Gil Frank Loved to Fight the Good Fight

The family of Gilbert Frank is filled with sorrow to announce that he died after a brief illness, at the age of 87, on Nov. 14 at Martha's Vineyard Hospital. He was a devoted husband to Doris for sixty-three years, a loving father to Daniel and Janet, a caring brother to Rea and Selma, a proud grandfather to Johanna, Jeremy, Michael, and Zoe, a proud great-grandfather to Benjamin, Jillian, and Allison, and a special friend of Steve Ruzanski, all of whom survive him and mourn him with love.

Mr. Frank was also a devoted servant of civic welfare throughout his adult life. He served on many committees and in elected posts, working for intercultural understanding, interracial tolerance and friendship, and social and economic justice. He also labored to preserve the natural beauty of Martha's Vineyard, and was a beloved and loyal employee of Vineyard Haven Public Library for many years. His ribald taste for controversy in fighting the good fight is well known to readers of the Gazette.

He was an inveterate letter-writer and his words appeared frequently in the letters to the editor section of the Vineyard Gazette.

In September of 2000 he penned the following ditty, which was published under the headline Poetic License:

A woman on Skiff avenue hired a man to build her a fence. For some strange reason he built it of four-foot by eight-foot sheets of plywood.

Hence, quoted Miss Hortence:

I know not whence
Came a guy with no sense
that would build a fence
That is so dense.

Under no pretense
Can there be recompense
Until you remove defense
That makes me so tense

Nay, not even a pence
It is an expense
I care not to dispense
As I have lost my patience
With your nonsense

Gil Frank's many friends will miss the warmth and laughter that he shared with everyone. Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Stuart Kendall and the wonderful staff of Martha's Vineyard Hospital.

A graveside service was held in the Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Cemetery on Nov. 15, officiated by Rabbi Caryn Broitman. Donations may be made in his memory to Felix Neck Sanctuary P.O. Box 494, Vineyard Haven, Ma. 02568 or Martha's Vineyard Hospital, P.O. Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, Ma. 02557. Arrangements are under the care of Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.