Obituary of Frank J. Gratzer

Frank J. Gratzer, 65, passed away peacefully at his Bridgewater home on Sunday, October 24, 2010 after a courageous battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma. Alert and cheerful to the end, he spent his final weeks and hours enjoying the company and comfort of his loving family. Born in Stockton, CA to Dorothy J. and Frank J. Gratzer, Sr. on November 23, 1944, he grew up in the Bronx and lived in Hightstown and Old Bridge before moving to Bridgewater in 1979. After graduating from Fordham Prep High School in 1962, Frank attended Manhattan College. He graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and was awarded the Gold Medal by that department. He received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University in 1970. Upon graduating from Princeton, Frank began his 30-year career in telecommunications at Bell Laboratories in Holmdel. As Executive Director for Broadband Data Services at Bellcore, he and his team were instrumental in developing and integrating SMDS and frame relay services. He was awarded the Bellcore CEO Award for his contributions to the telecommunications system of Greece. He also received a distinguished service award from the Manhattan College School of Engineering for significant accomplishments in the engineering profession. Frank retired from Telcordia Technologies in 2001. In his retirement, he especially enjoyed tutoring students in math and physics at Raritan Valley Community College and socializing and golfing with the Telcordia Romeos and Juliets. Frank saw beauty in numbers, but his wide appreciation for grace and order in the world did not end with ones and zeros. He traveled extensively in the U.S. and internationally both for pleasure and for business and had a special fondness for Argentina and Greece. An avid reader, he was a lifelong student of history, languages, and religion. Disciplined and dedicated to staying in shape, he swam at the Bridgewater pool three times a week for more than 30 years. To his family, friends and all who were touched by his life, Frank was a gentle and loving purveyor of perspective and reason. He never lost sight of what was most important in life and always remained close and devoted to his large, adoring family. He is survived by Ann, his wife of 41 years; his father, Frank J. Gratzer, Sr. and wife Marie; his daughters, Allison Gratzer and Carolyn Cope; son-in-law Jonathan Cope and two beautiful granddaughters, Adelaide and Celia Cope. Also surviving are mother-in-law Frances Acunzo; Aunts Eileen Gratzer and Anne Helmstetter; sisters-in-law Terry and Nina Acunzo; niece Lily Acunzo; Uncle Jack Carroll; Cousin Dennis Carroll; his Zitelli, Helmstetter and Wickers cousins and many dear friends. Funeral will begin on Saturday, October 30th at 9:00 a.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung followed by a 10:00 a.m. Funeral Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Martinsville. Entombment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Basking Ridge. Visitation will be on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9 pm. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, 9 Easy Street, Bound Brook, NJ 08805-1147 or to the Catholic Medical Mission Board, 10 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011-5765 or to the Haven Hospice of NJ, 65 James Street, Edison, NJ 08818-3059.