Francis P. Sears Jr., Won Preakness With Deputed Testamony, Dead

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Francis P. Sears Jr., who won the 1983 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) with Deputed Testamony, died Feb. 4 at his home in Hamilton, Mass. He was 87.

Sears owned Deputed Testamony with Maryland trainer William Boniface, whose family's Bonita Farm bred the colt. Deputed Testamony beat Kentucky Derby (gr. I) runner-up Desert Wine by a 2 3/4 lengths in the Preakness, with Derby winner Sunny's Halo unplaced. Deputed Testamony scored another major triumph in the Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Monmouth Park that summer. He retired from racing his 4-year-old season with 11 wins from 20 starts and earnings of $674,329 and entered stud at Bonita in Maryland.

Sears enjoyed fox hunting and competing in horse shows. Born and raised in the Boston area, he served in the Army during World War II and joined the investment firm of Paine, Webber, Jackson and Curtis in 1946. He retired from the company, then named UBS/Paine Webber, in 2002 after 56 years.

Sears' survivors include his wife of 58 years, Barbara, plus two sons, Francis III and Thomas, and daughter Nancy. A memorial service will be held Feb. 11 at Christ Church. Asbury St., South Hamilton, Mass.

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