Gerry Frank Explained
| Gerry Frank |
| Birth Name: | Gerald Wendel Frank |
| Birth Date: | 21 September 1923 |
| Birth Place: | Portland, Oregon |
| Education: | University of Cambridge |
| Occupation: | Business owner, chief of staff, writer |
Gerald Wendel "Gerry" Frank (September 21, 1923 – March 13, 2022) was an Oregon businessman, philanthropist, police advocate, author, and longtime chief of staff to U. S. senator Mark Hatfield.
Biography
Frank was a vice president of the Meier and Frank department store chain, which was founded by his great-grandfather Aaron Meier in 1857. He left that position in 1965, during a time of disagreement among the Meier and Frank families over potential buyout offers.[1] His departure came shortly after the board had forced his father, Aaron Frank, out as chief executive; he later described it as the saddest period of his life.[2]
He was already a millionaire when he went on to become an aide to Hatfield; he initially took a salary of only $1, prior to becoming Hatfield's chief of staff. He was known as "Oregon's third senator" due to his political influence.
Frank opened a cake shop in Salem in 1982, and wrote guidebooks and newspaper columns about food and travel.[3]
Frank died March 13, 2022. About 400 people attended his memorial service at the Salem Convention Center.[4] He left a significant collection of memorabilia to the Oregon Historical Society.[5]
Notes and References
- News: Lynn . Capi . March 13, 2022 . Gerry Frank leaves a legacy in Salem and Oregon . 2024-01-02 . Statesman Journal . en-US.
- News: Perry . Douglas . 2022-03-13 . Gerry Frank, Oregon businessman and civic leader, dies at age 98 . en . The Oregonian . 2024-01-02 . January 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102221838/https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2022/03/oregon-businessman-and-civic-leader-gerry-frank-dies-at-age-98.html . live .
- News: Peel . Sophie . 2022-03-14 . Gerry Frank, Longtime Chief of Staff to Mark Hatfield, Philanthropist and Cake Aficionado, Dies at 98 . en . Willamette Week . 2024-01-02 . April 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230408082113/https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2022/03/13/gerry-frank-longtime-chief-of-staff-to-mark-hatfield-philanthropist-and-cake-aficionado-dies-at-98/ . live .
- News: Lynn . Capi . 2022-05-20 . Oregon celebrates the life and legacy of Gerry Frank . en . The Oregonian . 2024-01-02 . January 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102221838/https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2022/05/oregon-celebrates-the-life-and-legacy-of-gerry-frank.html . live .
- Web site: n.d. . Gerald Wendel “Gerry” Frank (1923–2022) . 2024-01-02 . www.oregonencyclopedia.org . en . January 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102221838/https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/frank-gerry/ . live .
