1925 – 2023
Born in Montreal on November 23, 1925, Frank passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on November 25, 2023. When asked, friends and family would describe Frank as humble, intelligent, thoughtful, warm, profound, astute, generous, and possessing a sense of humor, with a smile that could effortlessly make others smile. Frank had an incredibly special way of making people feel cherished.
A talented musician, Frank taught as a Professor of Harmony at the Montreal Conservatory of Music. After completing degrees in harmony, counterpoint, fugue, and trumpet at McGill University and the Montreal Conservatory of Music, he furthered his studies in composition at the Fontainbleau School of Fine Arts. Frank also attended the Berkshire Music Centre at Tanglewood, where he studied orchestral conducting. Active as a performing musician, he was a member of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra from 1961 until 1985.
It was at the MSO where he met the love of his life and best friend, Claire. Together, they delighted in entertaining family and friends. Frank was a wonderful cook and his meals were memorable. He was known for charming guests at birthday dinners with humorous “telegrams” that he composed in honor of the special guest. At the core of his passion for music was a joy for teaching. He shared his musical talent as the author of “Understanding the Tonal Language” (French version “Initiation aux principes fondamentaux de l’harmonie tonale”), a harmony
textbook for which he wrote the text and composed most of the musical examples, imparting his knowledge to a broad audience of students and musicians.
Frank traveled extensively with the OSM and independently, especially enjoying visits to Italy with Claire. He lived a long and productive life centered around music, teaching, and family. His happiest moments were spent in his basement studio practicing the trumpet, a pursuit he continued until a few months before his death. He retired from the Conservatoire in 2019, shortly before his 94th birthday.
He leaves behind his loving wife, Claire; sisters Angela, Terry, and Celia; brothers-in-law Morton Sanders, Albert Blinn, and Arnold Segal; sisters-in-law Clare Sergi and Connie Segal, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Predeceased by his brothers Tony and John, his brother-in-law Richard Faucher, and sister-in-law Jeannine Sergi.
A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at JJ Cardinal Funeral Home, 2125 rue Notre Dame, in Lachine. Visitation will be from 10am to noon, followed by a service at 12:15pm. Following this service, burial will take place at Lakeside Memorial Gardens, 701 Donegani, Pointe Claire.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Lakeshore General Hospital Foundation.
RÉSIDENCE FUNÉRAIRE J.J. CARDINAL FUNERAL HOME
2125, rue Notre-Dame, Lachine (Québec) H8S 2G5
Tél. : 514-639-1511 | Téléc. : 514-639-1516 | Courriel : info@jjcardinal.ca
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