Frank F. Parker

Frank F. Parker

June 19, 1940 – December 2, 2021

Frank Fredrick Parker, 81, died December 2, 2021, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the oldest child of Frank F. Sr. (a teacher) and Yvonne Parker (a speech therapist). He grew up in Fremont, Michigan, where he often spent weekends working on his dad’s charter boat or learning all he could about electronics.

After graduating from the University of Michigan, Frank joined their Department of Chemistry, managing their analytical instrument labs. For almost 35 years, he kept their various spectrometers up-to-date and running, assisting countless faculty and graduate students in their research. He spent many football Saturdays at the Big House with his wife and daughter, cheering on the Wolverines.

A quintessential “car guy” who could put a turbocharged Cadillac engine in a classic Corvair or transform an Audi sedan into a pickup truck—and did—Frank found a second career in motorsports. Whether engineering electrical components or setting up radio communications, Frank became an important part of the Corvette Racing team. His work helped contribute to multiple Corvette victories and championships, including GT/GTS titles at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 At Daytona.

Frank had a lifelong fascination with space and technology. As a teen he would use a telescope to introduce his younger siblings to the solar system and the stars; as an adult he mastered the latest in gadgetry. He often used his tech expertise to help indulge his love for movies and music—you’d often find a crowd of extended family enjoying his hi-fi basement setup.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Donald and Karen. He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Ruth; his daughter Diane (Bill) Telgen; his grandson, Lt. David Telgen, USN; his sister, Kathi Parker; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family plans to hold a celebration of his life in 2022.