Frank David Golder of East Quogue died on April 30 of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 80.
Mr. Golder was born on May 10, 1933, in Philadelphia to Margaret and Frank Golder. He was raised in Rockville Centre and attended Southside High School. He attended the University of Washington, joined the Air Force, and was recruited to an intensive Chinese language program at Yale for the purposes of interpreting enemy radio transmissions during the Korean War. He often entertained his willing audiences with renditions of the tune “Davy Crockett” in Mandarin. He was awarded a medal of good conduct for his military service, but never got around to picking it up. He was a three-day winner on old-school “Jeopardy,” needling Art Fleming that he was actually the world “Jeopardy” champion because the show didn’t include competitors from Europe or the Far East. He applied to NASA’s Teacher in Space program, citing the fact that he and his wife had never gone on separate vacations, but was, thankfully, as it turned out, rejected.
Mr. Golder lived most of his life in Baldwin, where his children were raised. He taught English in the Lawrence school system for 34 years before his retirement in 1994, having two or three days to himself before happily embarking on a nine-year stint as his mother-in-law’s caretaker. Survivors said he was a lover and avid purveyor of the English language, and that through his warmth, wit and unique brand of intelligence, he touched and changed the lives of thousands of young people during his career. He coached boys soccer and girls tennis at Lawrence Junior High, and survivors said he will be remembered by several generations of students in that town, in addition to everyone he met—from the guy who made sandwiches at Nunzio’s Deli to people he met on his travels to New Orleans and around the globe, to his loving family and dearest friends.
Since his move to East Quogue, Mr. Golder was an active member of the Quogue VFW Post #5350. He was inducted as post commander in 2013, and remained in that position until shortly before his death. Survivors said he retained his easygoing, humor-driven, selfless personality—despite having been beset by one of the most terrible and unrelentingly cruel diseases that can affect the human body. He was a lifelong fan of the Mets and Rangers, but the Giants might have been the only entity on Earth that could elicit from him both palpable joy and deep depression. His Giants devotion was touched upon in a Newsday feature article during Super Bowl XLVI; had he had a male great-grandchild, he undoubtedly would have been named Eli, survivors said. They added that Mr. Golder retained his mind and spirit to the end.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Dolores Gohery Golder; his five children, Kate Golder of New Orleans; Daniel Golder and wife Carolyn of Babylon, David Golder and wife Suzanne of Freeport, Laura Golder Kenney and husband Richard of East Quogue, and Joseph Golder and wife Katie of Mattituck; nine grandchildren, Daniel, Kristin, Devin, James, William, Diana, Joseph, Grace and Jack; and his one great-grandchild, Astrid Violet. He is also survived by three brothers, Thomas Golder of Albuquerque; Donald Golder of Pennsylvania and Wills Golder of Freeport; and two sisters, Meta Carillo of Rockville Centre and Liz Collett of East Rockaway. He was predeceased by a brother, Robert Golder of Bay Shore. He is also survived by 32 nieces and nephews and their spouses and children.
A wake will be held at R.J. O’Shea Funeral Home in Hampton Bays on May 8 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass will be held on May 9 at 5 p.m. at St. Rosalie’s Mission Church in East Quogue. A reception at the Quogue VFW will follow the Mass.
Memorial donations can be made in Mr. Golder’s name to ALS research; envelopes will be available at the wake.
on May 6, 2014