their utmost appreciation and love to his kind and thoughtful caregivers both in Palo Alto and in Pasadena.
A service will be held at Alta Mesa Cemetery in Palo Alto on October 2, 2026 at 1:30pm.