Frank Valentin

Frank was born at 12:15 AM February 7, 1949 in Manhattan, New York. He was reared in the New York City neighborhoods of Harlem in Manhattan and Corona in Queens where he lived with his father, Ramón Valentín; mother, María Josefina Delgado; five younger sisters and his dog Spotty. As the story goes, he snuck Spotty into the house and cared for him for several weeks before Josefina and Ramón found the puppy, and by that time the bond was so strong, they allowed Frank to keep him. As a teenager he attended The High School of Art and Design (M630) in Manhattan from 1964 through 1967 with an inclination to pursue architecture. During his late teens and early adult years, he played the electric guitar, even building one on his own and was also a member of a band called “The Apollo Sounds”. The band played at the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City. Frank also liked the comedian Cantinflas, a pastime he would share with his mom, and Motown music.

In September of 1967, at age 18, Frank voluntarily joined the US ARMY along with his favorite cousin Kenneth “Kenny” Delgado and shortly after both received orders for Vietnam. He fortunately returned safely from a year serving in the Vietnam conflict, and eventually separated from active duty in September of 1970; consequently remaining in reserve status through 1973. While in the service he was a Cartographic Draftsman with the 20th Engineer Battalion, Military Specialty 81C20. During his three years of active duty he received the following commendations: Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal With Device-1960 Rifle Expert. Moreover, he also served in the National Guard upon separation from active duty and completing his reserve period.

At age 20, in 1969, Frank married his first wife and later that year they welcomed their first and only son. Nearly a decade later, in 1978, they separated and two years later in 1980 they divorced. On July 3, 1980, at age 31, Frank married his current wife Aida Sanchez in New York.

Eventually Frank and Aida relocated to Southern Florida. In 1986, at 36, he started working as a cartographer for Dolph Maps Co in Fort Lauderdale, FL and worked for them through 2001. Then in 2002 he pivoted to pursue a second career path at age 53, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent, from which he retired in 2019, at age 70. In September of 2015, while working for DHS, he had the honor of serving in the guardianship of Pope Francis during the pontiff’s visit to The White House in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia. During his tenure with TSA Frank also received the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award, and was chosen to go to Baltimore to help at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport during the Freddie Gray Civil Rights Protests in 2016.

Frank was predeceased by his mother, María Josefina Delgado in 2015 and by his father, Ramón Valentín in 2019. He is survived and mourned by his only and estranged biological son from his first marriage, his wife Aida Sanchez, his stepson David Sanchez, and his beloved surviving siblings; Ramón Valentín, Rosemary Tirado-Valentín, Nancy Valentín, Doris Meyer-Valentín, Josephine Valentín and Gladys Valentín. He is grieved and remembered by his brothers-in-law, Roberto Tirado and Tom Meyer. He is also grieved and remembered with love by his nephews and nieces: Javier Valentín, Daniel Valentín, Monica Valentín, Sonia Valentín, Noel Valentín, Luis Iván Gutiérrez, Miguel Angel Gutiérrez, Yanira Soto-Tirado, Jorge David Gutiérrez, Javier Ramón Gutiérrez, Roberto B. Tirado, Sammy Quiles, Jessica Quiles, Joselyn Catrina Batista-Beltrán, Mitchell Angelo Arroyo, Joseph Anthony Arroyo, Nastassia Rosemarie Meyer, Christopher Hans Meyer, and other extended family and friends.

As a result of the current health crisis, at this time there are no details to share on scheduled services. Frank’s wishes were to be cremated and those are the arrangements being pursued. Hopefully in the not-so-distant future a celebration of life will be organized at his final resting place. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers.