Frank Robert Faranda of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, and Island Harbour, Anguilla, passed away at age 65 on October 13, 2008 on Anguilla. He was the husband of Elizabeth Fragos -Faranda and the loving and caring father of Michele and Christine Faranda, Juvenile Centre Director, Department of Probation, Government of Anguilla.

The late Frank Robert Faranda

He distinguished himself professionally for approximately 35 years in diverse areas of corporate management, architecture, real estate development, general construction and negotiations combining all aspects of commercial real estate development from inception to project completion. In 2005, he joined The Kor Group as Director of Construction on their five star Viceroy Resort and Residences project on the island of Anguilla. In 2008, Frank retired and consulted on many entrepreneurial ventures with friends and acquaintances.

The Walt Disney Company hired Frank in 1994 as their Senior Construction Manager responsible for directing and managing their newly created New York office of Disney Imagineering Research & Development. The 42nd Street Development Project was one of the largest redevelopment efforts undertaken by the State and City of New York. It successfully transformed the legendary stretch of West 42 Street & Broadway into a commercial and cultural center by restoring it to its historical significance. Frank directed and managed the development and construction for the restoration of the historic New Amsterdam Theater in New York and, as Principal Construction Manager, directed the construction of The Times Square Studios which houses ABC’s Good Morning America and 20/20. He then went on to direct reconstruction and alterations of the Anaheim Stadium in Los Angeles, as well as additional Disney projects in Orlando and Chicago.

In 1980, the world renowned and prestigious development company Olympia & York hired Frank as Director of Projects to direct the building of several New England developments and later the American Express World Headquarters Building in Manhattan. He was then appointed Director of Construction for the Battery Park City Authority to direct building a new community on 100 acres of landfill on the west side of lower Manhattan.

He attended St. Ambrose University and was a graduate of the University of Miami College of Architecture with a degree in architecture and engineering. His college summers were spent at Harrison & Abramovitz Architects in Manhattan where he worked on the designs for the Metropolitan Opera House, New York State Cultural Center in Albany and the U.S. Steel Building in Pittsburgh.

He served on the Board of Trustees of the Croton Free Library and was an American Field Service (AFS) host parent and a Salvation Army and Croton Caring Committee volunteer. He especially loved historic architecture and family summer vacations on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

He leaves to mourn his wife and daughters, his sister Carol McPheters of Chicago, Il., brother Anthony of Erie, NY, along with many nieces and nephews, sister in law Professor Emily Fragos of Manhattan, as well as numerous close friends on Anguilla, whom he considered his extended family.

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