Frank Edward Hruska

Frank Hruska died on December 2, 2025, after a long life which began in the Winnipeg North End, where he spent a carefree and happy childhood pursuing sports and developing his lifelong love affair with books and golf. His most important love, however, was with Donna, his wife.

Frank attended St. Paul’s High School, then attended the University of Manitoba achieving a PhD in Chemistry in 1966. He spent two years working at the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, leaving to take a teaching position at the University of Winnipeg. Ultimately, he was invited to join the Chemistry Department at the University of Manitoba. He quickly rose to full professor, a position he held and loved for the next 38 years. Frank’s devotion to his teaching and his students was apparent. His meticulous preparation for his classes led to several teaching awards. Close friendships were developed with his graduate students, often attending weddings and offering congratulations on the subsequent birth of children. He enjoyed watching his students and their children grow and develop. He also received many letters of thanks from his students and was told that he changed lives.

Frank was an active researcher. His Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) studies of the components of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA kept him busy for many years. He has been described as a pioneer using NMR spectroscopy to study nucleic acid sugar conformations. His research led to invitations to address scientific symposia in many countries. Frank was also interested in mathematics, specifically Magic Squares. His article entitled “Magic squares, matrices, planes and angles” was published in the “Journal of Recreational Mathematics” in the early 1990s. It led to a speaking engagement with the Department of Mathematics at the University of Manitoba as well as interest from other mathematical journals.

For five years, Frank was a member of the board of the University of Manitoba Institute of for the Humanities (UMIH) in the Faculty of Arts. This led to his development of two chemistry courses which aimed to show that knowledge of chemistry is important for a student’s liberal education. On the other hand, this interaction with the Faculty of Arts led to a deepened interest in English literature.

Frank’s aim in life was to learn everything he possibly could; with that in mind he collected books. At its zenith, his library consisted of approximately 3000 books, all carefully documented and catalogued, including books on religion, philosophy, history, science, music, fairy tales, visual arts, and few joke books for good measure. His life was rounded out with theatre, opera, travel and golf.

Frank liked to quote author Sinclair Lewis who described his early days in Minnesota, saying “It was a good time, a good place for preparation for life.” Frank felt the same way about Winnipeg, its North End and his University of Manitoba.

Frank will be forever missed by his wife Donna, his niece Susan Cloutier, and Susan’s children, Ainsley, Meagan and Evan. We would like to thank all those who extended help and friendship during Frank’s long and difficult illness with Lewy Body Dementia. At his request, no memorial service or funeral will be held. In Frank’s memory, donations can be made to the “Rooms to Thrive” project at the Convalescent Home of Winnipeg.