Francis (Frank) John Wittman was born to Edward Jacob Wittman(n) and Elizabeth Cecelia Tracy on March 18, 1905 in Philadelphia,PA. He had one brother Edward Michael, who was 10 years older.
The family moved to Elgin, Illinois where Frank attended Elgin High School. He played football, basketball, participated in the glee club, choral club and the orchestra.
Frank was a talented musician who could play several instruments but preferred the trumpet. After graduation, he joined his father in employment at The Elgin Watch Factory.
He played with various bands on weekends and also substituted when needed. Eventually, he formed his own orchestra, The Frank Wittman Orchestra.
On August 16, 1932 he married Vera Coughlin. In 1933, they welcomed a son & in 1934, a daughter. The nightlife of a musician proved too rough for a family man. Eventually, Frank and Vera relocated their family to New Orleans, La. where Frank obtained work as a cab driver during daytime hours.
When his firstborn granddaughter(Lynn) was young, he would chauffeur her from parent's to grandparent's houses. She loved riding in his big cab but was not supposed to, so when Frank would get worried that someone may see her in the car, he'd play a "hide & seek" game with her. She would hide on the floorboard while he sang a song. When the song was over, she could pop back up.
Thankfully she was not with him on that June day in 1964 when he collapsed onto a sidewalk from a massive heart attack. He was 59 years old.
I was too young to remember my Papa but his memory was kept alive for me through stories. I was told that he had the bluest eyes. RIP Papa.
Thank you to Mike and Bushy Hartman for creating my grandfather's memorial and for the wonderful photographs.
Special Thanks to Earth Angel Donna B. for her sponsorship of this, my grandfather's, memorial
Francis (Frank) John Wittman was born to Edward Jacob Wittman(n) and Elizabeth Cecelia Tracy on March 18, 1905 in Philadelphia,PA. He had one brother Edward Michael, who was 10 years older.
The family moved to Elgin, Illinois where Frank attended Elgin High School. He played football, basketball, participated in the glee club, choral club and the orchestra.
Frank was a talented musician who could play several instruments but preferred the trumpet. After graduation, he joined his father in employment at The Elgin Watch Factory.
He played with various bands on weekends and also substituted when needed. Eventually, he formed his own orchestra, The Frank Wittman Orchestra.
On August 16, 1932 he married Vera Coughlin. In 1933, they welcomed a son & in 1934, a daughter. The nightlife of a musician proved too rough for a family man. Eventually, Frank and Vera relocated their family to New Orleans, La. where Frank obtained work as a cab driver during daytime hours.
When his firstborn granddaughter(Lynn) was young, he would chauffeur her from parent's to grandparent's houses. She loved riding in his big cab but was not supposed to, so when Frank would get worried that someone may see her in the car, he'd play a "hide & seek" game with her. She would hide on the floorboard while he sang a song. When the song was over, she could pop back up.
Thankfully she was not with him on that June day in 1964 when he collapsed onto a sidewalk from a massive heart attack. He was 59 years old.
I was too young to remember my Papa but his memory was kept alive for me through stories. I was told that he had the bluest eyes. RIP Papa.
Thank you to Mike and Bushy Hartman for creating my grandfather's memorial and for the wonderful photographs.
Special Thanks to Earth Angel Donna B. for her sponsorship of this, my grandfather's, memorial
Gravesite Details
Frank is not listed on the tomb. Burial card: 22 Jun 1964, age 59 yrs
