Frank Lopez

1931 - 2024

Frank Lopez
10/04/1931 - 10/04/2024
Frank Lopez, beloved husband and father, died Friday, Oct. 4, on his 93rd birthday.
Frank was born in the coal mining town of Delagua, Colorado, the fifth of ten children of Lino and Herlinda Lopez. When the mines closed, the family moved to Anaheim, California, where they picked produce in the fields. At the start of WWII, Frank's father found work in the shipyards of San Francisco and moved the family to a flat on Grant Avenue in North Beach. Frank attended Francisco Middle School. He fondly recalled a childhood playing sports and exploring the streets with a diverse group of friends from the neighborhood. A particularly special memory was selling newspapers outside Bank of America, where he received nice tips from bank founder A.P. Giannini himself.
After graduating from Balboa High School in 1950 Frank enlisted in the US Army. He underwent basic training in Fort Ord followed by paratrooper training in Fort Benning, Georgia. The first time he was ever in an airplane, he had to jump out of it. At 20, he deployed to Korea, where he fought in the Korean War. Frank often spoke of the friends he lost and the difficult conditions he endured as a soldier, but he was deeply proud to have served his country.
When Frank returned home, he attended City College of San Francisco and received an associate degree. He also earned his real estate license and opened his own small business, Lopez Realty. In 1965, he married the love of his life, Sally Rummel, whom he met when she rented an apartment in a building he managed.
Sally was Frank's partner in business and in life, and together they worked on fixing up many properties, including their own home in Noe Valley. They had two daughters, Elizabeth and Rachel. Though Frank worked hard all his life as a self-employed Realtor and contractor, he always had time for his children. Family trips to Yosemite every May were a cherished tradition.
During countless walks through the city, Frank shared his love for San Francisco with his daughters. He would tell stories from his childhood and show them hidden gems. He seemed to know every street and alley in San Francisco, but somehow every walk ended at Bud's or Mitchell's ice cream.
Frank was always fascinated by property. He remembered every house he went into, and years later he could point out a home and tell you about its former owners, its layout, and what things he'd seen in there that needed fixing. He loved talking to people, and could learn someone's life story in no time at all.
Though Frank never fully retired, he and Sally enjoyed traveling in their later years. He especially loved taking part in the Revisit Korea program in 2017, where he and fellow Korean War veterans were greeted with amazing hospitality and great warmth. Frank also was an avid walker, and even in his 90s could make it to the top of Twin Peaks from Noe Valley.
In addition to Sally, his wife of nearly 59 years, Frank is survived by his loving daughters, Elizabeth (A.K.) Anderson and Rachel Lopez (Pierre Demartines), and three grandchildren he adored, Ezra and Naomi Anderson and Emilio Demartines. He also leaves behind two honorary "sons," Sean Nhan and Hy Le; the special family of Armando Castaneda; sisters Magdalena, Josefina, Julia, and Rachel; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbors and friends.
A celebration of his life will be held in November. Donations in Frank's memory can be made to Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, P.O. Box 7818, San Francisco, CA 94120-7818.