Lorraine Frank

Lovely Lorraine Frank, at 84 years of age, born and raised in Brooklyn NY, passed away on April 1st, 2021. She passed comfortably in her sleep from complications arising from dementia. Born Lorraine Kolomer in 1936, towards the end of the great depression, and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Lorraine grew to appreciate all the joy life had to give, and to roll with the challenges. As a young child, she was drawn to dance, but her Father, David Kolomer, a somewhat conservative furrier, discouraged this pursuit. Still, Lorraine had the heart of a graceful, elegant, fun-loving dancer, and that spirit never left her. She lived her whole life beautifully, inside, outside and all around her. Like a pebble dropped in a pond, she emanated waves of joy and laughter in every direction, with all who knew her. It wasn't until Lorraine was 14, when her father suddenly passed from a heart attack at the early age of 42, that Lorraine faced her first daunting challenge. It's been said, "that which doesn't kill us, makes us stronger", and with the passing of her beloved father, Lorraine suffered through a short uncharacteristic period of depression, only to emerge more appreciative of the joys of life when contrasted against suffering. The experience awakened a subtle, inner strength and toughness that would occasionally surprise people when a women seemingly so petite and charming, could also summon from within the hardened resolve and determination of a true tiger. After graduating high school, she attended Brooklyn College and received a bachelor's degree in teaching, but spent only a year pursing it before she determined that her true interests involved business, perhaps originating from discussions she had with her father before he passed. She began selling insurance, but her insurance career was cut short when, at the age of 18, a friend introduced her to a young entrepreneur, Stanley Frank. Both busy people, unable to see one another often at first, Stan and Lorraine's affections grew through frequent phone conversations until they started dating and eventually fell in love. Stan and Lorraine married on Lorraine's 20th birthday, August 12, 1956. They loved, respected and complimented one another in ways that made it seem like they were destined to be together. In many ways, their children and grand-children looked upon their marriage as the way a marriage ought to be. Their relationship was like a rock that grounded the whole family. Lorraine never surrendered her love of dance. Eventually, she convinced Stan to try dancing lessons with her. It wasn't long before the two of them, when attending weddings and other social functions, became an impressive pair on the dance floor. She was also athletic, enjoyed bowling, but was particularly proud that she could hold her own on a tennis court with most men. Lorraine inspired Stan in all areas of his life, particularly his art. He would draw, paint and write her poetry, and Lorraine, ever proud of him, would surround herself with his works, hung them all through her house, and proudly showcased them to visiting friends and family. When they got older, Stan started singing in a chorus and would practice as he worked around the house. When asked what it was like to live with someone who sang so frequently, Lorraine replied, "It's like living with a beautiful bird." They remained married for nearly 65 years, traveled, experienced life, adventure, romance, and raised a family that returned their love and admiration, until their marriage finally ended with Stan's passing on October 21, 2020. Lorraine had three children, David, Karen and Adam, and in their youth, Lorraine dedicated herself to raising her children. She was an outstanding stay-at-home mom, very involved in their school and activities. She struck the extraordinary balance of being both their friend and their mother, caring and encouraging, but insisting they strive to reach their potentials. She taught her children to love life as much as she did, to appreciate art, family and friends. She was an avid reader. Both she and Stan shared a true love and appreciation for language and the written word, and they past this appreciation to all three of their children. Occasionally, Lorraine would combine her vast vocabulary, playful competitiveness and her love of gaming into an awesome game of Scrabble, an arena where few dared to challenge her. During periods when Stan's business got busy, typically when he ran a large, retail sale, Lorraine would join him in the family business and sell office furniture in the showroom. Though she didn't sell furniture routinely, with her sharp mind, competitive nature and charming demeanor, she consistently outperformed even the most experienced sales people on the floor. Over the years, Stan came to rely on her wisdom and judgment, made her a partner in the business, and Lorraine held the title of Treasurer of the Frank Eastern Co. until the day she passed. When she wasn't working in the family business, Lorraine dabbled in the stock market and real estate investing with impressive results. Many mornings, she would sit with her cup of tea and her notebook, watching the business channels and taking notes about companies and markets that interested her. She read stock charts, watched trends, and followed strategies similar to Warren Buffet, who she greatly admired. She focused on finding good companies at bargain prices. She also sought and succeeded with occasional real estate opportunities, but she preferred the excitement of the stock market. Over the years, she built a solid portfolio that established her as an expert business person in her own right. Lorraine spend much of her free time with friends, playing games like canasta, mahjong and later, after moving to Austin, Texas, she took up Bridge. Ultimately, mahjong remained her favorite. She was a supreme optimist. Though compassionate and sensitive, she had an extraordinarily disciplined mind and mastered the skill of separating and minimizing thoughts that might bring her down. There was nothing she couldn't discuss. Her interest in various stocks and markets, along with her love of books, made her very worldly and knowledgeable on a wide variety of topics. Even when discussing topics she wasn't completely familiar with, her empathetic listening and sharp mind enabled her to grasp core issues quickly and get down to the things that mattered. She had terrific sense of humor, enjoyed pushing the envelope with comments that would occasionally make her children blush, but she was always a joy to be with, always uplifting, fascinating and inspiring. On the last days of her life, she rested peacefully in her bed, surrounded by people who loved her. She knew her time was coming but like everything in life, she faced it with outstanding courage, grace and the same charming demeanor that defined so much of her. On November 19th, Friday at 1pm, we will have a memorial service for both Stan and Lorraine Frank, who passed within a few months of one another. You may join the memorial service virtually using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81989606675?pwd=VGd4cTFzNWNqY29TVGdwaHdvaXJCQT09

Lorraine Frank

August 12, 1936 - April 1, 2021