David Stakley Frank, Jr., a long-time resident of Columbia, Maryland, passed away on Sunday, September 9, 2018 at the Gilchrist Hospice Center in Columbia, MD. He was 79 years old. David was born September 16, 1938, in Oil City, PA.
He was the fourth child of David S. Frank and Della Naomi Cridler. The family lived in Oil City, PA and Buffalo, NY before moving to Washington, DC. He attended schools in Washington, DC, graduating from Coolidge High School in 1956.
He started his career right out of high school as an engineering technician at the National Bureau of Standards (in 1988 the name was changed to the National Institute of Standards and Technology – NIST). He transferred to the Washington Navy Yard on Pearl Harbor Day in 1967. His primary focus was metrology (the science of weights and measures).
He became an expert in working with high pressure manometers, and traveled to several countries to work on and certify the equipment, and to conduct training workshops. He retired in 1993. After the birth of two deaf sons, the family became active in deaf communities in Virginia and Maryland.
In 1971 David represented the state of Virginia at TRIPOD, an organization founded to exchange ideas on how each state could better coordinate and assist deaf persons. In November of 1972 he was elected as the first chairman of the Virginia Council for the Deaf. In 1975 the family moved to Columbia, MD.
David served one year as president of the Maryland School for the Deaf PTCA. In 1997 David was appointed by then Governor Parris N. Glendening as a member of the Governor’s Committee for Smoke Detectors for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People. David enjoyed life to the fullest.
He rarely missed events and activities that involved his sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. He was the manager of son Dennis’s ice hockey teams (Columbia Ice Rink) and never missed a game. At the Maryland School for the Deaf, son Dan and grandson Derek excelled in football and basketball, and granddaughter Brittany excelled in volleyball and basketball.
You could always find a proud dad and grandpa cheering them on from the sidelines. To great-granddaughter Payton, he was “Grumpy” (from the Seven Dwarves), although under that grumpy demeanor was a heart of gold. And he never passed up the opportunity to enjoy a good meal of steamed crabs…heavy on the Old Bay.
He will be missed by many friends and family. David is survived by his wife of 60 years, Geraldine Mary (nee Dresser); sons David Stakley Frank, III of Columbia, MD and Daniel Scott Frank (Donna) of Frederick, MD; grandchildren Brittany Leah Frank and Derek Scott Frank; and great-granddaughter Payton Rose Frank. He was predeceased by his parents; three sisters, Jean, Edna, and Maryada; and a beloved son, Dennis Steven Frank.
A Memorial Service is being planned. Please check back soon for further information. Donations may be made to: Gilchrist Hospice of Howard County Web: www.
gilchristcares.org Gilchrist Center of Howard County 5537 Twin Knolls Rd. #433, Columbia MD 21045 Web: www.
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