Eddie Fronckowski's Obituary
Edward “Eddie” Fronckowski was born on June 25 1931, to Sophia and Antoni in a tiny house on Chapel St. in East Baltimore. With two brothers and four sisters times were a little tough and everyone had to contribute to the household. Dad went to school and completed 6th grade but did not continue his formal education so that he could help support the family by working as a shoe shine boy in the neighborhood.
When Eddie was a young boy, he helped to crack a big Baltimore murder case. A man’s wife had disappeared without a trace. One afternoon, Dad was playing kick ball with his brothers and some friends. The ball strayed into a sewer drain and was considered lost forever. Dad’s brother Teddy, in an attempt to appease his little brother’s sorrow over losing their ball, removed the man hole cover over the sewer and sent Dad down into the sewer drain to retrieve the ball. Dad found a black trash bag that contained the arm of the missing woman. Her remaining parts were found by Police, in other sewers in various locations in the neighborhood.
As a young boy while playing in the yard, he stood on a bench near a wooden fence. He lost his balance and fell against the fence impaling his skull on a nail protruding from the fence. His brothers, being pranksters, kicked the bench out from under him causing him to hang by his skull from the nail. He survived this ordeal with no lasting injuries as a result of his mother’s care, dressing the wound with Crisco and black bread. After arrival at the hospital the doctor declared the wound was healing and no further treatment was necessary.
He joined the Army National Guard in 1952 as a Military Policeman and was honorably discharged in 1955. On July 30th 1952 he was the second man to cross the William Preston Lane Memorial Bridge (Bay Bridge). The driver of the National Guard jeep, of course, was the first to cross officially. Eddie was in the back seat of that jeep, which led the governor over the bridge in the opening ceremony.
He married Phyllis in 1952 and had one daughter Cindy. She has special memories of being with her Dad every Sunday when he came to pick her up. It didn't matter what they did as long as she was with him. Also she loved and still remembers fondly all of the Christmas parties they shared. She will continue to pass the traditions that they shared with her children & grandchildren.
He soon joined the wait staff at the famous Lord Baltimore Hotel. One evening to deliver a cocktail to the Penthouse. The drink was a specialty item that was made of two different types alcoholic beverages that needed to be preserved as poured in the glass with one on top of the other. He delicately transported that glass up an elevator and carefully walked to the Penthouse without mixing the two liquids. When he arrived he was greeted by Mr. Reynolds (of Reynolds aluminum wrap) who was very appreciative of the delivery of the cocktail without the mixing of the two alcohols. After some conversation where Mr. Reynolds expressed his appreciation to Eddie, he offered him a permanent position as his personal assistant in Florida. Eddie respectfully declined as he had already met Geraldine and did not want to leave her and the Lord Baltimore Hotel. Mr. Reynolds did reward him with a $100 tip for the delivery of the cocktail.
During his years at the Lord Baltimore he also worked at Bethlehem Steel in the electrical apprenticeship program. He retired from his career of 42 years as an electrician, from Bethlehem Steel.
In 1959 Eddie married Geraldine and had two children, Kathy and Shelley. Their special memories involve adventures with their Dad. Going to Bethlehem steel to see the Coke ovens, or speeding over a bump to feel the momentary weightlessness, fishing in the Bay or going to breakfast and then grocery shopping on Saturdays. Christmas was a special time for us as well as for Cindy. The traditions of the Fronckowski family included Eddie or one of his brothers dressing in a Santa suite and giving presents to all the children of the family. Later in life, he often dressed as Santa for charities, including a somewhat impromptu visit at the National Aquarium in Baltimore to a girl during a Make a Wish event.
Eddie was a very artistic, outgoing to the point of agitating… sometimes, generous, loving, caring person. He often would approach strangers and share simple jokes and stories just to make them smile. He had a regular fan base at the local bank, restaurants and convenience stores that he frequented in his daily travels. He had the energy and stamina of a 20 year old man with the enthusiasm of a 10 year old boy. His often delighted in simple things and brought joy to everyone around him. Life was about pleasure and caring of those closest to him. In his younger days as a new husband and father, you could often find him working on a home improvement project in his home or any of his family’s homes. He had many hobbies, the most recent was his love of creation in stained glass and oil paints. Soon after learning about stained glass from his sisters Florence and Mary, he attended a stained glass class at the Dundalk Senior Center. Not long afterward he was teaching the class. He always loved to draw and could create the most interesting compilations in the most diverse mediums. He enjoyed walks in the park, especially Ft McHenry and quietly reading the latest James Patterson novel.
He enjoyed his life, fully engaging in what he wanted when he wanted.
He is survived by his daughters: Cindy, Kathy, and Michelle; two sisters: Helen and Jenny; and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A Remembrance Tribute will be held at Lasting Tributes Cremation & Funeral Care, 814 Bestgate Road Annapolis, MD 21401 April 30, 2014 between the hours of 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. A memorial service will take place at 6:30 pm.
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