Francis “Frank” Edward Nowak

Frank Nowak, 89, of Sewickley, Pa, passed away on Sunday, October 31, 2021.  He was the loving husband of Maryann (Graves) Nowak for 66 devoted years. Born June 29, 1932, he was the son of the late Marion “William” and Isabelle Nowak of Freeland, PA.

In spite of the early pain of losing his mother at 4 years, his brother in WWII, and his father at age 16, he considered himself the luckiest man alive.  Frank graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.A in Political Science in 1954.  It was at Penn State, where he met Maryann, eventually marrying her, calling her the love of his life and the best thing that ever happened to him.

Frank was commissioned into the United States Air Force in July 1954, where he proudly served for 13 years on both active duty and in the reserves.  Returning to Pittsburgh with Maryann from active duty, Frank worked at both Koppers Company and Westinghouse as a contract administrator.  He then joined the University of Pittsburgh as the Director of Administration of a privately owned real estate development company, Oakland Corp, where the visionary Panther Hollow Research Park was conceived.  He left Oakland Corp to form and lead Educational & Professional Resources Inc. and served as its President and CEO until 1973, leading global educational development efforts in underserved third world nations. It was during this period in his life that he made a consciousdecision to focus his life’s work on education as an industry.  He describes this time in his life as the most exciting and rewarding. He assisted the U.S. government with the launch of the highly successful Head Start Program under the Office of Economic Opportunity, as part of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson’s Great Society initiative. In the mid 1980’s, Frank accepted a temporary political appointment under President Ronald Reagan in Washington, DC as Associate Deputy Administrator of the General Services Administration to assist in training and education for government civilians.  He finished his career serving as the Associate Dean and Director of the Post-College Professional Education program at Carnegie Mellon’s Graduate School of Industrial Administration (GSIA), now the Tepper School of Business.

Frank was also active in both his church and community, serving on the St. Agnes (West Mifflin) Church Council and as Eucharistic Minister, and as a board member of the Brother’s Brother Foundation and, for more than 25 years, the Auberle Foundation, a faith-based non-profit organization that transforms the lives of individuals, families and communities throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Frank was grateful for the true and lasting love that he shared with Maryann, the joy and pride of seeing his children and grandchildren grow and thrive, the blessing of a long and happy retirement, and his unending faith. His love, his laughter, his voice, and that beautiful smile, has left heartschanged forever.

In addition to his wife Maryann, he is also survived by his son Mark Nowak and daughter-in-law, Tina Nowak; daughter Catherine (Cathy) Nowak Wiechelt and son-in-law, Tom Wiechelt; daughter Ann Nowak Wilson; daughter Margaret (Meg) Nowak; daughter Sarah (Sally) Nowak Sawyer and son-in-law, Dan Sawyer; thirteen grandchildren Benjamin Nowak, John Nowak, Patrick Nowak, Maria Nowak, Susan Wiechelt Graybill, Thomas Wiechelt, Katie Wiechelt Ferreira, Sarah Wilson DeMicheli, Amy Wilson, Robert Westerlund, James Westerlund, Christian Sawyer and Edie Sawyer.  In addition, Frank loved welcoming seven great grandchildren to the family.

Family and Friends will meet at St. Kilian Church, 7076 Franklin Road, Cranberry Township, PA 16066 for a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 10:00am. Private committal prayer service to follow at Holy Savior Catholic Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Pittsburgh Cremation and Funeral Care, Robinson Township. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Frank may be made to Auberle Group Home, 1101 Hartman St. McKeesport, PA 15132, or at www.auberle.org