Cullum No. 29494 • Mar 14, 1993 • Died in Denver, CO
Interred in Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO
Frank Roynano III was born on 27 Apr 1948 in Brooklyn, NY, to Frank Romano, Jr. and Patricia McKeon Romano. His father was a career Army officer, and Frank grew up on Army bases around the world. Frank started his West Point career in Company C-3 and settled into plebe life as a proud, productive, and proficient company mate. Yearling year, he was shuffled to the newly created Company G-3 during the Academy’s expansion. Frank considered “the system” an experience to be endured as he carved out time to enjoy camaraderie and banter with classmates and friends. He had a humorous, if somewhat incisive, perspective on life and always was quick with a quip. Everyone liked Frank; he could cheer you up when you were down, listen when you were upset, and give you good advice when you needed it. His gregarious nature made him one of the most popular cadets in the company. Junior year, when Frank spent several weeks in a halfbody cast in the hospital, a steady stream of classmates visited to cheer him up. It was a tribute to Frank’s personality that we always received more than we left with him. This inspired several of his classmates to establish a dubious, clandestine radio station, WKOK, which broadcast to his hospital room a daily selection of news, corps updates, and humor, until it was shut down by a tactical officer.
His senior year saw the Academy’s first summer school program, and Frank was one of the “fantastic five” who started this new tradition. On 3 Jun 1970, while his classmates tossed their hats in the air in jubilant celebration, Frank and the other four musketeers planted their hats back on their heads, carried their empty diploma cases out of Michie Stadium, and became the inaugural members of the summer school graduation program. Between forays into Highland Falls and Greenwich Village, he kept his band of musketeers entertained. Frank graduated, was commissioned in the Field Artillery, and joined his classmates on the next great adventure—active duty service.
Before starting active duty, however, there was a “see the world” tour that Frank and four classmates—Gerri Saari, Tom Miller, Bobby Archer, and Tim Sauter—concocted. Inspired by the Farkle family of Laugh-In fame, they became the “Farkle Gang,” assembled at Frank’s parents’ house in Mannheim, Germany, acquired a 1960 Volkswagen minivan of Woodstock vintage, and proceeded on their great adventure. From the Federal Republic of Germany, through Barcelona and the French Riviera to Tirrenia, Italy, they sought their fortune. Frank and two classmates headed off to Rome. Unfortunately, thieves got their passports, travelers checks, and valuables, so they saw more of the U.S. Embassy than Rome. By then their time was up, so after a side trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and a scenic passage through the Alps, they returned to Mannheim for final farewells and reporting to their respective basic courses.
Branching Field Artillery meant that Frank reported to Ft. Sill, OK, which he equated to a five-mile PT run, with rifles, at Camp Buckner. He then headed west. Frank longed for the mountains of Colorado, with skiing a major priority, and arrived at his first duty station, Ft. Carson. Frank did the necessary soldiering-up and then convinced the Army that what they really needed was another lawyer. Attending Creighton University, Frank earned his Juris Doctor in short order, always excelling at anything he set his mind to.
That is exactly what he did after law school, when he wangled an assignment back to Tirrenia, Italy, where he met his mate for life. Frank, the young and dashing JAG lawyer, was detailed to pick up a newly assigned lieutenant named Gill, and our “Giuseppe” was not initially thrilled with his role as sponsor. He thought Gill was a guy. Imagine his surprise when he found this lovely young lieutenant instead. Still, it was long odds that these two hard-charging “Army brats” would ever be more than acquaintances, but fate was with Frank. Gill would soon become his wife, giving him two wonderful children, Joseph and Francesca, and be forever the love of his life.
Frank married Gill Lane Bradley on 31 May 1980 in the church at San Piero a Grado in Pisa, Italy. Frank loved Italy, spoke Italian fluently, and was easily taken in by the culture and his Italian friends. After five years in Italy, Frank left active duty and took a civilian position as an attorney in Heidelberg, Germany. There, Frank and Gill enjoyed traveling and skiing throughout Europe.
Frank and Gill moved to the Twin Cities of St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN, in 1984, when Frank took a position as counsel for the St. Paul District Corps of Engineers. In 1988, he became Counsel for SJ Groves Engineering in Minneapolis and soon transferred to Atlanta, GA, where their son, Joseph Andrew, was born on 2 Jan 1989. Three years later, Frank finally made his way back to his beloved Colorado with the law firm of Pryor, Carney, and Johnson. His daughter Francesca was born in Denver on Gill’s birthday, 5 Apr 1992.
Frank was hard working, loyal, kind, generous. He was respected and loved among family, friends, and in the legal community. He was gentleman of great integrity and honest to a fault. His gracious manner made him a friend to all he encountered. It wasn’t long after the move to Denver that Frank was diagnosed with cancer. He succumbed to his illness four months later, on 14 Mar 1993. We know Frank is looking down with immense pride on the beautiful, loving family that carries on his name and proud traditions. His spirit lives through his wife Gill and his son and daughter, Joseph and Francesca. Gill retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and now teaches English for Cherry Creek Schools in Denver, CO.
—Classmates Tom Miller, Rich Measner, Howard Parker
Mary Ann Sachse (Brown)
Cullum No. 29494 • Mar 14, 1993 • Died in Denver, CO
Interred in Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO
Frank Roynano III was born on 27 Apr 1948 in Brooklyn, NY, to Frank Romano, Jr. and Patricia McKeon Romano. His father was a career Army officer, and Frank grew up on Army bases around the world. Frank started his West Point career in Company C-3 and settled into plebe life as a proud, productive, and proficient company mate. Yearling year, he was shuffled to the newly created Company G-3 during the Academy’s expansion. Frank considered “the system” an experience to be endured as he carved out time to enjoy camaraderie and banter with classmates and friends. He had a humorous, if somewhat incisive, perspective on life and always was quick with a quip. Everyone liked Frank; he could cheer you up when you were down, listen when you were upset, and give you good advice when you needed it. His gregarious nature made him one of the most popular cadets in the company. Junior year, when Frank spent several weeks in a halfbody cast in the hospital, a steady stream of classmates visited to cheer him up. It was a tribute to Frank’s personality that we always received more than we left with him. This inspired several of his classmates to establish a dubious, clandestine radio station, WKOK, which broadcast to his hospital room a daily selection of news, corps updates, and humor, until it was shut down by a tactical officer.
His senior year saw the Academy’s first summer school program, and Frank was one of the “fantastic five” who started this new tradition. On 3 Jun 1970, while his classmates tossed their hats in the air in jubilant celebration, Frank and the other four musketeers planted their hats back on their heads, carried their empty diploma cases out of Michie Stadium, and became the inaugural members of the summer school graduation program. Between forays into Highland Falls and Greenwich Village, he kept his band of musketeers entertained. Frank graduated, was commissioned in the Field Artillery, and joined his classmates on the next great adventure—active duty service.
Before starting active duty, however, there was a “see the world” tour that Frank and four classmates—Gerri Saari, Tom Miller, Bobby Archer, and Tim Sauter—concocted. Inspired by the Farkle family of Laugh-In fame, they became the “Farkle Gang,” assembled at Frank’s parents’ house in Mannheim, Germany, acquired a 1960 Volkswagen minivan of Woodstock vintage, and proceeded on their great adventure. From the Federal Republic of Germany, through Barcelona and the French Riviera to Tirrenia, Italy, they sought their fortune. Frank and two classmates headed off to Rome. Unfortunately, thieves got their passports, travelers checks, and valuables, so they saw more of the U.S. Embassy than Rome. By then their time was up, so after a side trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and a scenic passage through the Alps, they returned to Mannheim for final farewells and reporting to their respective basic courses.
Branching Field Artillery meant that Frank reported to Ft. Sill, OK, which he equated to a five-mile PT run, with rifles, at Camp Buckner. He then headed west. Frank longed for the mountains of Colorado, with skiing a major priority, and arrived at his first duty station, Ft. Carson. Frank did the necessary soldiering-up and then convinced the Army that what they really needed was another lawyer. Attending Creighton University, Frank earned his Juris Doctor in short order, always excelling at anything he set his mind to.
That is exactly what he did after law school, when he wangled an assignment back to Tirrenia, Italy, where he met his mate for life. Frank, the young and dashing JAG lawyer, was detailed to pick up a newly assigned lieutenant named Gill, and our “Giuseppe” was not initially thrilled with his role as sponsor. He thought Gill was a guy. Imagine his surprise when he found this lovely young lieutenant instead. Still, it was long odds that these two hard-charging “Army brats” would ever be more than acquaintances, but fate was with Frank. Gill would soon become his wife, giving him two wonderful children, Joseph and Francesca, and be forever the love of his life.
Frank married Gill Lane Bradley on 31 May 1980 in the church at San Piero a Grado in Pisa, Italy. Frank loved Italy, spoke Italian fluently, and was easily taken in by the culture and his Italian friends. After five years in Italy, Frank left active duty and took a civilian position as an attorney in Heidelberg, Germany. There, Frank and Gill enjoyed traveling and skiing throughout Europe.
Frank and Gill moved to the Twin Cities of St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN, in 1984, when Frank took a position as counsel for the St. Paul District Corps of Engineers. In 1988, he became Counsel for SJ Groves Engineering in Minneapolis and soon transferred to Atlanta, GA, where their son, Joseph Andrew, was born on 2 Jan 1989. Three years later, Frank finally made his way back to his beloved Colorado with the law firm of Pryor, Carney, and Johnson. His daughter Francesca was born in Denver on Gill’s birthday, 5 Apr 1992.
Frank was hard working, loyal, kind, generous. He was respected and loved among family, friends, and in the legal community. He was gentleman of great integrity and honest to a fault. His gracious manner made him a friend to all he encountered. It wasn’t long after the move to Denver that Frank was diagnosed with cancer. He succumbed to his illness four months later, on 14 Mar 1993. We know Frank is looking down with immense pride on the beautiful, loving family that carries on his name and proud traditions. His spirit lives through his wife Gill and his son and daughter, Joseph and Francesca. Gill retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and now teaches English for Cherry Creek Schools in Denver, CO.
—Classmates Tom Miller, Rich Measner, Howard Parker
http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/29494/
Melanie Weeks (Traylor)
My sincere condolences to his wife and family. I was sad to hear of Frank's death.