Thomas Frankart
March 15, 1928 - December 01, 2023
Visitation: Saturday, December 9th from 10-11:30AM, St. John Neumann Church, 2230 Rochester Rd., Pgh, PA 15237
Service: Saturday, December 9th at 11:30AM, St. John Neumann Church, 2230 Rochester Rd., Pgh, PA 15237
Thomas Frederick Frankart was born on March 15, 1928 to Louis J. and Mary (Collins) Frankart, in Tiffin, Ohio, and passed away peacefully in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 1, 2023, with his loving family by his side. He was one of six brothers and grew up on a farm in Ohio. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Nancy (Owens) Frankart, in 2012, and by his beloved son, Richard, in 1991.
After serving honorably in Japan for the U.S. Army in 1946-1947, Tom left the farm for the “Big City“ of Pittsburgh, PA, not too far from his family home, where he was a proud graduate of Duquesne University. His choice of Duquesne was very important to him because it was a Catholic school, and they had a good basketball team. Here he met the love of his life, Nancy, at a party with his friends from Duquesne, and they were married on October 6, 1951, at St. Rosalia Catholic Church, in Nancy’s Greenfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Tom leaves behind his two surviving children, Nicholas (Mary) of Long Beach, California, and Barbara (the late Mark) Matera, of Pittsburgh, as well as five grandchildren – Matthew (Courtney) of Easton, MA, Thomas (Emily) of Philadelphia, PA, Patrick (Z) of Astoria, NY and Daniel and Sean of Long Beach, CA – along with three great-grandchildren – Phineas, Robert, and Alexander, all of whom adored him – and countless nieces, nephews and friends.
Although he had a strong work ethic and a successful career in the accounting, data processing and treasury fields, Tom’s first priority was always his family. He retired in 1994 as Assistant Treasurer for Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel – where he had expertly guided the company through bankruptcy proceedings during the declining years of the American steel industry. He spent his final work years as Director of Finance & Administration for Didi Hirsch Community Health Center in Culver City, California.
Tom was an original and longtime member of St. John Fisher Parish, in Churchill Boro, PA, where he raised his family; and in later years at St. John Neumann Parish in Franklin Park, PA, where he faithfully attended daily Mass. Tom was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus.
Tom was the most thoughtful, kind, humble, selfless, and self-giving man you would ever want to meet. In the words of his son, Nick, “He was the greatest man I’ve ever known.”
Tom’s family would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank the wonderful staff at both Holy Family Manor, in West View, PA, and Southwestern Veterans’ Center, in Highland Park, PA, for their kind and compassionate care for their father, especially during the final weeks and days of his life.
Visitation will be at Regina Coeli Parish, St. John Neumann Church, 2230 Rochester Road, Pittsburgh 15237, on Saturday, December 9 from 10 – 11:30 a.m., followed by the Mass of the Resurrection at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Maryknoll (missionaries to the poor and marginalized), P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302.
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Nick and Barbara – I’m so sorry for your loss. Your dad was such a good man. He and my dad had a lot in common, including their love for Duquesne University. Although my dad didn’t talk about his friends very often he spoke of your dad with fondness and I always knew they shared admiration and respect for each other.
Dear Nick, Maureen, Elizabeth, Brian & I offer you, Barbara, Family and dearest Friends our sincere condolences & prayers for your Father, your Hero! Sincerely, Tony
Dear Nick, Maureen, Elizabeth, Brian & I offer you & Barbara our sincerest sorrow & condolences for your Dad, your Hero! -Anthony Arevalo
We are so very sorry that our much loved Tom has died but he so deserves his rest.
We are blessed to have witnessed the wonderful love and dedication he and Nancy gave to their family. It was a joy to see their love returned tenfold in the eyes of Barbara, Nick and Richard and families.
Tom was such a hardworking , uncomplaining man and so very wise . I loved how he’d listen to discussions quietly and then at the end state something succinctly and perfectly sum it all up.
We couldn’t see him like we would have wished but so appreciated the times we did when he visited Nick, Mary and family and they kindly shared his precious time with us.
We will miss him so much, just knowing he was there !
Our sincere love and sympathy to Barbara, Nick , their families and all others who loved him.
Thank you for the very special treasured memories. 🙏❤️
Uncle Tom truly was one of the kindest men you will ever meet!
Thank you for the example you set and making us smile with your ever-clever wit. You will be dearly missed and forever loved!
Joy
Tom was a wonderful man. I’m thankful that my parents were able to reconnect with him earlier this year, after not being in touch for a long time.
The world is a better place because of Tom and his family. He is remembered in prayer with great gratitude.
Uncle Tom will be dearly missed.
My Dad, my Hero.