Frank Anthony Janoski

One of Frank’s favorite pastimes was fishing and he was on the Board of Directors at the SX Sportsman fishing club at Bushy Hill Pond. He enjoyed the outdoors and watching birds and wildlife. He also was a member of the Cowboy Action club, where competitors adopt Old West aliases and wear period appropriate clothing.

You could usually find Frank at the local flea markets and antique shops looking for treasures. He loved cats and always had several keeping him company and entertaining him.

He was best known in the community as The Leatherman. He loved the old stories of the original Leatherman who travelled around the area, and took on the legend’s name. His love of leatherwork led to his self-employment. People sought him out for custom leatherwork projects and repair work. He created beautiful hand-tooled and hand-carved belts, wallets, purses, keychains, bracelets, hats, and saddlebags and everything was hand-stitched. Frank’s craftsmanship was a local favorite and he sold his leather goods at the local fairs and craft shows for 55 years from 1968 to 2023, retiring at the age of 80. Some of the fairs he did for many years were Chester, Haddam Neck, Durham, Hebron, Hamburg and North Stonington. He was at local craft shows in Old Saybrook, Clinton and Niantic. His beloved truck carried his entire fair setup and all his hand crafted leather goods for 34 years and people were amazed how he could fit all of it, in his small truck.

He grew up in Ivoryton, CT and was predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Josephine Janoski.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Eileen Janoski, daughter Laura Janoski, daughter in law Mary Pate, brother and sister in laws William and Angela Sweetnam of Mississippi and Michael and Marilee Sweetnam of Wisconsin and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be private. Donations in Frank’s name can be made to the CT Humane Society, 701 Russell Rd., Newington, CT. 06111 or their website www.cthumane.org and a box checked to dedicate the donation. Cards can be mailed to PO Box 344, Deep River, CT. 06417

The family would like to thank the staff at Middlesex Hospital for the compassionate care Frank was given.