Frank Charles Gavin

The following obituary, unbeknownst to me, was written by Frank in the week’s before his passing when he knew his health was declining. I wanted to add that over our 53 years of marriage, he provided me and our son, Sean, with a wonderful life full of love and adventures.

Frank was born in Tucson, AZ to Frank and Joan Gavin on 13 June 1948. The Gavin's moved to Denver, CO that same year where Frank spent his formative years. He always considered Colorado his home state.

He was awarded a baseball scholarship to the University of Wyoming where he met the Love of His Life, Henia Malka (Annie). They married in 1971 and spent 20+ years traveling the world over as a military family. In May 1975 they were blessed with the arrival of their son, Sean, a.k.a. Tae Kwon Do Joe, during the most challenging phase of flight school - thanks a lot, Joe!!!

When Frank retired from the US Army he worked for the Franklin Covey Company, Aearo Technologies, and 3M. He retired from 3M in 2015 and began his second career of mountain bike racing and long-distance motorcycle excursions with a few years to address his Bladder Cancer issues - Chemo and Radiation were a real treat.

His first recreational love was high-altitude mountaineering. He climbed throughout the Alps, the Rockies,

and the Pacific Northwest. He was too old to join his son in the Himalayas and always despaired over that time in his life. He was blessed to have a wife of immense intellect and courage to raise their son during Frank's time in the service - he was never home.

The character and success of Sean is singularly attributable to Ann's strength of character and motherly love. Frank forever regretted the little time he spent with Sean during his formative years and was forever grateful to Ann for filling the voids Frank created.

"If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space" was Frank's motto. It was stolen from

a T-shirt logo but exemplified his view on life. I want my body to be bruised and battered when lowered into the grave from experiencing as much of life as humanly possible. Frank was cremated, and his ashes will be strewn throughout the glaciers on Mount Rainier, his favorite mountain. When you see Ann, give her a hug for making Frank a better man than otherwise possible without her.