Francis "Frank" Drozdick

Francis "Frank" Drozdick, 95 of Hanover, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Born in Boston on July 15, 1929, he was the son of the late Michael Drozdzik and Catherine (Keck) Drozdzik. Frank had three older siblings, Helen, Edward, and Henry, all of whom predeceased him.

During his childhood in post-depression era Mattapan, Frank grew up resilient. He liked to joke that the reason he had no middle name was because "We were too poor." He was a good student who achieved the honor roll, played violin, collected coins, and raised pigeons. He recounted stories of swimming in local quarries, climbing rock faces in the Blue Hills, playing in the woods around Sally Rock, hopping on streetcars without paying, and sneaking into Saturday matinees with his friends. He laughed about the time he carved his initials "FD" into the side of his house and then, realizing his mistake and its consequences, converted his work to "ED" to frame his brother Edward; but Eddie was the straight arrow and Frank the mischief maker, and his father was not fooled. Frank was especially proud of an incident when he and a friend crashed violently during friendly roughhousing, the impact of which instantly repaired the friend's shoulder, which had been left non-functional after a fall several years earlier. He was stubbornly independent: when in his 20s a friend remarked that he was addicted to smoking and could never quit, Frank replied "Oh, yeah?", flicked his half-smoked cigarette to the ground, and that was that.

Frank was an industrious hard worker, and held many jobs starting in his elementary school years. From those days through the rest of her life he would help to support his mother. After graduating Hyde Park High an honor student, he worked as a machinist. Probably influenced by his older brothers who both served, Frank joined the Navy and served on the USS Intrepid, stationed in the Mediterranean during the Korean War. During shore leave, a taxi cab accident nearly killed him, and left him hospitalized in Italy. He reminisced about his convalescence, during which he would walk the grounds and give chocolate to the local kids, who called out "Franco, Franco." He liked to joke that the hospital in Italy was "the best place in the world to fight the Korean War." He was grateful for the opportunity to see much of Europe during his time in the Navy.

Returning home, he planned to continue work as a machinist, but was convinced by friends instead to go to college. He graduated Northeastern University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He credited watching his father's masterful work as a blacksmith, his father's advice "Plan your work then work your plan", and his own work later as a machinist, for his success as a mechanical engineer. He worked at several companies, including Raytheon, Sanders Associates, Lincoln Lab, and Bell Laboratories. Some of his work required a high security clearance for which, he liked to recount, the government tracked down and interviewed his kindergarten teacher.

Frank and Jennifer (Miller) married in 1965 and settled in Andover, MA where they raised two sons, Michael (b. 1966) and Christopher (b. 1969). Frank told bedtime stories of the adventures of "sirhC and ekiM". He always managed to repair the kids' toys, bicycles, and later, cars. Given his humble upbringing, Frank was grateful for and proud of the home. With his own hands he built an addition on the house, as well as several sheds. He completely restored, nearly bolt by bolt, a 1929 Model A that had not run for decades, but which he would later drive in parades. He enjoyed tending a large vegetable garden that was often featured in the local newspapers. He had a workshop filled with machinist tools and every conceivable nut, bolt, or screw salvaged from various sources and meticulously organized.

Frank retired at age 55 and enjoyed his retirement in Andover, writing letters to the editor and playing bridge and cribbage at the senior center. Later he would spend winters in Florida. Despite back problems from a life of hard work, he kept active, walking, going to the gym, playing cards, socializing, and fretting over local and world politics. When his grandchildren arrived, he watched them play sports, do activities, and grow. He always valued education, and made faithful birthday and Christmas contributions to the savings for the colleges they now attend.

Frank is survived by his wife Jennifer (Miller) Drozdick; their sons Christopher, of Peyton CO, and Michael, of Milton MA.; and his grandchildren Katherine (20) and Daniel (18).

A funeral home service will be held on Thursday, July 17 at 9 AM at the Sullivan Funeral Homes, 551 Washington Street, Route 53, Hanover. Burial to follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Boston.