02/21/2026
Frank Anthony Falk
Frank Anthony Falk, born on December 19, 1933, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026 at the age of 92.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marlene; his son Scott (Anna) and their twin daughters, Abigail and Zoe; his son Glenn (Karla) and their son, Simon; and his daughter Laurie Settlemyre (Jeff) and their children, Katie, Maddie Caldwell, and Landon. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Mabel and Irving, children of Maddie.
Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, he began a decades-long journey that would take his family up and down the East Coast. In 1976, they moved to North Carolina, then to New Jersey in 1979. After the youngest child finished high school, he and Marlene headed to Connecticut before finally putting down lasting roots in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1993 — a place he was proud to call home.
He spent most of his professional life with AMAX Specialty Metals, where he served in a variety of engineering and executive roles. Over the years, his leadership, expertise, and steady judgment earned him deep respect from colleagues and friends alike. He retired as a vice president, closing a long and accomplished career of which he was quietly proud.
He graduated from Buffalo Technical Institute, an experience he remembered fondly throughout his life. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, followed by an MBA completed while raising three young children — a feat the family good-naturedly suspects may also have provided occasional refuge from child-rearing duties.
A gifted do-it-yourselfer, he could build, repair, or improve just about anything — often with quiet patience and a well-stocked toolbox. He was also an amateur radio operator, a stained-glass artisan, and a longtime member of the Spartanburg Men’s Garden Club, reflecting a lifelong interest in plants, gardening, and the beauty of the outdoors. A member of Mensa, he relished thoughtful discussions and the exchange of ideas.
He maintained a deep fascination with aviation, particularly the aircraft of the World War II era in which he grew up, as well as with rockets and space exploration. As an engineer with Bell Aerospace, he contributed to the development of rocket thrusters for the Apollo program lunar landers — work he regarded as both challenging and deeply meaningful. A consummate gadget enthusiast, he was always eager to buy and try the latest invention, no matter how complicated or occasionally frustrating it proved to be.
In the early 1970s, while raising his young children in Buffalo, he co-founded a youth baseball league built on the simple but powerful idea that every child deserved a chance to play. The league guaranteed equal playing time for all participants and continued for many years after his family moved away — a lasting testament to his fairness, generosity, and belief in inclusion.
He and his wife traveled to Hawaii many times, creating cherished memories together in a place they loved.
A longtime member of Jesus Our Risen Savior Catholic Church, he served for many years as a Eucharistic Minister and usher and was active in the Knights of Columbus. His faith and service were quiet but steadfast.
His family will miss his readiness to lend a hand with any project — or at least offer thoughtful advice — as well as his gift for conversations that left you thinking more deeply long after they ended.
A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, February 24, at 1:30 p.m. at Jesus Our Risen Savior Catholic Church on Reidville Road in Spartanburg, followed by a reception.
His life was a gift to his family, his community, and all who had the privilege of knowing him, and his memory will remain a quiet source of strength, wisdom, and love.
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