| Young Francis turns 96 this month so he was an easy choice. My main problem is that I can only
relate bits and pieces and there may be some inacurracy. I met Frank and his lovely bride, Bette (RIP), in Hawaii where they had joined up
the Peace Corps following retirement. He was such a bad student in my practice teaching class - a real trouble maker. I onced described as "impish". I imagine
that I felt a kindred spirit with him - even in 1997 his eyes still twinkled impishly. Tommy graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1925.
Now Rear Admiral retired, Frank was a Lieutenant Commander (played by Frank Aletter in the movie "Tora, Tora, Tora") and
took charge of the USS Nevada during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He grounded the ship avoid it being sunk.
When he left the Navy (Rear Admiral) he got into the steel making business and ended up living near Cleveland. There he supervised things mechanical and engineerical until 1969.
His favorite fish? Baked mackerel, probably an aquired taste after so many years on the sea. Following his Fiji days, did they settle down to a
quiet retirement? He golfed a few times a week. No. Each year Frank would drive his car across the States, following the sun and fleeing the cold, staying with friends and family. He was a dyed in the wool Republican and pretty hurt over Nixon.
As recently as 1997 Frank was still riding his bicycle around the block everyday, much to the amazement of his neighbors, who were running a pool as when it would
end, one way or another. And it did finally, Frank fell off the bike. I guess he retired from the 2 wheel world but still drives his car from state to state (stopped driving in 2001 when he moved in with his son Brian in Portland, OR).
So if you live in the southeastern section of the States keep an eye out for our boy, Frankie. Oh, and if you want to know Mr. T's secret to long life, it's drinking iced
coffee.
Frank passed away on January 21, 2005 having suffered a stroke 2 weeks prior.
Frank and Bette's PCV page. |
