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Albert “Boo” Frankenbach of Southampton died on June 18, 2017. He was 87 and had dementia.
Mr. Frankenbach was born May 16, 1930, to Helen Haap Frankenbach, a kindergarten teacher at the Southampton Grade School, and Henry Grover Frankenbach, who worked in the family business that combined a nursery, flower shop and hardware store.
He played sports in every season in high school, but his favorite by far was football, survivors said. During his senior year at Southampton High School, the Mariners were undefeated, won the Suffolk County Championship and were awarded the Rutgers Cup. He went on to attend the College of Forestry and Environmental Sciences at Syracuse University. There he rowed varsity crew and took part in the national regatta. During his freshman year, his mother died. His father would later remarry.
Upon his graduation from college in 1952, he became engaged to Ann Herbert, of Southampton and Palm Beach, Florida. Later that year he was also drafted. He married Ann in May 1953 and attended officer candidate school, from which he graduated in November 1953. He eventually shipped out to Japan and Korea as a second lieutenant of the 571st Engineers.
After 17 months in Korea, he was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant in 1955 and returned to Southampton. He went on to earn a graduate degree in education and taught math and science at Westhampton Junior High School for the next five years.
Mr. Frankenbach and his wife had three children, Lynn Goleski born in 1957, Carol Pike born in 1958 and Jim Frankenbach born in 1960. The couple purchased land and began Southampton Nursery and Garden Center. Though the garden center portion closed in 1986, the landscaping division continues today under Jim Frankenbach’s ownership and his son, Jake, working as a third generation in the business.
Survivors said that Mr. Frankenbach didn’t just work hard, he played hard too. He had many interests and hobbies, but skiing was his favorite. He also enjoyed swimming and spending Sundays at the beach where he could drive on with his truck; hunting, fishing, and, of course, golf. He was also involved in many community groups and causes, including the Southampton Rotary Club, the American Legion, and served on the board of the Southampton Cultural Center. He and his wife also taught pre cana at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He served as Southampton Village Trustee and was a 57-year member of the Southampton Fire Department. He served as captain and as a fire commissioner during his tenure with the department.
Mr. Frankenbach also served as chairman of the blood drive committee with the department for more than 35 years. More than 13,000 pints of blood were collected during his service on the blood committee.
In addition to his wife, Ann, and children, Lynn, Carol and Jim, he is survived by a sister, Linda Frankenbach Kranenburg, of Bridgehampton; grandchildren, Kerry Goleski of Queens; Jessica and Megan Goleski of Southampton; Katie, Jake and Donny Frankenbach, all of Southampton; Julia McGann and Otis Pike of Riverhead, and many other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on Friday, June 23, at O’Connell-Rothwell Funeral Home in Southampton, and a funeral Mass was held on Saturday, June 24, at the Basilica Parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Memorial donations may be made to the Southampton Volunteer Fireman’s Benevolent Association Fund Inc., Box 1435, Southampton, NY, 11969, or East End Hospice, Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.
on Jun 26, 2017