Frank Slutzkin
FRANK ALBERT SLUTZKIN
16 Jan 1924 ~ 5 Dec 2009
A FULFILLING LIFE WELL LIVED
Frank Albert Slutzkin was born on 16th January 1924 to Sholom and Gladys Slutzkin in Melbourne. He had five older brothers: Leo, Ivon, Alan, Peter and Bob, an older sister Shirley, twin sister Valda and younger sister Nona. Only Bob, aged 92, and Nona survive him. It was a strict religious upbringing but the children still managed to have a lot of fun and get up to lots of mischief.
Frank attended school at Wesley College and courted Meryl Cohen, who was attending PLC. He used to work out his coming home time from school so that he could be on the same tram as her!
Both sang in Rev Kowadlo's St Kilda Synagogue Children's Choir. Their service to the choir continued for many years after the War and Frank took over the Choirmaster duties following on from his brother Leo.
Frank served during the War in the RAN, enlisting as soon as he could in 1942. He rose through the ranks to Lieutenant, serving on HMAS Geelong, which was sunk off PNG in 1944, and then on HMAS Hawkesbury. He served in many areas off PNG, Borneo, Singapore and Phillipines, and was one of the first in to Changi to release the POW's. He stated it was a sight he would never forget. He continued to serve after the war in the Naval reserve with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and was awarded a VRD for those services.
He joined VAJEX (Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen & Women Inc) after the war and served there in many capacities including as its President in 1956 and then as the Federal President. He was very active in the blood donor aspect of VAJEX and organised the donors out to the Repatriation Hospital in Heidelberg every month. Frank was also involved with prevention of anti-semitic activities with VAJEX, investigating suspect groups and providing security to important Jewish buildings.
Frank married the love of his life, Meryl in May 1946 and they first lived in a house in Dixon Street, Malvern with their beloved springer spaniel Plonka.
Frank initially went into business with his brother Leo but then ventured out into his own fashion agency in Capitol House on Swanston Street and was successful in that for many years. He served as President of the Fashion Agents’ Association.
He and Meryl produced two loving children, Sandra and Colin, and lived all of their family life in Fosbery Avenue, Caulfield with various dogs, birds and fish. They created a warm, loving, kosher family home and taught their children the importance of caring for others, charity and community. Meryl was a role model for charitable work with her long involvement with Jewish Welfare and Ezra, but Frank also served as a Probationary Officer for troubled youth for several years.
Frank and Meryl moved to their unit in Northcote Avenue, Caulfield nearly 30 years ago. Their grandsons, Ben and Paul, fondly remember Friday night dinners there and then the fun of sleeping over at Nanna and Poppa's house and being spoilt by Nanna in the morning!
When Frank decided to leave the fashion industry, he joined his brother Ivon in the manufacture of masonic regalia for many years.
He was then approached to become CEO of Montefiore Homes. He was initially reluctant to do this as he felt he had no experience in the field, but with his flair for business and organisation, he was able to make a great success of it and was popular with both residents and staff.
Frank has been successful in whatever he has attempted due to his dedication and commitment to the task. Over the last 22 years, he has worked as Secretary to the Queen Elizabeth Centre Foundation in a fund-raising capacity and was proud to be part of the building of a new complex in Noble Park. In recognition of his work, he had just been appointed a Life Governor. He was retiring in his role at the end of the year and was looking forward to a function that was being held in his honour. He never felt that he should retire as he never felt too old to work and contribute! His brain was still so active!
He has thoroughly enjoyed his very long involvement with Freemasonry and many years ago, was very proud that he was offered the honour of being Grand Master. He has made friends all over the state through Freemasonry.
He also thoroughly enjoyed the community work and friendships he developed over 20 years through Prahran Rotary which he attended weekly and readily participated in their fund-raising and charitable work. He was President of Prahran Rotary in 1992 ~ 1993 and was honoured a few years later with presentation of the highest award in Rotary, the Paul Harris Award, for his community service.
He was one of the many loyal supporters of the St Kilda Football Club and was devastated by this years' Grand Final result. He went with Sandy and Lionel to all the home matches and happily watched replays of wins time and again!
Frank was a loving family man and loved Shabbat dinners at Sandy and Lionel's, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He was proud to see his grandsons happy and settled in their personal and professional lives and got a thrill out of their successes.
He was an avid stamp collector and had an amazing stamp collection consisting of 37 albums which he had collected and lovingly worked on all his life. He had many passions apart from football, including cricket, reading, his garden, the arts such as music and opera, and a game of poker. When they were younger, he also loved to travel with Meryl and had a great knowledge of the world. Since Meryl's passing, Ruth has been a wonderful companion for him and we appreciate all that she has been to him.
After Frank's stroke a few years ago, which weakened his left side, everyone imagined this would devastate him, but with his amazingly resilient nature and the help of the wonderful carers from Silver Circle who came every day to shower and dress him, he was back driving himself to work and into his busy lifestyle, much to the admiration of us all.
Sandy wants to make mention of the fantastic love and care that Lionel has shown to his father-in-law who had been a surrogate son to Frank with his son, Colin absent for 30 years in South Africa. Lionel has done everything from helping shower Frank to including him on holidays with them. Frank would often ring to ask Lionel to fix something for him that had to be done "right now", or assemble some complicated thing he had bought! Lionel, Frank loved you like a son and appreciated all you did for him.
Frank has had a wonderful rich and fulfilling life. He will be very sadly missed by his family that loved and admired him so much and by all his friends who enjoyed his good humour and companionship.
Written by Sandy Walvisch ~ Frank’s daughter