MERIDEN - Frank Randolph Corkin, Jr., 87, of 92 Lydale Place, died Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002, after a lengthy illness. Born in Bridgeport on Sept. 19, 1915, he was the son of the late Frances Beebe Corkin and Frank Randolph Corkin, Sr. He attended local schools and graduated from Meriden High School, Class of 1933 and from St. Lawrence University in 1937, where he was President of his class. Soon after the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Midshipman School at Columbia University, where he was commissioned an Ensign and assigned to the destroyer USS Ellet for active duty in the Pacific. After three years in the Pacific he returned to the States as a radar instructor in Georgia. After his discharge with the rank of lieutenant, he returned to Meriden and joined the staff of the Meriden Journal, later becoming Sports Editor of the Record-Journal with a daily column called Frankly Speaking. In 1956 he left the paper to join the staff of the Middlesex Memorial Hospital from which, after over 35 years, he retired as Vice President of Human Resources. He was a member of St. Andrew Episcopal Church, a 50-year member of Center Lodge No. 97 A.F.&A.M. and a former member of the Wallingford Country Club. Frank was widely known for his accomplishments as an official in both baseball and basketball. As a basketball official he worked with the American Basketball League, the Eastern League and the Eastern Collegiate Conference. Over the years Frank received many honors including the Meriden Citizen of the Year, Wilcox Tech Outstanding Citizen Award in l977, the Sportsman of Distinction Award in 1986 and the Art McGinley Award by the Connecticut Sports Writers. He was inducted into the Meriden Hall of Fame in 1957 and the Boys Club Hall of Fame. He was the author of Pacific Postmark, his recollection of his services during World War II and in 1987 he received the Outstanding Alumni Citation from St. Lawrence University.
Frank is survived by his sister, Natalie A. Corkin of Meriden and several cousins.
The funeral will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Andrew Episcopal Church, 20 Catlin St., Meriden. The Rev. Jane Hassler-White will officiate. Burial will be in the family plot in Pine Grove Cemetery in Middletown. There are no calling hours. If desired, contributions in Frank's memory may be made to the Meriden Boys and Girls Club, 15 Lincoln St., Meriden, CT 06451. Arrangements under the direction of BEECHER & BENNETT FLATOW FUNEAL HOME, 48 Cook Ave., Meriden.