Frank was born on November 22, 1935 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to William (Bill) J. Mittenzwei and Mary Sullivan. He was the second of their four children: William (Billy) deceased, Mary Ann deceased and Robert (Bobby).
He came of age in the time of cuffed dungarees, cigarettes rolled into a white t-shirt sleeve, Cadillacs, Brooklyn Dodgers, pool halls and dancing with small-waisted bobby socks-ers. It was in that Brooklyn neighborhood, just a few blocks away, he met the sister of his friend Jimmy Cox, Rosie. RoseMary became his sweetheart and for over 61 years they hardly spent a day apart.
Frank’s legacy is the family that he and RoseMary created. Starting with their children: Francis (Frank), RoseMary (Sissy), Veronica (Roni), Charlotte, Melissa, Thomas, Ann and Billy Joe and our dear departed Michael. The clan, still growing, made Frank a Poppy to 21 and a Great - Pop to 7, in addition to being Uncle Frank to his many nieces and nephews. He had a profound impact on their lives and in who they all are today. Many of them call him “My hero”.
A deeply devoted and hard working man, both understatements. Not only was he a NYC cop, he held countless jobs to provide his family with everything they needed, opportunities he never had and truly amazing lives. Frank’s second, and third, jobs were: cab driver, roofer, factory work and an ambulance driver. As the digital age started to become commonplace, Frank stepped into his second career in computers. He began in data-processing and in a short time became the Director of I.T. at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn where he retired in 2004.
Frank came from a time when a “tough guy” was cool, quiet, smart, kind, generous and strong. Strong as in the steady, unflappable, walk through fire - kind of strong. No bravado. Just a steely, German Shepherd fierceness in his eyes. The kind of strong - work 3 jobs, raise 7 kids, drop everything to help, “yeah, sure, I’ll take care of it”, “here’s my last dollar - we’ll figure it out”, “okay, babe - whatever you need”, never - not one complaint - kind of strong.
He was all of this and one thousand times more for his forever “sweetheart”, his “button nose”, his best friend, his wife. At our finest we, his family, are equal parts Frank and RoseMary. As we walk our individual paths we are often the one others rely on to calm, to fix, to have the answers and to steady the course, just like our father.
They were an incredible pair, so completely joined in heart and spirit that it is difficult to define where one ends and the other begins.
He was the tide to her ocean waves, in every form.
He was the roots to all the seasons of her mighty tree.
One would not exist without the other.
They, Frank and RoseMary, could not exist without one another.
We find comfort in knowing they are together again after only a few short months. Dancing and laughing, surrounded by the love of so many we lost before them.
The summation of Frank’s life will fall short in its ability to portray the depth and strength of this man. It will not begin to describe how the loss of him leaves us unsteady and rudderless. Frank showed us how to be in the world and soon we will be able to draw from his strength, once again, to steady the course as he did for us, all our lives.
A visitation for Frank will be held Friday, February 5, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Casey McCallum Rice South Shore Funeral Home, 30 Nelson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10308. A funeral service will occur Saturday, February 6, 2021 from 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM at St. Clare Church, 110 Nelson Ave, Staten Island, NY 10308.
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