Frank, Sharon Lee, George & Tina Fleming

Frank and Sharon Lee

I am a retired Early Childhood Educator, and every year I would visit Olympia and lobby my Reps and Senator for quality child care for children, and livable wages, benefits and dignified working conditions for providers and teachers!!

Speaker Chopp was always accessible and was a staunch supporter of ECE programs and providers/teachers!!  He was one of my all-time heroes!

In October of last year, I campaigned/doorknocked for Shaun Scott and for the Social Housing initiative. Frank showed up and gave a rousing speech and really inspired us all to keep forging ahead and to always "fight the good fight!!".

I am so very saddened by his passing.

- His legacy will live on as we all forge ahead with righteous action and love.  Thank you Frank Chopp for ALL THAT YOU DID to make our State and better place for all.

You will NEVER be forgotten! 

A man of Croatian heritage who contributed greatly to the quality of life in our state.  We Croatians are very proud of his life of public service, and deep commitment to improving the lives of working people and their families.  He serves as a beautiful example of how immigrant families have contributed to the beauty of America -- may the American Dream live on and our appreciation of the "land of opportunity" run deep.

Nancy

My condolences to you and your family. I am very sorry for your loss. I will miss Frank very much. He was an amazing person. He inspired me and others, to advocate for the poor. His advocacy and his accomplishments were huge. No one has done more for the people of this state than Frank. We lost a great man. Frank and you are in my prayers.

Rogelio

Frank loved everything about this state and region including the tribal nations and especially those who less fortunate.  A kind, humble and humorous man.  

The most amazing force for good!

He had a clear vision of the problems and a focus on the needed solutions. He was extremely focused and had personal commitment to the people who were affected by the lack of and the cost of housing, health services and social needs. When he focused on a solution, he pulled people together, convinced people of the need and solution through the power of his commitment. He accomplished a lot in many areas - always on the side of the people. His was a life well lived and his impact will be felt for generations.

Frank was a great leader who really cared about people.  He will be missed.

i worked with Frank at Fremont Public Association years ago as the financial person. i always admired his energy, commitment, optimism, and cleverness. i later was on the Board and considered him a friend. He always had a profound impact for the good on whatever he worked on. 

Whether it was playing touch football (including when he broke his finger) or as a friend and legislator, Frank was a gentleman and really good person.  I'm saddened by his passing and feel for his entire family.

Frank was an amazing public servant and human being. He was brilliant and always willing to lend a hand in working through any tough challenges. I am so lucky to have shared Sunnyside Ave with him. He was my neighbor and friend.

I had the pleasure of working with Frank over a number of years, most recently on broadening our educational pathways to integrate real world job experience and make them accessible and affordable for all. He was direct, honest and a man of his word! I also remember having at least one belly laugh each time I met with him, usually as he made fun of me in some teasing sort of way with his enduring sense of humor! I was so saddened to hear of his way too early departure from this earth. He was a force of nature and a force for good who will be greatly missed.  Maud Daudon

Nancy, Anne and I were so deeply saddened to hear about Frank's passing. We are keeping you, Narayan, and Ellie in our thoughts.

I first met Frank in the Cascade Community (south end of Lake Union in Seattle) effort starting about 1972 or 3. He showed up and said he wanted to help fight for housing for low-income people. He was not yet 21, and newly out of college, or soon to be. We soon became fast friends; in fact, I bought him his first legal drink in a bar. We went on to spend a few years together as co-chairs of the Cascade Community Council. In many ways, this neighborhood was the battleground around preserving low-income housing around fifty years ago; I think he learned a great deal from that time. Much later, when he could, he did many things to help rejuvenate the neighborhood when so many had given up on it.

When he moved on, we stayed close. Later he hired me to help save the Downtown Food Bank, and to help manage the North Seattle Human Services Coalition. There is so much more to talk about, both personal and professional things. But to avoid going on and on, I just want to say, Frank was not just my friend and collogue and occasionally my boss, he was also my hero. We all know what he did, and for whom he did it, so no need repeat things. Frank, thanks for all you did, and for all those you helped.
In loving memory -- Glenn Young

After following his work in the local paper for years I finally met Frank 6-7 years ago. He attended a neighborhood advisory council meeting and I just happened to sit on the board at the time. He was seeking community input and support for affordable housing. Of course Frank secured our group’s support, but what I remember most about that experience  was being struck by his low profile demeanor, I guess I thought a big politician like him would come in and really make a show of throwing his weight around, but nope  —not Frank. He was a true leader who seemed to have no interest in being perfomative or hot air, he walked the walk and put in the work which instantly made me like him. Of course the more I learned about him throughout the years, the more my respect for him and his work grew. I am grateful for the last time I saw Frank;   I was sitting on a panel hosted by Solid Ground and  I got to publicly appreciate him for his work on housing social justice issues, and point out the power one person can have when they are committed to something bigger than themselves. As the event was wrapping up,  Frank approached me to thank me for my kind words. I couldn’t believe it, and I told him why. If anyone was going to be thanking anyone else I was thanking Frank! I then explained to him how my kids and I were able to transition out of homelessness and into permanent housing back in 2014 largely due to Frank’s work and commitment to housing for all. I used to hear people use the phrase “it is the end of an era”, but I did not truly appreciate that sentiment until I heard that Frank Chop passed away.