FRANK MICELI

MICELI--Frank. Frank died 01 January 2019 due to complications from lung cancer and pneumonia. He was born in 1932 to Sicilian parents who emigrated to the US after World War I. His father told Frank when he was a child that his parents would always love him, but that he would have to find his own way in the world. The family including an older sister Mary lived in Queens and later in Sayville, NY. Mary always said of Frank that "he was born under a lucky star". He received a scholarship to Palatine Preparatory Academy, a high school in North Haven, NY. In addition to his academic work, he managed the school's farm. After briefly attending Georgetown University, Frank spent two years as a US soldier in Korea. Upon his discharge and armed with the GI Bill, he became a student at New York University, where he earned BA, MA and PhD degrees. He taught English at high schools in Brentwood and Great Neck NY; was a Supervisor at The Clinic for Learning, a Ford Foundation funded project administered by NYU faculty members at a New York City public school in Bedford Stuyvesant; served as a Consultant at the US College of the Virgin Islands; then became a Teaching Fellow at NYU. After a brief first marriage, Frank married Frederica Komanoff in 1967. They divorced in 1994 but reunited at the end of his life. They have a son, Andrew, a Speech Pathologist and Musician. While at NYU Frank was the Creator and Host of two TV series: "Nothing But Biography" and "Public Affairs, Private Opinions" broadcast on WCBS-TV and WNBC-TV. He was also a Host with Dr. Roscoe Brown of the TV series "Black Letters". During the 1960s at NYU he worked with Dr. Neil Postman, a Professor and Author who advanced the ideas of Marshall McLuhan in a new field of study known as Media Ecology. In 1972 Frank left NYU to create a Department of Media Ecology at Jersey City State College. He became the first Chairman. Under his leadership the department enjoyed explosive growth. He retired from teaching in 1997. Frank published a novel "The Seventh Month" and a collection of poetry "Meditations from Washington Square" as well as articles for American Education Publications. Ever the Professor, he became a mentor to many who sought his advice and valued his guidance. Frank was respected for his astute understanding of politics, his knowledge of world affairs, his ability to analyze and connect current and historic events, his natural facility to relate to others and his unassuming sense of humor. He was a fair minded person, loyal, thoughtful and dignified. He listened to jazz, collected contemporary art, was inspired by nature, rooted for the New York Yankees and Jets. He is survived by his son Andrew and daughter-in-law Angelica.