Frank Emspak

Frank was an excellent labor educator, organizer and advisor. I had the honor to work with Frank while working for AFSCME in Wisconsin on a number of labor leadership institutes and workshops. I also tried to help him garner support for Labor Radio, which was an innovative idea that did not gain the support of the national AFL-CIO and little from other national unions. His idea still needs to be looked into for the future of Labor to combat the right- wing attacks on workers and their...

Frank remained a good friend to UE throughout his life, and it was much appreciated. His contributions to working class struggle on a number of fronts were significant and long-lasting. Condolences to the family from the UE leadership.

Frank was a friend, comrade, colleague, union brother, mentor, political leader, and one of the smartest, most committed and principled people I've ever known. We met at the Green Lantern Coop in Madison in 1961, and organized our first union together at UW (student employees of the university). His contributions to the struggle to end the war in Vietnam, to the labor movement and labor education, and to labor media were unique and will leave an indelible mark on the history of our movement....

Frank was, as he said, "....some kind of revolutionary." Yes, indeed. He was the good kind. Other than always putting the conditions of workers first, Frank was not dogmatic and listened to what others had to say. Reading the obit, you see the story of a guy who was always learning and able to change. One more thing: Underlying his sometimes crankiness was his operating belief that people were "good" unless proven otherwise. That goes a long way.

My condolences to his surviving family. I was very lucky to have met Frank during my union reviving years where I worked most of my life in a hospital. A hospital is a place that has some of the poorest workers and some of the wealthiest workers. Frank taught me about fairness, he taught me how to develop respect for all workers. He was an incredibly decent person and a phenomenal thinker.

May angels sing him to his rest.