Franklin County Businessman Fran Roberts Dies At 81, Founded Long-View RV Superstore

By CHRIS COLLINS

(Photo courtesy of Kostanski Funeral Home)

(Greenfield, MA) — The man known locally as the “King of the RV’s” has died.

Francis “Fran” J. Roberts of Shelburne, MA passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family beside him on Wednesday October 13, 2021. He was 81. Roberts was best known for starting Long View Recreational Vehicles.

He began selling RV’s  after graduating from Kimball Union Academy in 1959. He started with 3 Apache tent trailers that he sold at his parent’s Long View Tower and Gift shop in Greenfield. It eventually grew to be the largest family owned and operated RV dealership in the area, eventually moving in 1984 to a 5-acre site in Northampton, MA and in 1993 to Windsor Locks, CT, where it became Long View RV Superstores.

Calling hours for Fran Roberts will be held Wednesday, October 20 from 3-7 pm at the Kostanski Funeral Home in Greenfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452.