Salem community celebrates the life and legacy of Gerry Frank

Gerry Frank would have been proud of the production, with one exception. It lasted well over an hour.

Thursday's celebration of life for arguably Salem's most famous resident, always a stickler for keeping his meetings to no longer than an hour, clocked in at nearly an hour and 45 minutes at Salem Convention Center.

Frank might have let this one slide, though, considering the lineup of dignitaries who spoke and the Broadway show tunes performed at the end.

Gerald Wendel Frank died March 13 at the Candalaria home he built in 1955 after moving to Salem to open and manage a Meier & Frank department store. He was 98.

And as one would expect from a man as organized as Frank, he left specific instructions for his memorial services, first a private one last month in Portland and then this public tribute in Salem.

The co-executors of his estate did their best to follow his every wish, with a few surprises such as "Hello, Gerry," a personalized rendition of "Hello, Dolly!" sung by Aimee Amend, with lyrics revised by Stephen Munshaw.

An estimated 400 people attended the celebration in the upstairs ballroom. The parade of distinguished speakers included former Gov. Ted Kulongoski and retired Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren.

Just when you thought the next one couldn't find a better way to encapsulate how widespread Frank's accomplishments were and how important his contributions to Salem and Oregon, he or she did.

"If the love of Oregon and a dedication to impacting our state's history for the better could be measured in chocolate, then Gerry Frank all by himself was Hershey's, Ghirardelli, Godiva, See's, Moonstruck, and, of course, Konditorei, all baked into one giant cake," Kerry Tymchuk, executive director of the Oregon Historical Society, said.

Frank was a World War II veteran and a Cambridge University graduate.

He was a fourth-generation Oregonian whose family founded the retail chain Meier & Frank. He spearheaded the opening of its first branch store in Salem in 1955, which is what brought him to this community.

Frank became a fixture of Oregon politics, as U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield's right-hand man.

He later became the sole judge of a chocolate cake contest at the Oregon State Fair and the co-founder of a gourmet cake shop and restaurant. He also was the author of guidebooks for New York and Oregon.

He was a board member or trustee to dozens of community organizations, including Blanchet Catholic School, Cascade Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Oregon Historical Society, Oregon State Police Foundation and Special Olympics Oregon. Even when he turned 90, he still held positions for 18 different organizations.

Over Frank's lifetime, Tymchuk said he believes "no Oregonian witnessed more history, interacted and advised more historic figures or helped influence more of the history of our state than did our pal Gerry."

Frank could have lived anywhere, but he chose Salem. And even though he spent considerable time in New York City for his best-selling guidebook and traveled to some 150 countries, he always came home.

Frank left a legacy that may never be matched. He was a businessman, an author and a philanthropist who helped raise more than a half-billion dollars for various civic projects and nonprofit organizations.

"If there was a project that needed to be accomplished, money to be raised or a bond measure to be passed, he always stepped up to be a leader in those efforts," former Salem Mayor Janet Taylor said. "And yet, he still did all these other things …

"Where did he find all that time and energy? I learned the magic words were artichokes and chocolate. He ate an artichoke every day and chocolate every day. I tried it and kept gaining weight."

Chocolate cake from Gerry Frank's Konditorei, the gourmet cake shop he co-founded in 1982, was served at the end of the celebration.

Lyrics to "Hello, Gerry" based on "Hello, Dolly!"

Hello, Salem, well, hello, Portland

It's so nice to have you right where you belong

You're lookin swell, chamber, Yes, we're no stranger

To the ro-ta-ry, and notably

They're goin' strong

And yes we all knowed him and we all showed him

For he touched us with his light, a one true friend,

So, when you bake, brothers, making your chocolate cake, sisters

Gerry'll be right with you till the end!

Hello, Duckies, well, hello, Beavers,

It's so nice to have us get along today

You're lookin swell, family, we can tell family

That no matter what we're wearing

He'd outshine us this day

And or' the world travelled yes he out-dazzled

With his sweaters and his shoes throughout the years

So, raise up a little toast, brothers, toast him from coast to coast, sisters

Or-e-gon's most dazzling pioneers

Hello, Queenie, yes, hello, Dearie

Yes you'll never guess, don't be upset, you see

They built a grand structure, yes a band structure

And they lit it, and they named it after… our Gerry

And Cambridge halls sing now, Stanford's bells ring now

For an angel from us fin'ly's got his wings

So, Golly gee, family, Gerry’s flyin' free, family

Gerry is brigh'ning heaven’s happenings

"So this is what St. Peter said to Gerry as Gerry walked through the pearly gates"

Hello, Gerry, well, hello, Gerry

It's so nice to have you right where you belong

You're looking swell, Gerry, we can tell, Gerry

You’re still glowin, you're still crowin,

You're still goin strong

You see the harps tinkle, and the stars twinkle

You are never late but just on time again

He looks sharp angels, tell him “no golden harp”, angels

Gerry’ll feed us chocolate cake, Gerry’ll feed us chocolate cake,

Gerry’ll feed us chocolate cake, Amen!

Capi Lynn is the Statesman Journal’s news columnist. Her column taps into the heart of this community — its people, history and issues. Contact her at clynn@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-399-6710, or follow her on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Gerry Frank's celebration of life held in Salem, Oregon