A Tribute to Frank

On the evening of January 13, Seton Hall’s men’s basketball team lost to USF.  Seton Hall suffered a bigger loss at about 6 that morning.

My friend Frank died.

Through my work, I have the pleasure of meeting thousands of fellow Pirates.  In fact, there are over 75,000 of us throughout the world.  We’re an amazing group.  And, if you’re lucky, or blessed, or both, you’ll meet some who have an incredible impact on your life.  I consider myself lucky because that’s just what Frank Spatuzzi did.

I first met Frank in 2005.  He graduated from Seton Hall College in 1939.  Frank was a local boy who saw the value of a good Catholic education right in his own backyard.  He played baseball – first base – and hit over .400 twice, an amazing feat and one that earned him a spot in the Seton Hall Athletic Hall of Fame.

Frank gave of himself generously, building St. Peter’s Orphanage in Denville.  He served in the Coast Guard in World War II and was wounded when a Japanese Kamikaze plane hit his ship.  He received the Purple Heart.

He was very involved in numerous community activities in his adopted home of Clearwater, Florida.  In fact, his many medals and awards are on display in the Coast Guard section of the Armed Forces Military Museum, Largo.

But for me, Frank was an inspiration.  Frank knew how to build relationships.  Genuine, caring relationships.  Relationships built on trust, built on communication, and built on inspiring others to be all they can.  I saw it in how he treated me, my colleagues whom he befriended, and most of all with his dear wife Inge, whom he always simply referred to as “incredible”.

Frank would often send a letter or a gift.  Those gifts included Seton Hall shirts, hats and other memorabilia.  But Frank was also an avid photographer.  I received pictures of barns in Colorado, the Golden Gate Bridge and an array of wildlife and architecture from around the world.  When a colleague mentioned to Frank that she has a parrot, well, you guessed it, she soon after received a photograph of a parrot.

Around Christmas, I called Frank to thank him for the latest care package.  We spoke for about 10 minutes, he constantly thanked me for taking the time to spend with him.  He didn’t need to thank me; I was the one benefitting from his wisdom, his insight and his caring.  We ended the call with “Love you”.  That was just how Frank was.

It was the last time we would talk.  Two weeks later, I had the honor of proclaiming the second reading at his funeral Mass.

But, like any great person who has had an immeasurable impact on our lives, Frank lives on.  He lives on in the memories of many others whose lives he touched, but, for me, he lives on every time I think of him…and what he taught me.

To learn a little more about my friend and fellow Seton Hall Pirate Frank Spatuzzi, check out the wonderful tribute at tampabay.com

Matt Borowick ‘89/MBA ‘94

Associate Vice President, Alumni and Government Relations