Frank Musinsky

Frank Martin Musinsky, 82, of Weston, MA, died peacefully after a brief illness on August 10, 2014, in the loving presence of his wife and children. Born in Boston, MA, on March 25th 1932, the only son of Oscar Musinsky and Edith Weiner Musinsky, Frank received his BA from Yale, class of 1953. Frank's piercing intellect and relentless curiosity left a deep impression on all who knew him. He was an indomitable raconteur, witty wordsmith, and passionate amateur pianist. After a stint in movie production, Frank set aside his early screenwriting ambitions to join his father's shoe manufacturing business in Maine. He returned to the Boston area in 1969 to pursue a career in advertising. An avid tennis player until a spinal cord injury in 1973 confined him to a wheelchair, Frank endured the sufferings and indignities of paraplegia for 43 years with exceptional courage and occasionally biting humor. His own ordeals left him a deep empathy for those even less fortunate than himself, manifested through numerous acts of quiet generosity. Frank's 59-year marriage to Christiane ("Bonny") Nuernberger was the source of his greatest solace. He reveled in music, his lawn, and his children and grandchildren. Besides Bonny and his three children, Nina of New York City, John of Louisville, CO, and Catherine of Somerville, MA, Frank is survived by his grandchildren Sam Musinsky and Flavia and Alex Grattery-Musinsky, and his sister Marjorie Heiser. A private memorial celebration of Frank's life will be held in late September. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Frank's memory to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association or to the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition.