In Memoriam: George Frank, Longtime Building And Construction Executive

ARMONK – George Frank, the longtime executive vice president of The Builders Institute (BI)/Building and Realty Institute (BRI), died peacefully on Jan 30 at the age of 88.

A longtime Westchester County resident, Frank served as executive vice president of the BI-BRI from 1954 to 2001. He oversaw all aspects of the association, a building, realty and construction industry membership organization. The BI-BRI, based in Armonk, has more than 1,400 members. It is one of the largest associations of its type in New York State.

Frank joined the BI-BRI in 1954 when it was known as The Home Builders Association of Westchester, Inc. He helped expand the association in 1959 when it became known as The Builders Institute of Westchester and Putnam Counties, Inc.

Frank was instrumental in helping the organization eventually form six component groups in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. Those groups represent virtually every sector of the building, realty and construction industry. They include:

*The Apartment Owners Advisory Council (AOAC)

*The Cooperative and Condominium Advisory Council (CCAC)

*The Advisory Council of Managing Agents (ACMA).

*The Home Builders Advisory Council (HBAC).

Frank also served as president of The Building Contractors Association (BCA), a building and construction industry membership organization. The BCA was an affiliate of the BI-BRI from 1972 to 2000 and is now an affiliate of The Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc. of Tarrytown.

Frank’s responsibilities at the BI-BRI included the representation of the building, realty and construction industry to local and state governments. He also represented the association and its component groups before the media and the public.

Frank, The Builderes Institute and the then Westchester County Board of Realtors worked closely together on legislative issues.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Frank served as the spokesperson for the building, realty and construction industry on regulatory and legislative processes, as well as public policy issues. Frank also helped to coordinate the BI-BRI’s many Membership Programs and Services. He also was frequently involved in labor contract negotiations for the organization, representing the BI-BRI and BCA in negotiations with local construction and realty trade unions. He also served as an employer representative to many union committees that addressed labor, construction and realty issues throughout the Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region.

He was born on Sept. 30, 1926 in Jackson Heights, NY to Anna and Anton Frank is survived by his wife Ann Causey Frank of Hartsdale; son George A. Frank Jr. of Bedford, NH, and daughter Suzanne C. Frank of Larchmont; a younger brother, Robert of Fishkill; seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. His first wife and the mother of his children, Carole Bergendorff Frank, predeceased him.

During WW2, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the troop transport USS Hermitage. After the war, he finished high school and went on to graduate magna cum laude from Boston University, School of Public Relations and Communications in 1951.

An avid sailor, he and his wife Ann enjoyed racing their beloved Java Jive on Long Island Sound. He was a member and officer of Huguenot Yacht Club during the 1980s and 1990s. His favorite pastimes included sailing, yard work, music, and the etymology of words and phrases.

John Jordan
Editor, Real Estate In-Depth