Frank Allen BOSTWICK

1925 - 2015

BOSTWICK, Frank Allen
Frank Allen Bostwick, 90, boarded a celestial sailboat for his next adventure on December 16, 2015, disembarking from the home he shared with his beloved son, Mark Allen Bostwick, of Islamorada, Florida in the Keys. Frank's earthly adventures began August 29, 1925, when he was born to Harriet (Allen) and Warren Bostwick, in Chicago, Illinois. Frank was a Navy man who learned to fly, but World War II ended before he graduated from flight school. He returned to Chicago where he graduated from Northwestern University in 1949 with a BA in Journalism. Frank was born a writer, and a short story he wrote in high school about flying was included in the national published anthology, Boy's Life, before he graduated. He was a teacher, an editor, a keeper of journals and a published author. He taught thousands of young adults and not so young adults in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida during his career. In Michigan, as a high school English teacher and at Kalamazoo College as an associate professor of English. In Pennsylvania, as a professor at Keystone Junior College. In Florida, at prisons and as the director of Adult Education at the Crestwood Community School, Royal Palm Beach. He was voted Palm Beach County Teacher of the Year while at Crestwood. After his retirement from Crestwood he served as an adjunct professor of English for many years at Palm Beach Community College, where he will always be remembered as "Mr. Bostwick." He was a passionate educator well into his 70's. Frank also headed the Performing Arts League in Royal Palm Beach for several years. Frank was a licensed sea captain and sailing club owner who taught many to sail and made many crossings to the Bahamas. He was an avid cyclist, co-founder of Ray's Ride in Palm Beach, and an active member of the West Palm Beach Bicycle Club. At age 68, Frank rode his bicycle solo from Royal Palm Beach to Sarnia, Canada, a journey he memorialized in his book, Upcountry Odyssey. Frank knew no stranger, only friends who had not yet had the pleasure of his charming acquaintance. His adventures in this life were too numerous to detail in the small space of this tribute. He will be greatly missed by his children, Mark Bostwick and his partner Melanie Antoni, of Islamorada, Florida; Cynthia Bostwick (Linda Ham) of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Melissa Saddler of Boca Raton, Florida, and his honorary daughter, Emily Fritsch (Scott Fritsch) of Kokomo, Indiana. He is also survived by his four beloved grandsons, his nieces, and his countless friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kathryn, his parents, his sister, Jean Downing and his cherished sailing sloop, the Lady K. A memorial will be held where stories may be shared and bread will be broken in his honor, at 2:00PM on January 23, at The Islander Restaurant, located on Singer Island at 181 Ocean Ave, Palm Beach Shores, Florida 33404 In lieu of flowers or cards, a donation may be made to the angels known as Visiting Nurses Association & Hospice of the Florida Keys, 92001 Overseas Highway, Tavernier FL, 33070.
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