‘Generous, kind, creative’: Banker Frank McCord dies at 87

Frank McCord’s local banking career was a second chapter in a long professional life. By the time he took the reins of Everett’s Cascade Bank in the 1990s, McCord had already retired after decades with a global accounting and auditing company.

It was marriage in 1986 that brought McCord to Everett from his former home in Bellevue, said Mary Ann McCord, his wife of 32 years. McCord became deeply involved in his new community. He contributed financially and gave his time and expertise to many organizations.

Frank Moyle McCord died Saturday at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett after suffering a stroke while traveling. He was 87. A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9509 19th Ave. SE, in Everett.

“He was a remarkably magnificent man,” Mary Ann McCord said. “He made a difference in other people’s lives.”

A devoted family man, McCord is survived by his five children, Jennifer Thorley, Shawn McCord, Julie Staples, Scott McCord and Sterling McCord; and by four stepchildren, Michelle Purrington, Jon Marple, Mark Marple and Lori Stoa. He also leaves his brother John McCord, sister Patricia McClain, 31 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

“What a fine gentleman. We go back to the days of earlier banking in Everett,” said Hank Robinett, McCord’s friend and a longtime Snohomish County real estate developer. “I have a very deep respect for Frank. He was a wonderful man.”

McCord had retired in 1986 as managing partner of KPMG Peat Marwick in Seattle, part of a global auditing and accounting firm. His widow said he’d been hired as an “office boy” while in college in California and stayed with the company nearly 40 years. His work involved auditing West Coast banks. He had also spent five years with the firm in New York.

In the late 1980s, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal, he joined the board of directors of Everett’s Cascade Savings and Loan. By 1990, he was chairman of Cascade’s board and went on to head both Cascade Bank — which became a full-service bank in 1992 — and its holding company, Cascade Financial Corp.

Robinett got to know McCord while on the board of Everett-based American First National Bank. It was acquired by Cascade Bank in 1997. “He was just a real sharp business person — and a nice person,” Robinett said.

It was 2002 when McCord stepped down as CEO of Cascade Financial Corp. and Cascade Bank. He was succeeded by Carol Nelson. In 2011, nearly a decade after McCord’s second retirement, Cascade Bank was purchased by California-based Opus Bank, which still operates in Everett.

McCord was born June 23, 1930, in Los Angeles. His mother died when he was a boy. “He had lots of obstacles to overcome,” Mary Ann McCord said. He earned an undergraduate degree from UCLA and served two years in the Army, attaining the rank of sergeant. He later earned a master’s degree in accounting at the University of Southern California.

His contributions to higher education included financial support through the University of Washington President’s Club, now the President’s Circle, and serving on the boards of Seattle University, Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound.

Locally, he had been president of the Everett Rotary Club and the Everett Chamber of Commerce. He headed an annual fundraising campaign for United Way of Snohomish County, and was involved with the YMCA. McCord was honored in 1997 with a Henry M. Jackson Humanitarian Award, and in 2003 with the Lions International Medal of Merit.

Dr. Sanford Wright, an Everett neurosurgeon involved in the arts, became acquainted with McCord when they were both on the Everett Performing Arts Center board. Wright, who since 2001 has spearheaded the annual “Christmas Spectacular” in Everett, said it was McCord who named that fundraising event. The annual show supports local food banks and other charities.

“He named it the ‘Christmas Spectacular,’” Wright said. “It sounded like such an ostentatious name for such a little show, but it turned out to be great.” Wright described McCord as “a great professional — he was generous, kind, considerate and creative.”

“He liked to make sure things were done correctly,” said Wright, who recalled relaxing visits to the McCords’ Everett home.

McCord’s children describe him as a man of love, faith, wisdom and humor.

“He was known in the community for his professional, civic and charitable work. To us as his family, he was a beloved father, brother, uncle and grandfather,” said Shawn McCord, of Bellevue. As partriarch of an extended family, he said, his father made sure to be at family events.

“My father taught us many valuable lessons, including the importance of education and a strong work ethic. He also had a refreshing sense of humor and quick wit,” Shawn McCord said.

“We were encouraged to do our best and to make wise choices,” said daughter Jennifer Thorley, who lives with her husband in Bogota, Colombia. His greatest gift “was that we could never stray too far, nor fall so low as to be beyond our father’s saving reach,” she said. “There were no holes in our father’s safety net.”

Scott McCord said it was his father’s faith that drove his love for family, friends and community. “Dad was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” he said.

Mary Ann McCord met her future husband when a business she was involved in needed an accounting firm’s help. Frank McCord was then still with KPMG. Both had been divorced. They married on Feb. 22, 1986.

“In our 32 years, no one ever heard him raise his voice or get upset about anything. He was an amazing person. He will be just deeply, deeply missed,” she said.

“We’ve lost a good one for Everett,” said Robinett. “He was just good for the community.”

Service Saturday

A funeral service for Frank McCord is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9509 19th Ave. SE, Everett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Assistance League of Everett or Housing Hope.