I am so sorry that we have lost Frank. He was a role model demonstrating what clarity of vision, purpose, and determination could achieve. May his memory always continue to inspire us to work hard for a better world for everyone. Condolences to Frank’s family and the whole community he loved and served.
1
I am so sorry that Frank is gone. He was a passionate advocate for people who couldn't always speak for themselves. He was a supportive partner for local food and local farms initiatives. And he was a long time Wallingford neighbor.
2
I will forever be grateful for Frank's leadership and contributions to our community. He was always available to help me during my time at Neighborhood House and was instrumental in furthering our service to children, families, and our elders. He has made a lasting impact on thousands creating hope and opportunities. He was one in a million and I grieve his passing. Many condolences to his wife and family.
2
Frank was pivotal to my career in public service working at the FPA and later serving on the boards of non-profit organizations such as the Bailey Boushay House and Seattle Opera. Frank was an inspiration to me and so many others in our diverse Seattle community.
0
I met Frank in 1978 when I first moved to Seattle from the East Coast. He was the director of the Fremont Public Association (now Solid Ground) at the time, and I had just started an internship through their recycling center on a project testing the novel (!!) concept of curbside recycling. Though only in his twenties, Frank was a true force in the community, listening to neighbors, engaging partnerships and pursuing funding for people in need of food and employment. And that was just the beginning of what became his legacy advocating for people in need in communities across the state. But it wasn’t all work. Frank knew how to have fun too. I remember one occasion at an outdoor Fremont festival where he spontaneously gathered together a group of us to learn a Serbian folk dance. As a young person in my twenties, I was deeply inspired by what I saw and learned from him. Thank you, Frank! I am so grateful for having known you.
1
There are so many warm and meaningfull and inspirational personal and professional interactions I've had with Frank over literally 49-50 years, I really don't know where to start. It's been such a privilege and honor. I could name less than five people in my career ( and over my life for that matter) who I'd call a mentor of mine. Can you call someone who's younger than you a mentor? Well I just did because he has been since the 70's! Thank goodness I took the time to tell him that a few years ago. - John Fox
3
Frank was a great friend of the Tribes and possessed a deep understanding of the challenges the Tribes had to become stronger Tribal governments with great relationships with the legislature. His visionary leadership and compassion will be missed but he shared that exemplary leadership characteristic with all who he work with. W. Ron Allen
1
John Mccoy
2014, Seattle, WA, USA Gay Pride Parade
The 2014 Gay Pride parade was one of the best campaign parades I ever walked. All my friends in the political world showed up to support the man we loved to work for. That day, Frank certainly felt the support, seemingly every hand he shaked was someone that knew him or was supported with legislation he helped pass. I remember Frank laughing and smiling throughout the day and folks at times becoming emotional when seeing him because they knew the profound ethics of a man that did the hard work, always to make life better for the real people. I am proud that I got to work for him and Tony, it's one of the highlights of my career, especially flipping those two seats in Federal Way in 2016!!! I just want to thank Franks wife and family for allowing him to do so many wonderful things for the City of Seattle and the State of Washington.
Sincerely,
John McCoy
1
It was a privilege to have served with Frank in the Legislature the past 14 years. When I decided to run for the House (after a loss for re-election to Shoreline City Council), he gave me the time to hear me out. After I wanted to go to the County Council but failed, I promised him I will become a better legislator. In spite of his seriousness/gruffness/impatience/drive-to-solve problems, he listened carefully to everyone - including newbies. We are all the better for having had Frank in our lives. I will miss you, Frank. Nancy and family: Thank you for sharing Frank with us.
2
The people of Washington are better off because of Frank's leadership, passion, and effectiveness. He was always so accessible, offering his personal cell phone to me when I was starting up at Neighborhood House. I remember Frank and Nancy attended our fundraiser for Community for Youth, and he encouraged me to approach the legislature for funding for youth mentoring - which we did -and we were successful! I just had to mention that Frank wanted it, and with work, it happened.
We will miss you, Frank. Thank you for your leadership.
Janice Deguchi
3
Frank was my boss at the Fremont Public Association (now Solid Ground) between my graduation from the U.W. and law school (1980-1982). I was already an advocate for women's rights. Cheryl Chow was my teacher in middle school, inspiring that trajectory early in my life. I had a degree in Women Studies and volunteered at Seattle Rape Relief. I started at the FPA as a program assistant and soon became a Lead Supervisor in the Chore Service Program, expanding my focus to include the elderly and disabled. Frank, as you all know, was a fierce social justice warrior. He inspired me to go to law school to become a stronger advocate for disenfranchised populations. He wrote a law school support letter for me, and I specifically chose the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College because of courses such as the Legal Rights of the Mentally & Physically Disabled and Poverty Law. I worked at National CASA after law school, developing court programs for abused and neglected children. I went on to become the Executive Director at the Olympia YWCA and the Center for Human Services in Shoreline. My advocacy for low-income youth and families continued as the Planning & Resource Development Coordinator for the Community Services Division at the Seattle Housing Authority. I was the Development Director for Snohomish County Legal Services when COVID-19 hit, before establishing my own company, Moray Consulting, assisting nonprofits with resource development. My last contract was with Northwest Neighbors Network, a senior virtual village in North King and South Snohomish Counties. I ran into Frank numerous times during my career, and each second of that was a joy. The Children's Alliance was a nexus for our work on state legislation. He looked at me with awe in his eyes (I think he was proud), as I did the same. Birds of a feather. While I was a passionate advocate by the time I met Frank, he fueled my career. He was a friend, a colleague, and my first real example of what a social justice warrior looks like.
Nothing knocked him down. He set the bar high for those who came behind him and I will be forever grateful for having him in my life. My condolences to his family. We all know we lost a rock star. And in his honor, we should
never give up our fight for social justice!
4
Where to start on how Frank changed the world and changed and challenged me... starting with the day he and Paul came into my office to ask me to help with the FPA capital campaign to bring it all under one roof in Wallingford (ok, so it's not Fremont) and put the food bank and services on a main street in a gorgeous building worthy of the people the Association and its brilliant employees served. His love is sequestered in the bones of that building and in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people he lived to serve there and in the legislature for decades. The presence of your absence is enormous, Frank. Martha K
4
Share with others
