Frank, Walter III (“Bud”) (05/13/1939–01/08/2001). “Bud” Frank from Highland Park, Illinois received a B.A. degree in economics from Grinnell in 1961. He was a letter-winning member of the men’s swimming team and its co-captain his senior year. (Bud’s passion for swimming lasted his entire life. For men over 60 in Illinois, he was the top-ranked butterfly-stroke swimmer.)
After attending graduate school at Northwestern University in 1962-63, Walter embarked on a 36-year career in sales for Chicago-area steel and siding companies.
More important for him was his community involvement. For 27 years he was a leader of a Boy Scout troop and was the personal mentor for many who became Eagle Scouts, including his two sons. Bud was a founding member of a YMCA in Palatine, Illinois and served on its board of directors. He was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church of Palatine. Over the last decade of his life he spent at least two weekends a month building homes for Habitat for Humanity.
On June 24, 1961, he married his Grinnell classmate, Cecilia Belgarbo. They had a wonderful marriage. As she said at his memorial service, “You were the best husband any woman could ever want, and a father that could not be surpassed. You were there for me morning, noon, and night. You leave your family with a wonderful legacy of how to do for others and how to stand firm and strong.”
Bud was survived by Cecilia, their two sons (Andrew and Brian), his mother, who subsequently passed away, a sister and five grandchildren.
