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John J. Frein, who was executive director of the Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau for 18 years, died Sept. 24. He was 68.
Before his retirement in June, he had served the Catholic Guardian Society in several capacities since joining the organization in 1973. After he became executive director in 1994, the society developed and expanded programs to help individuals and families, especially children with serious health and other concerns. These included foster care, adoption, child abuse and neglect prevention, housing for developmentally disabled adults, maternity care and other mother-child services.
He oversaw the merger of the Catholic Guardian Society with the Catholic Home Bureau in 2006. The organization now has more than 1,000 employees.
He was an active member of the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies.
He is survived by his wife, Priscilla, and two brothers and three sisters. A Funeral Mass was offered Sept. 29 at Immaculate Conception Church, Manhattan.
