Frank Michael Michanowicz

Dad to us, ”Fritz” to Mom, “Mr. Frank” to his Nashville friends and all the children he taught. Francis Michael Michanowicz, born September 1, 1925 in Swedesburg/Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, of immigrant parents, Joanna Skiladz Michanowicz from Białystok, Poland and Julian Michanowicz from Lithuania, he outlived his 7 other siblings, Helen, Jean, Bertha, Paul, Anthony, Andrew and John.

Frank joined the United States Navy at the tender age of 17, served as a gunner in the Pacific Campaign against the Japanese during WWII in the Gulf of Leyte. His ship LCI(L)s548, lifted sailors out of the water in the Gulf of Leyte when the destroyer USS Reid (DD-369) was targeted by A6M5 Type 0 Zeke fighters also known as kamikazes, and sank in minutes. They transferred the men from the Reid to LSM-316 where they continued to take on enemy fire. LSM sailed to Baybay Harbor, Weire, Leyte, Philippines, transferring the Reid survivors to the U.S. 7th Infantry Division’s 71st Medical Battalion field hospital.

Dad received the following medals/ribbons: Good Conduct, Pacific Theater Ribbon (3 Stars), American Theater Campaign, Commendation Ribbon, Victory Medal and Philippine Liberation Ribbon (1 Star). Frank served the U.S. Navy Active Duty from August 12, 1943 to March 21, 1946 and continued serving in the U.S. Navy Reserves from March 22,1946 to January 6, 1954.

When the war was over, Frank attended college at Mansfield State University, Mansfield, Pennsylvania and earned his Bachelor of Science in Education continuing on to attain his Masters degree in Education at George Peabody College for Teachers (now part of Vanderbilt University) in Nashville, Tennessee. At George Peabody he met and married our late mother, Barbara Jean Freeman, who grew up in East Nashville.

Frank applied for a position with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) in Europe and was assigned a position in Nurnberg, Germany as a high school teacher. He was promoted to Principal at the Paris American School for the DoDDS. He served with accolades and commemoratives from the military commanders of Paris, France, Ansbach and Nurnberg, Germany, Vicenza and finally Livorno, Italy, educating children in Western European U.S. Military bases from 1955-1984. He supported children through intercultural programs including initiating a “Class in the Snow” exchange between Italian and American 5th and 6th graders for 10 years in the Trento, Monte Bondone region of the southern Alps.

After retiring from the Federal Government, Frank and Barbara finally returned stateside and made their home at 4212 Bayside Lane in Hermitage, Tennessee. Dad took a position as the General Night Manager of the Sheraton Music City Hotel for 10 years before returning to his passion as a substitute teacher in the Elementary schools of Metro Nashville Public Schools. He quickly became a favorite substitute and was always in demand. In 2018 he was honored by the Metro Nashville Public Schools with the Dedicated Service Award at the age of 93. He continued to work stopping at the age of 95 only because of the World Wide Pandemic known as Covid 19 in 2020. Always physically active, dad swam 1 mile daily, walked and did loud arm exercises every morning.

Frank's wife, Barbara, passed in March of 2023. He is survived by their 3 children, Dawn in Holden, Massachusetts, Mark in Venice, Italy and Denise in Aeroeskoebing, Denmark, as well as his grandchildren, Matt Gleysteen in Seoul, South Korea and Andy Gleysteen in Watertown, MA, Marco Michanowicz, and Nicole Singer in Copenhagen, Denmark. Dad: “A cent’anni in piu!” We will miss you. Simply put, you are a legend, a hero, larger than life, a friend and to us…our dad. “Life with Frank” Love you Dad.

There will be a Funeral Mass on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 11:00 AM, at St. Stephen Catholic Community, 14544 Lebanon Road, Old Hickory, Tennessee. Frank will be laid to rest, along with this wife, Barbara, in a service with military honors at 2:00 PM at the Nashville National Cemetery, 1420 Gallatin Pike South, Madison, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Frank's memory to the Fisher House (fisherhouse.org), Tennessee Animal Rescue (newleashonline.org), or Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Michanowicz family by selecting "Add a Memory" at the bottom of this page.