| SEPTEMBER 16, 2013 -- A number of people have asked why we haven’t featured Frank Warner as the subject of this column. To tell the truth it’s been put off because there would be so much to cover and it would be difficult to ask people to remember someone nobody could forget.
One of these days we'll give it a try. The article would have to mention how he came back from the service following World War II with his bride, the lovely, ever patient, Margaret whom he met in Arizona. We would speak of his love of family, Grange, church and community. We would recall his days outstanding voice, his good nature and his friendship to everyone.
There were so many activities which were a part of his life- many years of service to the fire department, working on the installing team of his best pal, Carlton Platt, singing in the Hamden Grange Quartet with Duane K. Wetmore, Eddie Hooghkirk and Jim Grandy and participating in sports.
He was Master of Hamden Grange No. 99 and of New Haven County Pomona and was State Deputy before he began his long journey to the office of State Master. He was president of the Connecticut State Grange Federal Credit Union, a director of the Connecticut Agricultural Fair, and of course, Patrons Mutual Insurance.
While he was State Master there was a change voted for the time of election of officers which resulted in Frank and his team having to serve an extra year - thus creating the “Warner Five Year Wonders.” His aim while State Master was to visit every Grange and Pomona – and he did!
While he was a lot of fun, there was nobody more serious about the ritual and work than Frank – even though he had a lot of ribbing wearing the leotard in the Seventh Degree.
His talents were many- a prime example was the monologue he often gave on programs where he carried a little black suitcase and using his “Italian accent” told of his career from “Gate-a-keep” to “Assistant Stew” and on to being the “Mast”!
As State Master he introduced the greeting card project which proved to be a good fundraiser. Granges and Grange members sold boxes of greeting cards with a percentage of each sale going back to the State Grange. The assortment of cards was the same in every box sold. When Frank’s birthday came around, Joanne Cipriano thought of a great idea and we spread the word asking folks to take one specific birthday card out of their boxes and send it to Frank. That year he received over 200 cards – all alike!
We should mention how he loved ice cream, his many collections - trucks, horses, and of course, milk bottles. He built a set of lighted shelves in his garage on which to display his bottle collection.
His woodworking skills were excellent and he donated one of his famous fireside benches to every raffle or fundraising project that came along.
He was a people person and often put his own name on people. His daughter-in-law was “Shorty”. He called me “Beege” and my husband, “Billy Boy” – but the best one was when he always called Joanne “Scrooge.”
He was a great tease. Ted Beebe says when he walked into a gathering and heard the sound of a goat coming from the crowd he knew Frank was there. He had inside jokes with everyone.
Many a good time was had by all the Groups the Warners entertained in their cottage at the lake.
Yes, one day there will be an article about Frank. It won’t be easy to write and there will hardly be enough room for all the things to be recalled, but we will ask you to remember Frank – as if anybody could ever forget him! |
