Hi brother...You are well loved and missed...

Hi Frank,
A lot has happened in the past two years.
It has been too long since I gave you an update on the family goings-on’s. My plan had been to post an update every year, but I was very remiss with 2022 updates, so expect a lot of news now as it is the end of 2023.

COVID inoculations (scheduled by need and age groups) reached the younger generations (under 12 years by mid-2022). That along with the natural herd-immunity granted to the survivors of the previous waves of COVID finally encouraged folks to brave extended air travel and begin attending potential super-spreader-events around mid to late 2022.

Colby (who was the most diligent about COVID exposure safety) went for his first salon hair cut spring of 2022 – he got a nice cut and went down with a 5-day case of COVID; Kristy and the girls moved over to the Long’s beach house. Kristy returned home from the beach house about 4 days later with a slightly weaker case of COVID; the girls did not catch it. Score: 2 out of 4 for the Richardson family.

Brooke went to what she knew was a "potential" super-spreader-event in Seattle. - fall of 2022. Since it included a few different Boy-Bands from HER 90’s generation a group of her friends managed to get a Luxury Box and headed out with masks on. She came home with great memories as well as a nasty 5-day case COVID!

Shelby got COVID around the same time, but from a schoolmate who came home from school with Shelby to work on a project (in Shel’s bedroom with a door closed and no masks on). We did not know until later that night that her classmate had just returned – BY PLANE – from a long weekend trip. Oops!

3 years holding off on longer flights comes to an end for Richardson/Conway families:
The Conway’s made their first international flight to visit family and friends in the UK and Italy, etc. in the summer of 2022. On their return flight to SEA – Andrew got COVID. Score: 3 out of 4 for the Conway family.

Nancy, I had been visiting Boston 2 times a year (typically September and March) until March 12, 2020 when life – as we knew all it – came to an end. In mid-September 2022 I traveled back to Boston and got to visit many family members and old friends – including your Aunt Bernice. I must say those Glantz genes are really strong – she was looking lovely and mentally terrific – especially at 99+ years.

I’ll be back with more 2023 updates as well as videos and photos of PopPops 4 Girls from 22 & 23. We are all carefully getting back into the ACTIVITY period of our lives!

Just saw this page came up and I wanted to just say how much you are missed by not just your beautiful family, but by all of the people like me who were lucky enough to have had the privilege of working with you!
Frank, you were one of a kind and a great friend and I miss being able to see your smiling face and great laugh. I’d love to have shared with you my musical duo that I’m in. You did love to play guitar and would get a kick out of my “retirement gig” I truly Miss you brother and wish you peace!❤️

Happy 50th Anniversary Frank, December 10, 1971 in Dayton, Ohio is where it all began.

I thought I would start with THAT good news - though I am not sure how "official" it is since you are not here to celebrate with me. I did text the kids the 40th anniversary photo of the 2 of us at Carmel's Porta Bello restaurant - to remind them that they financed that lovely celebration. Incase you forgot, it was the following April that we hosted our extended family at that rental house in Orlando, FL to help celebrate our 40 years together.

We are in year 2 of what will probably be known as "the great pandemic".. Our whole family is now innoculated, but many globally for political, covert, or just plan Darwinian reasons have opted out. I guess they are counting on they rest of us to provide the needed "herd amunity" to their families, go figure??

The shots started (I think) in mid Feb 2021 - with priority to various groups by age, health challenges, first responder jobs, and finally reached the 5 to under 12 year olds mid November '21. Paige and Regan are finally feeling more safe since they have been back and sports and also back in they C-19 version of "in-person" school - which shamefully varies greatly by state and county . Aside from sports, small pajama parties have just begun - connecting other like minded families. Families concidered "in our pod"..or some such similar term. Sorry, you would have to be here to actually understand this C-19 world. I think it splits families rather like the Civil War did.

I missed giving you an update on Thanksgiving '21 as I spent the day at Kristy's parents beach house with about 52 of her relatives. It was a beautiful day and there seemed to be enough outdoor space for those who needed that to stay comfortable with such a crowd. Our group feasted in the pool side Casita with Rylee using her iPhone to find "riddles" for us to try and solve. Lots of laughs trying to get our adult brains to compete with all the grandkids there.
Using the new terminology - I introduced you to in 2020 - Thanksgiving could have proven to be a "super spreader event", but we all seemed to have lucked out and remain healthy.. Yeah! 

I drove down to NPB about mid month as Rylee was in the play Matilda - her dancing skills landed her the role of Rudolfo - a sort of giggilo dance instructor.. She was great, funny, graceful, and as swarmy as the role required. We should manage to add a short video along with a lot of photos of all "your girls" with this years summary. They have grown up so much in the last 6 years.. Regan/9, Paige/10, Rylee/12 & Shelby/13.. You would spoil them to pieces..

Time to learn all about life during Covid, the Vid, C-19 or how ever your "pod" refers to the global pandemic!
I will try to organize the photos to tell the story, but basically life as we/you/EVERYONE knew it ended on March 12 2020. All "non essencial" businesses closed - lucky workers worked from home, schools had to learn to teach remotely - most over a new s/w called ?Zoom. It took some schools and districts months to get moving on "remote learning", education fell behind, sports and promos were cancelled, graduations and other celebrations became SIGNS on the lawn with cars driving by to drop off gifts, etc.

Lots of money was spent by those who owned homes.
Pandemic pets became a top priority in 2020 and the pet shelters emptied out:
* Brooke's family got a hampster and named her Chocolate Chip Conway.. Chippy or C3 (cubed) for knick names.
* Later they got a chocolate colored Newfy Doodle named Lucca (after Paige's favorite city - from their 2019 grand tour of Italy). However, Lucca is now the color of Colby's family min golden doodle, Harley.
* Gym equipment went in all our house - I got a rowing maching (must keep the new knee working). Colby and Kristy moved garage storage into their side yard to fit a treadmill and full set of weights, dance flooring, etc. for their needs. Brooke and Andrew settled on a rowing machine, weights, mats, mini tramps, bikes etc.
* Next came working spaces - desks moved as often as needed at the Conway's depending on noise levels and the technogy h/w and s/w need to get on line, etc.
* Thus the $6,800 door built beween B&A's lower level and main level of the large new (summer 2019) 3 level Mercer Island house..but that is another story..lol
* Spring and summer brought outdoor movie theaters to both families, more patio furniture, holiday camping tents, etc. Their spas had to wait longer for delivery due to nationwide back orders.
* VICTORY GARDENS, sounds like a WW2 term, but they are back and doing well all across the country. It is amazing how "retro" we have all become during this lock down.
* I too got into the spending mode; in June 2020 and added new HVAC system to get that much needed AC. BTW, our cool summer evenings are NOW a thing of the past due to "global warming".
* Families began cooking and baking for most meals, Door Dash and Uber Eats are still booming along with other InstaCart (personal shoppers and delivery companies) and SMART store swho quickly "punted" to hire shoppers to fill orders and deliver them directly to customers' cars.
* Most folks have claimed to have gained C-19 lbs! (kind of like the college freshman-15).
* Women's and girls' hair got so long we all looked like 60's hippies or "sisterwives"... by fall of 2020. And the guys...
* Well take a look a Colby and Andrew's hair to see how the male fared. Brooke did not win any prizes with her hair cutting skills, but Colby did not only his own hair but also trimmed the ladies in his life. Good job Cole!*

Summer of 2021 still had most (smart) folks in lock-down and mask mode.
* Luckily sports were reintroduced for kids as long as they wore masks, "infected numbers had started to fa, both Cole's and Brooke's families drove to San Jose for July 4th. However, too many folks began to celebrate in large groups - without masks and the numbers once again climbed.

Home owner spending continued:
* A lovely pavillion, firepit and outdoor kitchen was added in Newport Beach.
* My big expense was synthetic turf in the back yard along with a drip system to support border plants as well as 2 "raised beds" to try growing herbs and veggies.
* Brooke's family added additional gravel walking paths to help keep Lucca from digging up the back yard. It turns out the "synthetic turf" installers gave them a quote that was about 8+ months out. They are already getting hit with heavy rains up on Mercer Island (fall 2021).

Frank,
Six years. Being a gregarious person, I don’t think you would do well in our environment of the past two years. You now have eternal freedom. Rest well.

It is hard to believe that it has been 5 years since you left us. The neighborhood hasn't been the same without you. Wish you were still here to host our 4th of July Grandstand. Unfortunately Covid-19 cancelled the traditional bike parade and other events this year. But there was a parade of cars that was fun to see. And wish that you could see our Christmas lights - no strobing lights! Not the same without your critiques. And i know you would have loved talking to our precocious granddaughter. She has a quick witted answer for anything you might throw at her. And I'm sure you would have had fun taking photos of her. Want you to know that you have not been forgotten. 

Ahh Frank time for a much needed update,
The past 5 years have really gone by quickly; no one can believe you and Paul have been gone that long.

FYI, you have not missed anything not being here for 2020; a whole new language has been coined as well a social rules that must be followed if we are to outlive the reign of the C-19 global pandemic. We are just coming to the end of month 9 of "social distancing with medical grade masks on". I now own 2+ dozen pair of white cotton gloves as my hands cannot abide by the Purel chemistry. And don't get me going about the much needed giant (YMCA grade) Rowing Machine sitting in the middle of the family room floor - what a tripping hazard, but much needed to keep my new knee in working order!

You would hate the lack of hugs and visits with the kids and grand-kids as well as all the time typically spent with our YMCA dance and your workout friends. Even I needed a "social" - or should I say "mental health" - break after 4+ months of isolation. Driving alone 940+ miles to Seattle (now Mercer Island) was just not going to work for me, so I dressed in full hazmat gear and flew up north (on a 1-way ticket) to see the Conway clan. It was a terrific visit that allowed for (after the first decontamination week) actually needed HUGS, along with walks on beaches and in the woods, bike rides and berry picking with the girls, outdoor movies projected over their garage door, helping Brooke and Paige plant a veggie/herb garden with a drip system, etc. It was a wonderful visit that held a confusing mixture of our more simple childhood lives in the 1950's mixed with the technology advantages of 2020. I ended up staying for 4 weeks - a new record, but I was probably part of their mental health entertainment too!

Regarding Thanksgiving 11/26/2020 I do not think you would have manged to STAY SAFELY home - while only getting to see/share photos of 3 separate households celebrating Thanksgiving dinners alone. Everyone will be driving in for a long Christmas visit, so I (we) will be adding new photos over the next month or so. This is the longest no-in-person contact period that the cousins have been through; Brooke took her girls down to Newport Beach during Mercer Island's February winter ski break, but the expected summer visit up north to the roomy-house on MI could not happen..

I hope that we (globally) are back to safe travels some time in 2021; I need to see family members in MA. I am fine with wearing masks for travel and large gatherings for the rest of my life.. I just would like to feel like I have a-retirement-life to enjoy - even though it can never be the one we had planned together! Love, Nancy, the whole extended family and many friends

Miss you.

Hi Frank/Brother/Pops/Dad/PopPop

Yesterday, I wrote to wish you a happy birthday. This morning when I looked at your memorial site I was upset to see that the message neither SAVED nor PUBLISHED - my bad for not first saving the letter as a DRAFT in my yahoo.com account. I know better! For some unknown reason the annual Holiday PJ's photo did upload, save and published. You will be happy to see your 4 girls are now accompanied by a very naughty mini golden-doodle, Harley!

Let's call the below TAKE 2 - 2019 Birthday Wishes:
It was our turn to host Thanksgiving this year, so although it was officially the 4th anniversary of your death - I did not get a chance to publish to your memorial site, but photos/videos were taken. I was also hampered a bit as I have been recovering from the first of those 2 knee replacements that I managed to postpone for 20+ years. I will say, I have been very happy that we could NOT afford that bigger/two story house back in 1981 when we moved into Almaden Valley!

You would probably have turned 77 yesterday - if not for your (early ability to) work on the New Jersey Boardwalk at age 12. That summer gave a too young kid the cash to buy and get addicted to cigarettes. I believe it was the height of the tobacco industry's tampering to raise the addictive qualities of their cigarettes that lead to your early death. I wonder if their branding back then actually touted "once a customer always a customer" or perhaps they only guaranteed "50+ years of addiction"? Since, your mom made it to 99.7 and your aunt Bernice is still looking great and was still driving when I visited with her this past summer (at I think 95 or so) - you would have had some strong aging genes to draw from.

I am spend the Christmas Holidays with Brooke's family, but I will soon be adding more Life details or Stories, Photos, Videos to this site to share our family highlights of 2019.

We all love and miss you...

I forgot to add this 2017 story last year - it is one of the more insightful quotes from one of our grandkids, so I hope I do it justice.

The first sign of trouble was just before Christmas 2014 when Frank suddenly lost his voice; we thought it was laryngitis. By mid Jan the lung cancer diagnose was confirmed. The Richardson boys (3 sons) decided not to tell their mom Violet (who lived in FL) and since Frank could no longer talk on the phone with Violet - the conspiracy was able to survive from his death Nov 2015 until her death in the spring of 2017. EVERYONE new that PopPop's death had been kept a secret from Violet (who was 97 the winter Frank died).
Eventually, Brooke had to tell her girls that Great Grandma Violet had died. Brooke had been questioned by Paige (turning 6) who knew that she shared her July birthday with her great grandmothers. (actually Paige's birth was one day prior to GG Violet's).
Once Brooke confirmed that they would NOT be calling Great Grandma to wish her a happy birthday because she had recently died - Paige thought for a bit and said something like. "I bet she was really surprised when she got to heaven and found PopPop already there!"... So, no sadness just a happy reunion for both of them.
Whew, disaster avoided ...by a 6 year old.

Time to acknowledge some new milestones in text and photos. Thanksgiving marked the 3rd year since Frank's death (though the holiday came earlier this year). TODAY, December 10th would have been our 47th anniversary. It has been a busy year for "your girls".. All 4 enjoy playing soccer and (BTW) Brooke has begun coaching the "littles" as she refers to Paige's cohorts. Some of the Seattle games were more like MUD-BALL than true soccer. Shelby moved up a level in soccer team play and even dropped her shy side when she turned out to be quite the rule-enforcer while helping as a substitute-referee for one of the "littles" games. It was a hoot hearing that whistle blow and seeing her make sound judgement calls. Down in Newport Beach soccer season involved lots of sunshine as well as some goals scored on those 2 golden skinned granddaughters. BTW, so far the Long/Richardson girls lean more towards offense while the Richardson/Conway girls lean more to defense. The "big" cousins have found other niches - Rylee has joined the Dance Team at her studio (INCREDIBLE change since you and I watched 3 year old Rylee at the 17th Street dance studio). Long family talent for SURE.. Shelby is the family singer at this point - though I think you might say that talent may have skipped a generation of Maloneys and Richardsons to reach HER. She was Wendy in the musical Peter Pan Jr and the whole west coast family was there to cheer her on! It was Colby's kids first visit to Seattle and was rather short (Memorial Day weekend) however, lots of fun and some boating was enjoyed by all. I am currently busy trying to get the house ready to host everyone for the Christmas holiday this year. I miss you; we all miss you. Love Nancy

Happy Birthday brother....

Nancy and Family, so very sorry to hear about my friend Frank. We go back over 50 years when he worked with Richie in N.J. Always enjoyed being with you both. Especially, when you would come to Florida. Was really shocked when I received your note.
Hope you are doing okay, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Emily

Uncle Frank was a featured member of Silicon Investor, and I watched him for awhile and then jumped in. He and I finally met at the Qualcomm shareholders meeting in San Diego in 2000 (the day I should have SOLD!). Several members were there and we all stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado. Frank, Nancy, a friend of mine, and I were walking back from lunch, through the lower level corridor, and we passed a children's store. Frank said "wait here" to the rest of us and went into the store. He came out a few minutes letter with "that" smile on his face and a bag for me. I opened it and found a pink feather boa (which I still have). He said I was a boa-type girl, and was forever after "Boa Babe" to him. Thanks, Nancy, for sending the Christmas card to me with that name on it. It was a bit spooky when I first saw it because Frank is the only one who calls me that, but I realized it was from you and was very pleased to receive it.

Frank also helped me buy my first DSLR camera, and I met him and some of his buddies at the San Francisco zoo where we took photos all afternoon, Some are still in my favorites.

Meanwhile, I have joined Mike Buckley in the baseball texting he and Frank used to do, in Frank's memory, and the Giants have still not won the World Series! Someday...

Nancy, I wish you joy, love, good health, and lots of time with your babies. Kay~

I just found out today that Uncle Frank had passed away.
I used to work with Uncle Frank in Silicon Valley & he was the best mentor I've ever had. After he'd retired from the company, I've met him several times & I was given some good advise on my photo taking.
I found this old old photo - Frank was Bart Simpson on Halloween right next to me. I miss you Frank!

It has been 2 years now since Frank/Dad/PopPop's death and it is celebrated and remembered on 2 days. Nov. 26, (officially) but mainly on Thanksgiving Day. The grand kids have been growing like weeds these past 2 years and all 4 are now in elementary school. The 3 oldest like to tell me stories of things they remember doing with PopPop - often they include memories about rule breaking behavior or untimely treats! I guess you would call them unique PopPop rituals. I have added a few photos to document our lives going forward and as Frank promised me during those last few days - the kids HAVE been very generous in spending family time with me individually and with all of us together.. Enjoy the photos documenting our good times - sorry the photo quality is no longer as professional as Uncle Frank's photos! We all love and miss you very much... Nancy

We all miss you brother....Ron

Happy Birthday, Frank. We love you and we miss you.

Love,
Colby, Kristy, Rylee and Regan

On this anniversary of Frank's passing, I'm reminded about how much I missed being daily in touch with him during the baseball season this year. He loved following the San Francisco Giants and ever more so when they were winning. It was their year to win the World Series because it was an even-numbered year and they had won it in the previous three even-numbered years. Alas, both his team and mine got knocked out of the playoffs very early, so we would have been able to commiserate with each other long after the season ended.

Here's to the memory of Frank!

Never had the pleasure of meeting Uncle Frank but for a couple of years on SI in the late 90's and early 2000's I considered him a mentor. Lot of us no longer visit SI as regular and was saddened when I just logged on to hear of Frank's demise. Wish I had had a chance to meet him and the others from our Arthur's Roundtable but it was not in the cards. Wish his family well.

I had the pleasure of working for Uncle Frank at Unitrode and we became good friends as well. I was lucky enough over the years to meet his beautiful family including his sweet wife Nancy and Brooke and Colby too. They were gracious enough to let me stay at their home, we played guitar and sang and laughed a lot.
I stayed in touch after those 5 years and we would check in occasionally over the years. I was lucky enough to catch up a few times with him as Colby and his family live in Newport Beach near me and even had lunch with him, caught up with Nancy and Colby too last time.
He was a great man, husband, father and grandfather who was proud of all of them. He must have shown me a thousand beautiful pictures at lunch...and I'll treasure that last meeting as I had no idea it was our last...my heart goes out to Nancy and the family.
Uncle Frank rest in peace my friend...you will be missed! ❤️

My condolences to the familiy and Franks friends.

My name is Klaus Friedrich, I live in Germany and know Frank by the Nikon Cafe.
Participating in the 52-weeks runs in the past few years I realized Frank was a fantastic photographer and a much better mentor. he got the talent to show me my mistakes in a decent way and helped me with problems I had taking pictures.

He will be missed...

Klaus

Though I wrote a tribute more than a month ago, I have some quaint news to add about the memory of Frank and his love of photography living on in a special way that would put a smile on his face.

My first digital camera was a Nikon CoolPix 5700, a point-and-shoot camera I bought only because Frank insisted that I buy it. Almost all of his photos posted at Nikon Cafe in his early time there were taken using that model. Typical of Frank, he even promised me that it was so practical that it would fit in my shirt pocket. We joked with each other about that for years, as it was far too large for that. Even so, I got great use out of the camera and my wife also got into taking pictures thanks to that handy camera.

She and I upgraded to more advanced cameras years ago, so that first camera recommended by Frank has been relegated to remaining unused. That was until very recently. I offered it for free on a photography forum I participate in (not Nikon Cafe) to the first person who would promise to use it or give it rather than sell it to someone who would use it. That camera has now gone from my storage room in Virginia to the good hands of an avid, very capable photographer living in Los Angeles who enjoys using it along with his other more sophisticated cameras.

Better yet, now that the new owner has been using the camera a couple of weeks, I told him about its connection with Frank. He was very glad to learn the story and joked that he will no longer try to fit the camera in his shirt pocket.

I was saddened to hear of Frank's passing. he was such an enormous help to me when I first started photography and joined the Nikon Cafe. He was a kind generous soul and his love for his family was evident in his images and stories. Frank was one of the great ones as evidenced by the outpouring of love and condolences at his passing.

Rest in Peace, Frank. You were a light to everyone who knew you: funny, caring, upbeat, engaging. You will be missed. I remember when you taught me how to use a coffee grinder by grinding upside down-- yep-- it works better that way. And sure enough, fine grains poured out for a great pot of coffee! Just one of those little things that compose a life-- a life well lived. You always made an effort-- to see my mother, to come to a wedding hundreds of miles away, to photograph another wedding once again hundreds of miles away. Thank you for being that light.

I first met Frank around 1964. We frequently crossed paths at a local watering hole in Long Branch, NJ called Paddy Murray's. At the time he was a recent graduate from Monmouth College with a degree in Physics but was into music and loved playing his guitar. He did some instrumental back up for a local singer by the name of Melanie Safka. They performed at The Inkwell, a little coffee house in the West End, a few blocks from Paddy Murray's. Alas Frank went on to get a real job at Texas Instruments and Melanie went on to college. Melanie stayed in the music scene and had a hit single in 1972 called “Brand New Key”. Who knows what would have happened if Frank had stuck with his guitar. 

In 1969 Frank did me the biggest favor of my life by getting me to interview with Texas Instruments. I had be working in a government research job and was literally going out of my mind with boredom. I was hired and got the typical new guy accounts, the kind that no one would care if you screwed it up. One day we were making a joint sales call on an account Frank was turning over to me and he could not remember how to get there. We had to stop so he could call for directions. It was obvious to me he had never called on the account. But Frank was a great friend who helped me prepare view graphs for our quarterly sales meetings. He had a way of great way with words that helped get me get through some rough sales presentations. 

Rest in Peace old buddy, I really miss you.

Richard Brayden

Frank Richardson hired me, right out of college, as a Customer Service Rep at Texas Instruments in 1976. He was a friend of my Father, whom I had gotten to know, as he and Nancy used to come to our house in Dallas at that time. I remember thinking what a great guy he was, he a successful guy out in the real, working world, and me just a college kid, and the three of us developed a close friendship.

I used to go visit Frank and Nancy at their place in Plano, when I was home from school, and hang out, and play guitars together. He would say to me, "Come talk to me when you get out of school", but I never thought going to work at the same company as my Dad would be a good thing to do. He convinced me otherwise, though, and I stayed there for 21 of the best years of my life.

Thank you, Frank, for all you did for me all those years ago. I regret that we lost touch over the years, but reading all of these touching tributes brings back a lot of memories of how great you made a young kid in school feel in knowing you. Wonderful to see the photos of you and your beautiful family. Rest in peace, my friend.

Frank and I were raised in Arlington, Virginia and later in Neptune,New Jersey.We had sibling rivalry that broke us apart too many years,something I will always regret...He moved west and I stayed in Washington D.C..We reconnected on our mothers 80th birthday and I was blessed to get to know my wonderful sister in law, Nancy and Brooke and Colby...What a proud father my brother was.....a talented man in music and a master behind the camera..but his love for his granddaughters exceeded everything.....Robin and i were lucky to have spent a few days with Nancy and Frank before his passing...watching the Rhonda Rousey fight and having Colby show us the amazing stamp collection that Frank and Colby spent years gathering.....He leaves behind a rare legacy to his wife,siblings,children and friends...that of dedication,talent and love......We will all miss him.

Frank,
Paul and I enjoyed our many years of friendship shared with you. We will miss watching the niners and Giants games and sushi lunches.
Most of all, we will miss YOU.
Sayonara, Frankie-san

I met Frank online at DPReview in 2000, where he was an avid proponent of digital photography, which was barely getting started at the time, with cameras that were pretty basic and slow. He was an enthusiast and his passion was contagious. I had just acquired my first digital camera and had not taken any pictures in many years before that, finding film so inconvenient and unrewarding (who had time to wait for a few days to find out if a shot had turned out?). All that changed, and Frank was a big reason for it.

After a few months of back and forth online, we both realized we were living just a few miles apart so we decided to meet in person over lunch and/or coffee, and we’ve been doing that regularly ever since. Of course, there were a lot of (sometimes heated) discussions about the gear, the software, the other folks we were talking to online, and plenty of anticipation for the next camera or accessory coming out, but we also learned about each other and our very different backgrounds and shared many good laughs, he making fun of my french accent and throwing many “mon ami” around, me looking up at this guy who could nearly have been my father as someone I would love to emulate, when I grew up and eventually would retire.

Digital photography kicked into high gear in 2004 when cameras became more capable and faster, with interchangeable lenses, looking more like traditional SLR cameras and were dubbed DSLR. Frank and I jumped on the bandwagon immediately and became obsessed even more with all the new gear and possibilities. This of course was not cheap and Frank’s CFO (Nancy) made sure that he would not go overboard and that he would sell some services to offset the new gear, and just like that, Frank became a wedding photographer! And he was good at it too, always showing the emotion of the event. We were taking photography trips, to places that would provide some photo opportunities and came to appreciate each other’s “work” even more.

A few months after he had acquired a state of the art camera, and i got my hands onto a used professional camera, Frank asked me to be his second shooter to one of his very first professional wedding photographer gigs. We prepared for a while, and as it was to take place on a weekend, we figured out I could bring my wife as an assistant and she was happy to oblige. On the way over there, Frank’s phone rang: it was Nancy. Frank probably mentioned her name or put her on the speakerphone (we can’t remember which), but Julene recognized that this was not just a Nancy Richardson, but the Nancy Richardson that she knew from Tandem, were both worked in Marketing in the 90s. Julene had known for a few years that my friend Frank’s last name was Richardson, but that didn’t really resonate. She then also realized that she had already met Frank some years ago at a Tandem event in England! Small world, eh? We had a really good laugh about it and went out on double-dates afterwords.

We did quite a few weddings together and had a great collaboration: the clients were really happy, and we had fun before (meeting with the couples, scouting locations, etc) , during and after the event (comparing notes and editing the pictures). I wouldn’t take on the job as a primary photographer: it was too much pressure! But Frank showed me it was possible and fun. Thank you for that too.

As we were getting older and our health became more of a concern, we both did a seminar with Kristy about better ways to eat, and so we did. I started walking a lot more, with the dog and while playing golf and started losing weight, prompting Frank to work at it too. For a few years, we compared our progress, our figures, our prescriptions (and their side effects!), all the while telling ourselves how lucky we both were to have married up. We had some good times and enjoyed every bit of it, still taking the occasional photo trip, for example to the Egyptian museum or to see the SJ Giants play from up close, and making time for lunch and coffee, shooting the breeze, telling stories about his beloved granddaughters and his many trips up and down the West Coast… until Frank became ill. Then it was text messages and then it stopped. I was still thinking about Frank and his battle but regret to not have just barged in to tell him I loved him, and now it’s too late. My heartfelt sympathy to Frank’s family and friends.

And to you, Frank, you were a good man and a good friend. Au revoir, mon ami.

Uncle Frank will be forever remembered for blessing the lives of everyone around him with his love, kindness, friendship and generosity no matter who and where they are.

His “Lukey” and the rest of the extended Desalvo family

Considering Frank's love of irreverence whether he was on the receiving or delivering end of it, it's no surprise to me that the family has asked for a bit of it to be included in these memorials.

There was the day a few years ago when he explained to me that he had come to the conclusion that he was a fair-weather fan when it came to enjoying the Giants and the 49ers. He was truly serious about his newfound self-awareness at nearly 70 years old, so I helped him out by letting him know that all of his friends and family had already known that about him for decades. He broke into instant laughter!

After he persistently dragged and kicked me from the world of film photography to the world of digital photography, I told him that I had decided upon a Nikon camera. That was because he was an expert at the Nikon system and I knew he could help me out a lot if I bought a Nikon camera. He insisted that I consider the Canon cameras, sarcastically explaining that I was the last person he wanted to help. (I never evaluated Canon cameras and he patiently got me out of seemingly countless jams with my Nikon system.)

Though I always enjoy Frank's photos regardless of the genre, I have a special fondness for his images of hummingbirds. While I was viewing a large photo of a hummingbird on display at the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C., I called to tell him that it wasn't nearly as good as many of his own photos. Years later I suggested that his hummers, as he fondly called them, were so good that he should provide a book of them to share with his family and friends such as me. He immediately countered by reminding me that I could buy his photos at his SmugMug website. Always the endearing capitalist!

The top of this web page asks that we "raise a glass to celebrate the life of Uncle Frank." I sure hope everyone does that but I also hope nobody uses expensive wine. Frank was too cheap to buy expensive wine and was darned proud of it!

When the disease made it difficult for Frank to talk, he let me know about that by explaining in an email that he had become a much better listener. As funny as that was, I had always thought of him as a good listener and still do.

In the nearly 20 years that Frank and I regularly stayed in touch from opposite sides of the country, there was one topic that was always devoid of irreverence. That was when he was speaking of his family. As I wrote to Nancy, it didn't matter whether a conversation began with discussing investing, photography or baseball. If it went long enough the conversation would inevitably turn to him proudly telling me something new about his family. I knew his face was beaming whether we were talking on the phone, emailing or texting.

Frank regularly and accurately accused me of being a Luddite because of my reluctance to adopt new and not so new technologies such as texting. Ironically, my relationship with Frank is half the reason I finally bought a cell phone about six months ago that had a keyboard that made it easy for me to regularly text; talking had become difficult for him and he usually preferred texting to emailing. It was a happy day for me any time we exchanged text messages, which was often. Indeed, my final memories of Frank are his text messages -- and so many of them contained the humor that only Frank could express with such enjoyable irreverence.

I also "met" Frank via the internet through the Nikon Cafe photography forum. Frank was a wonderful mentor and so very encouraging. He pushed me to take chances and he was the only person who could get me to do portraiture! While we never got the opportunity to speak on the telephone, we did have many conversations through private messaging and I will forever treasure his last message to me.

It was truly an honor to know Frank and my sincerest condolences go out to his entire family. Rest in peace, my friend...

We were very sad to hear of Frank's diagnosis and his subsequent passing. Although we've been Shadowbrook Neighbors for many years, we never came to know Frank until we joined the YMCA social dance class on Friday nights. Frank brought his own style and personality to the floor where he was an instructor and more importantly the "Master of ceremonies." He would typically open the class, introduce the other instructors, then give a lesson with Nancy in a basic step or two. Frank brought his special skills in sales and marketing to the dance floor where he made people feel comfortable in a public setting. He could often be seen engaging others in a friendly way with his very special quirky smile. It's something we will always remember about Frank. Our lives have been enriched for having known him. Frank was a good person and we will truly miss him. Our hearts go out to Nancy, Brooke, Coby and Family. Don & Steph Tietgens

I've had the pleasure of knowing Frank for over 45 years. I first met Frank soon after he was a newly appointed Sales Manager for TI (youngest ever at that time, I believe). He was like a new puppy, really full of it. He was looking for a new salesman, and apparently had just studied up on how to give stress interviews. Unfortunately, I was his 1st victim, and Frank was truly in his element, with total intimidation and leaving nothing to spare. In fact he was so forceful, the HR director present at the interview scolded him afterwards for the intensity of it. For some strange reason, Frank hired me and became my 1st sales boss. I'll never forget how proud he was to lead us and receive TI's "District of the Year" award 3 years later.

I fondly remember the many golf games with Frank and Dickie B. Frank, being competitive by nature, took these outings very seriously. Dick, who was an expert in the PGA rules of golf and a student of the "inner game" of golf, would delight in calling rules infractions on Frank every time he hit a good shot. It was pure theater to watch.

Precious memories of dinners, outings and vacations with Frank and Nancy. Who can ever forget New Years Eve 1999 at Pebble Beach, where we toasted the brilliance of our stock market acumen, only to return home a few days later and find that the market was crashing and our portfolio value evaporating. 

Stories and memories of Frank are so numerous I don't know where to begin, or end. Frank was a lifelong friend and and someone that you could always count on. He was there for us, when Marty and I were going thru a personal tragedy. You will always have a special place in our heart.

The world was better with Frank in it. RIP Frank, you were truly one of a kind!

My heartfelt sympathy to you and your family. I also met Frank and Nancy at the South Valley YMCA years and years ago. We all will miss him terribly, and I cannot imagine the pain you have to deal with at this time. Your wonderful memories and the memories of your friends will help. Sincerely, Rita Osman.

I met Frank through his friendship with my dad George Price, who passed away in 1979. I was three years old when my Dad moved on, and because of my young age I tend to hear a lot of stories from all of the people that knew him. After a while you start to hear most of the same old stories, how great a guy he was, the awesome things he did, so on and so forth. These stories are always welcomed, but I can always tell that there is a spark of truth/life missing from the tales. That is unless the story was coming from Uncle Frank! From everybody else I would hear the scrubbed down, “clean” versions of my dad’s life, but when Frank would tell me about my Dad I knew I was getting the unadulterated truth. Frank would tell me fantastic stories about their exploits and the things they did together as friends, and there was never any detail left out at all. I could always tell the missing pieces from everyone else’s stories were present when I heard Frank talk about my dad. I really never felt closer to my dad than when I would hear from Uncle Frank about his and my dad’s exploits. Thank you so much Frank for always keeping it real and bringing the truest most authentic version of my father that I ever got from anyone else. You are truly an amazing person, and I know in my heart of hearts that you and my dad are adding to your list of adventures even as I write this now! I’m looking forward to having a drink with you both to hear about all of the crazy things you’ve done since you left us here earth!

You will be missed here on earth Frank, but your presence, touch, and effect you left on the world will move forever forward with your family and friends.

Thank you Frank, and say hey to my dad! 

As others here have mentioned, I, too, first met "Uncle Frank" through the internet on photography Usenet groups and also on DPR (DPreview) discussion forums. Back in those days we all were discussing our Coolpixes and other new digital cameras. Eventually people started purchasing and using DSLRs. One day in a post on a forum, "Uncle Frank" mentioned a new site which was just starting up, called Nikon Cafe. Curious, I joined -- and to this day I thank him!

Through the years I followed him as he progressed from Foam core backgrounds and flowers to backyard photos of hummingbirds to what I think was his greatest love: capturing people in everyday life, everyday settings.

It was clear "Uncle Frank" loved photography: experimenting with it, doing it and talking about it, sharing his knowledge and encouraging others. He considered carefully when it was time for new equipment and when he liked a lens or piece of gear, didn't hesitate to share his enthusiasm and his thoughts. I suspect he rarely left the house without a camera in hand, and on the Cafe he enjoyed sharing photos of people he met in various places -- sometimes casual photos, sometimes more formal portraits; he seemed to have an affinity for people and connecting with them. 

Of course he also shared photos of family, too, with us, especially as each of his four darling granddaughters came along. We celebrated with him and smiled at his very evident joy. 

"Uncle Frank" had a very vivid presence on Nikon Cafe, and he will be greatly missed. I extend my deepest sympathy to his loving family at this very sad time.

While I never had the opportunity to talk in person, I did talk to him a few times on Nikon Cafe. He was always willing to give advice. He was a mentor and friend to a lot of people, and he will truly be missed. My deepest condolences to your family.

I have never met Frank or his wonderful family in person. Frank was a forum friend of mine on the Nikon Cafe. He spent a great deal of time there encouraging others and sharing his expertise. He was able to start some of the most interesting discussions on the forum, and he always kept the discussion going. He brought so many people together on the Nikon Cafe. He would meet them in other forums and invite them to join us. His invitation brought me there. I always loved seeing the pictures of his family. His pride in them and love for them was always evident in his posts. I'm a family person, too, and we shared the bond of love for our grandchildren. He was so happy when he became a grandpa, and we all loved seeing his photos of them. I will miss my association with Frank greatly. My love goes out to his family. I pray for you to have comfort at this sad time. I hope his memory never dims for you. I have great faith in life after death and look forward to the day when I can meet Frank in person!! I'm sure he will be with his beloved family, watching over you always!!

My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of your loss.
Death is never easy even if it expected, it is still our enemy.
God will defeat and swallow up death , Forever!

Mr. Richardson, as I know him, was a great Dad and friend to all. Colby and I grew up together in the Shadowbrook neighborhood and Frank was always there to play a game of Horse in the driveway, cooking breakfast during sleepovers (eggs in a basket), deep frying us some tator tots, renting us some great movies, hanging out with us while we trick or treat, cheering us on at swim meets, driving us around in his luxury cars (how about that Infiniti Q45 back in the day), and too many others to name. You will be missed Frank and thanks for being a great Dad and friend.

Uncle Frank, a fellow Nikonian, has left this world because he run out film. Good news is that he will be responsible for all photo sessions for Heavens Lifebook publications. He and his beloved "The Beast" [Nikkor 28-70/2.8] will produce majestic imagery and impeccable portraits and selfies, sharing joy and happiness while dancing foxtrot and waltz. UF, may you Rest In Peace buddy. We still have a gazillion photos to remember of you :-)

Frank was the best father-in-law a girl could ever ask for. We shared a love for dance, chick-flicks, fried tofu, Texas hold’em, and snuggling with Rylee and Regan. I'm so thankful for our recent trip to San Jose when I was able to hold Frank's hand and tell him I loved him.

Good morning everyone from Italy
one of the good sides of Internet is the possibility to meet virtually anywhere on Earth and when the web 2.0 became a reality and a place where not only companies but common people started attending daily forums, being a keen photographer, I joined the Nikoncafe.. I guess it's about 10 yrs ago now.

I was definitely a newbie not only about photography (let alone digital photography) and one of the very first persons I met there was Frank, "Uncle Frank", a name so familiar that I have never asked him which was his real name. He already was an experienced photographer and even more he was one of those special individuals able to attract one's attention with his good, fatherly(*) and slightly witty manners, always open to chat, advice and always leaving you with a smile when everything was over. A small group of the former members was then formed and survived hard times when other things changed.

I regret I couldn't come to USA yet because more than places and landscapes (and I'm sure there are quite over there) I always wanted to gather with people that make such places unique and special. Since I only have a cousin in Stockton / Modesto, I'd have taken the chance to meet some of the forum members and one of them would have been Frank. I really didn't know he was ill until the other day another longtime common friend, Ed (here above), gave me such an unexpected and sad news.

On one side I'm here to make my deepest condolences to the family, on the other, I think in Heaven they may need one more good person and skilled photographer for those special events that are often unrecognizable to our earthly eyes. Be well, Frank and hand little Baby Jesus our warmest wishes now that Christmas comes and ask for us all peace and conversion for our hardened and lukewarm hearts.

(*) I heard that in English it might have some kind of negative meaning: this is not the case at all, being a non-native speaker, I just don't know a more appropriate word - over here conversely it has a very positive hue, attentive and honestly caring.

He was so full of life, and ideas, and humor, and opinions! My name is Doug Dean, but Frank knew me as revdhd, my name on a Nikon photo forum we both inhabited. We go back about ten years, never having spoken a word or shaken hands... but caring about each other and other members of our forum. I'm a retired pastor, and Frank, being in touch with forum members, would occasionally message me to suggest that someone was in need of a good word. It was a small thing, but it spoke of a caring, loving a man. He was always interesting, always investigating, always having fun. He knew the RAMS and ROMS and reads and speeds of everything photographic and showered me with sometimes useful information... and sometimes, just information. But he always made me smile. His generous comments about posted photos set a bar of honest criticism coupled with kindness. That is a hard balance to maintain. And sometimes, he was pushed over the edge. He would not be a doormat, nor did he arrive at his opinions lightly. So, if you wanted to promote an idea, you better know what you were talking about.
I already miss his kind words and invitations, his honesty and goodness. And while the term is not used so much these days, I have always seen him as a "good man." There is a real shortage of them these days, but Frank was truly a good man. Now that my tears have dried for awhile, when I think of him it makes me smile. And I can only guess that God is smiling, too. I am proud to have had Frank as my friend.

I first met Frank and Nancy at the south Valley YMCA on a Friday night... There was a ballroom dancing class for beginners and I dragged my sister to it. Frank & Nancy were so welcoming, Frank insisted it was fine that we didn't bring partners, and he was right :) I ended up attending several classes at the YMCA and learning foxtrot, waltz A couple different types of tango. Frank made the YMCA classes more like family gatherings, later it was Frank who took our first family portrait and those pictures capture the essence of our family better than any other photographer we've gone too, he did such a great job, and surprised us with extra framed pix We love to this day.

Later I would consistently run into Frank as him and his boys were hanging out at Starbucks or Panera bread and crash his table to catch up over a cup of coffee before letting them get back to their boys antics. Frank loved life, loved his family and loved his friends. He was always welcoming, always kind and had a great heart. People like Frank don't come often and I'm blessed to have known him. I know he's dancing in heaven, and he's dearly missed on earth~ keep Dancing, we miss you~

Colby:

My deepest sympathies to you and your entire family. While I never met your father, I know you cherished the times you shared, and your trips to watch the 'niners!

- Bob Fornicola

Frank and I got together on Silicon Investor in 99 to make some bucks and we did well with Qualcomm. We met in 00 in San Diego and Vegas to celebrate. I hired a San Diego Band while there and gave the group a swing dance lesson. Frank and Nancy liked it and made dancing a big part of their lives from then on. We continued in contact over this century and I was shocked to hear of his passing. RIP, Frank.

My name is Edward Neal. I am a fairly new friend of Franks we first met about 13 years ago on a Nikon photography forum. We had similar cameras and over time we upgraded through the Nikon system side by side. I always admired Franks photography skills and his knowledge of the technique and equipment. Frank was a great mentor, but he could also be a bit of an ass when it was called for. I remember one time when I was posting about how much better the Nikon 17-55 was on the APS sensor that the 28-70 - I posted post after post trying to convince everyone until I got a private message form Frank telling me in no un certain terms to stop and respect other peoples choices - At first I wanted to argue, but in the end I knew Frank was right - perhaps I was the ass after all. I also remember when I was looking for a portrait lens how Frank pointed me toward the Nikon 105 F/2D-DC - Best lens I ever owned and the only one I regret selling. Forgive my wandering here, the memories of our short time as friends are like crazy flash backs as I sit here trying to sort through them. There are two things that really stand out. The first was when Frank posted pictures from his first family trip to Palm Springs. I couldn't believe it - Frank had come to my town and didn't tell me!!!! - I totally gave him a ration of shit, but he honestly didn't realize this was where I lived. It was a perfect thing because on his next 2 trips I got to actually meet him and his fantastic wife and grand kids. The second but perhaps most important thing I will always hold dear is watching Frank become a grandfather. I was the first between us to have grand children I was on number two and constantly posting photographs that Frank would admire and comment on, but Then Frank joined the club and the pure joy I saw in him and felt in his words rang in my soul in a way that only some one who had been there could ever understand - Frank was meant to be PopPop in my opinion it was his calling - even across the internet the glow of his love for those kids was blinding - Its funny, social media and stupid photography forums gave me the gift of a person I will always consider a true friend A man I can honestly say I love. To Nancy and all of Franks family - Thank you for sharing Uncle Frank with me.