Frank Packlick

Frank "Spec" S. Packlick

1921-2014 Frank S. Packlick, 92 of Egremont, died Saturday January 25, 2014 at Geer Nursing and Rehab Center. He was born in Great Barrington, on September 3, 1921 son of Thomas and Frances Krzynowick Packlick. He was educated in local schools and was a graduate of the former Searles High School and later graduated from New England Art School after World War II. During World War II Frank proudly served his country with the United States Navy as a cook. It was during this time Frank created 64 drawings that are now in the collection at Brown University. Frank was a chef by trade, working first at the Jug End Resort in South Egremont, where he learned his trade from an Italian chef, then at the White Hart Inn, Salisbury, CT, and then at the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge. Frank was a very accomplished artist. Initially his work, after being made into offset prints, was sold through the Pittsfield and Sheffield art leagues and became enormously popular. He drew all of the Austen Riggs buildings, including the medical office building which is on their letterhead. He has not only drawn the buildings at Riggs, but also historic buildings and structures, such as Blantyre, Shaker Village, and covered bridges. The John B. Hull Oil Company used one of his drawings each year on its calendars for over 30 years. The Old Mill in Egremont, Trinity Church in Lyme, CT and Naumkeag have all appeared in the calendars. Frank's own favorite subject is cats. He has also done a series of horse prints of famous trotters and pacers for Apple Hill Design in Great Barrington. His drawing of the famous thoroughbred race horse "Man o War" earned an award for the Best Pen and Brush drawing from the Red Mile Art Show in Lexington, KY. He drew a popular series of prints of baseball players. The Baseball Hall of Fame purchased 500 prints of his portraits of famous players. Arlo Guthrie has used Frank's drawing of the Van Deusenville Church in his publicity. His work became part of permanent collections, including the L.B.J. Presidential Library, in Seiji Ozawa's collection, Brown University's War Library, and the lobby of Austin Riggs. Frank was a communicant of Our Lady of the Valley Church. He was a member of the Sheffield Art League. His wife the former Barbara Brown whom he married on June 25, 1949 predeceased him on May 30, 2000. Frank leaves one son, Thomas J. Packlick, of Seguin, TX, two daughters Kathleen A. Packlick of Houston, TX, and Marcia A. Packlick of San Francisco, CA, and one granddaughter Zoe Aliona Murphy, of Houston, TX. FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services for Frank "Spec" S. Packlick, who died Saturday January 25,will be held on Wednesday January 29, at 10:00 AM with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at Our Lady of the Valley Church with the Reverend Bruce N. Teague pastor and the Reverend Michael Twardzik (nephew) principal celebrant, officiating. Family will receive friends on Tuesday January 28, from 3 to 5 PM at the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made to the Berkshire Humane Society in care of the funeral home at 33 South Street, Great Barrington, MA. 01230. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.