Frank Kowalak

June 10, 1928 - June 14, 2019

Frank Kowalak, of North Tonawanda, a singer, piano player and restaurant owner, died Friday in the DeGraff Memorial Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility in North Tonawanda four days after his 91st birthday.

In 1950, he and a partner opened Frank and Romeo's Fun Barn restaurant across from Niagara Falls International Airport in 1950, where he entertained until he retired from the business in 2000. He also was a regular performer at the Ship-N-Shore restaurant on Tonawanda Creek Road in Pendleton, where he played for dining and dancing on Fridays for more than 30 years, and appeared in other nightclubs.

Born in Buffalo, the youngest of 10 children, he left school after eighth grade to do farm work to help support his family. He was entrusted with a bicycle by one of his older brothers, Teddy, when he went off to fight in World War II. After Teddy died in the Battle of the Bulge, he continued to look after the bicycle for more than 70 years.

When another brother showed little interest in piano lessons, young Mr. Kowalak sat down at the keys. Self-taught, he played a vast repertoire of music, ranging from classical to honky tonk to the Great American Songbook. He also played other instruments, including a stand-up bass owned by his father.

"He couldn't read a note, but he was incredible," his daughter-in-law, Diane Kowalak said. "His idols were Liberace and Victor Borge. He always had a joke. He was a crazy fun kind of guy."

Mr. Kowalak landed a regular engagement at a restaurant in Alexandria Bay after he found a piano there and played while he was on a bus tour with a senior citizen group.

"Frank would get bored," his daughter-in-law said, "and he'd go over to a bar and start playing and … free beer."

He included a piano in the holiday light display outside his home on Ruie Road and in 1996 won second prize in the most original category in North Tonawanda Christmas Lighting Contest.

A classic car fancier, he bought a succession of dilapidated old autos, spruced them up and sold them.

"That's how he put his son through med school," his daughter-in-law said.

His wife of 64 years, the former Doris Regnet, who helped him run the Fun Barn, died in 2017.

Survivors include a son, Dr. Thomas; and two granddaughters.

There will be no service. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, in Wattengel Funeral Home, 533 Meadow Drive, North Tonawanda.