Frank Joseph DiGiovanni
January 9, 1920 - November 12, 2011
Obituary
Frank (Frankie) DiGiovanni, age 91, died at home in Federal Way, Washington, on Saturday, November 12, 2011.
Born January 9, 1920, in Chicago, Illinois, he was drafted into the US Army shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Stationed initially at Ft Lewis, he met his future wife, Gayle, then became a medic and served his time in the Burma-India-China theatre. When he returned from the war he settled in Chicago, where he and Gayle had 2 children. Then the family moved to Olympia where they had their third child. He worked as a printing pressman and eventually a printing ink salesman until retiring from that industry at age 71. Frank was a member of the Tyee Men’s Club at SeaTac and was an avid golfer well into his 80’s.
Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Mona, and his daughters, Diane Gray, of Seattle, Laurie Lippincott of Olympia, and his son John of Austin, TX. He also has eight grandchildren between the ages of 16 and 29, and one great-grandson.
Yesterday When I Was Young
(Frank loved to play this on his 8-track and sing along while ironing his slacks!)
Yesterday when I was young
The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue.
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game,
The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame.
The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned
I’d always built alas on weak and shifting sand.
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of the day
And only now I see how the years ran away.
Yesterday when I was young
So many happy songs were waiting to be sung,
So many wild pleasures lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see.
I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out,
I never stopped to think what life was all about
And every conversation I can now recall
Concerned itself with me and nothing else at all.
Yesterday the moon was blue
And every crazy day brought something new to do.
I used my magic age as if it were a wand
And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond.
The game of love I played with arrogance and pride
And every flame I lit too quickly, quickly died.
The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away
And only I am left on stage to end the play.
There are so many songs in me that won’t be sung,
I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue.
The time has come for me to pay for
Yesterday when I was young…
Anyone who knew Frank can tell you he was a generous, funny, and loving man. Frank loved to sing and was a regular at several karaoke bars. While vacationing in Montego Bay he was ‘certified’ as a Life Member of the Performing Players, whose motto reads, “All the World’s a Stage”.
Frank was a long time customer of mine when I owned a Texaco Service station at 4th