Francis James Sopha

Frank was born in 1935 and grew up in Redford Township, Michigan. He attended Redford Union HS in Redford and graduated in the class of 1953. After High school, he followed in his father’s footsteps, going to work for the Detroit Board of Education as a boiler Engineer at Cody High School.

In 1957, he and Carol (Savage) Sopha were married.

He entered the United States Army in June 1958 and was first stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Later in November 1958, he left for Korea where he served the remainder of his time in the service.

After returning home, he resumed his career at Cody High School.

Something that he always enjoyed seeing the world, exploring many interesting places. His travels have taken him to England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia as well as many states including Hawaii and Alaska (just to name a few).

Survived by his sister Georgina, his children William, Michael (Lorraine), Catherine (Wayne), Teresa (Kevin), Karen (James), thirteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, a niece and a nephew.

Some Things Remembered…

“Grandpa surprised me and paid for my flight to Texas when I was 16 to visit my old friend Amy. He walked me to my gate and gave me spending money.” ~ Beckey Place

“Dad took Rita and I on a canoe trip on the Ausable river for a girl scout badge, the water was so low, he had to keep getting out in the cold water and push the canoe.” ~ Cathy Everhart

“I always remember how much he flirted with the waitresses at the restaurant. Just like his dad!” ~ Teresa Kalis

“Grandpa and Nancy took me Missy and 2 of our friends all the way to the top of the UP, and every stop on the way. I don't know how he handled that drive, we were a bunch of annoying kids lol. We had so much fun, and got to sleep in the bed of his truck on this little foam mattress thing.” ~ Kim Pitocco

I was so excited after the rapids to show him all the cool pictures we got because him and Nancy couldn't make it that far. ~ Kim Pitocco

“I was gonna say the same as Kim! Pictured rocks, waterfalls, copper mines and sacred native burial grounds in the UP changed my life.” ~ Missy Giorgi

“He’d always ask for the oldest pot of coffee available! Hahaha” ~ Kim Pitocco

“Oh and when they asked how he wanted his steak, he would say when you put the fork in it, it should moo.” ~ Teresa Kalis

“Frank, Georgina, Bob and me Carolyn were all raised together. Our Dads were brothers. Udell and Edgar. We always lived close by each other. I went to school with your Mom and introduced your Mom and Dad. I look back over all the adventures the 4 of us all had together and it makes me smile.” ~ Carolyn Sopha LaFrance

“I remember grandpa getting me the job at Donut Town and him coming with his friends so proud to introduce me.” ~ Dedra

“I remember when I was really little grandpa kept a bunch of super old coloring books that had to of been passed down muuuuultiple times and I always loved them so much even though half the pictures were already colored in ~ Missy Giorgi

“Yes, Missy! Or the overabundance of Disney movies and that super cool chair I was OBSESSED with haha” ~Kim Pitocco

“I remember I'd sit on his awesome vibrating, recliner chair and press the seat button up, up, up, up..........dooooown down down like a carnival ride til he'd finally get annoyed and tell me I was gonna wear the wires out hahah (still would do it every time I came over though whoops lol)” ~ Missy Giorgi

“I just always remember grandpa having a cute joke to tell any time he saw us. He was always so excited to make us laugh ” ~ Nicole Michael

“I think some of my favorite memories of him are when I started getting adventurous as a little kid and began sneaking into the basement to look around at all the trinkets. I remember when I found his key workshop, I just HAD to climb on and touch and go through everything. Made terrible messes I'm sure lol... but he showed me how to make keys and all the shiny metal dust looked like glitter to me. All the keys were so mysterious and 100% fed my love for story writing and fantasy worlds. I'd make up stories for every weird key I found and he'd listen and even egg me on with his own story suggestions every time. I seriously was convinced he was a secret wizard.” ~ Missy Giorgi

“Did you kids ever hear him play the harmonica? He had several of them and I can remember him playing.” ~Teresa Kalis

“I remember him playing the harmonica. but most of all I remember what a great man he was I never heard him say a bad thing about a single person. And I remember how he used to look for a price difference is at the store just so you can get there the right off LOL no matter what. And now Karen does it LOL. And I also remember having to yell at him to get off the roof when we did the roof up north. Him and uncle Donnie both LOL” ~ Jim Giorgi

“Dad used to play the guitar too. One of my earliest memories was around 12 when I started taking private guitar lessons from this guy that lived down our street, I used dad's acoustic guitar.” ~ Will ‘Destiny’ Sopha