Frank R. Dawe

Age 84, of Plymouth, passed away peacefully in his sleep on November 22, 2021. Preceded in death by Joan, his loving wife of 56 years, brother James (Bonnie), and his parents (Laura, Rand, and Wally), and survived by daughter Heather (Bruce), son Fred (Kathya), brothers Larry and John (Shirley and Jonathon), other relatives and friends. Frank will be remembered as the devoted husband of Joan and a loving father to Heather and Fred.

Frank was known as a kind-hearted man of integrity and honesty, as someone who immensely enjoyed interacting with people, who would always stop to say hello to someone he recognized, always able to recall their name and personal details. He had a wry sense of humor, was tough but fair, fiercely competitive, and greatly enjoyed any opportunity to negotiate. Frank was a romantic, who brought Joan a flower every morning, served her coffee and breakfast, and expressed his creative side by designing her jewelry. He strongly supported education and entrepreneurs, giving generously for need-based scholarships.

A legacy of his years as a paperboy, Frank loved to start the day before the crack of dawn, even jogging on foreign business trips and greeting the late-night stragglers he passed by with his trademark wave, only later to share the stories of his morning observations in cities around the globe. In retirement, Frank resorted to an early swim, opening up the Lafayette or the Miramar even before staff arrived. When at home, the cabin in Wisconsin, Florida or visiting Toronto, Frank’s joy was spending time with family and friends, whether playing tennis, reading, fishing, playing nickel poker, having ice cream, or making his amazing Sunday breakfast. He loved to ride his bike with Heather, Fred, with the Geezers bike club, and was a proud six-time finisher of the MS 150.

Born in Toronto to Newfoundland parents, the third of four boys who lost their father young and were raised by a mother who always found a way to provide, unwavering in her commitment to family, teaching her sons true responsibility, and always asking guests if they want a second plate. Frank attended North Toronto Collegiate Institute, where he played football, and basketball, as well as formed life-long friendships with a core group of guys who have kept in touch during all phases of life. Frank went to the University of Toronto, where he met Joan and became a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity, never forgetting the secret handshake. He was always working, delivering newspapers year-round and taking summer jobs in building construction, at the uranium mines, or as a chef’s apprentice at the Banff Springs Hotel, where he once met Marilyn Monroe. Frank started his professional career with State Farm Insurance and then, taking a risk in the new computer industry, with Control Data Corporation, ultimately seizing the opportunity to move his family to world headquarters in Minnesota for a two-year assignment, and stayed.

Frank worked as a senior executive in human resources and administration throughout his career and, after CDC, he received a call from Elizabeth Dole, who asked him to work a key national human resources project for the American Red Cross, which Frank did with his usual and profound sense of duty. After full retirement, he came together with fellow CDC co-authors and wrote “HR Pioneers: A History of Human Resource Innovations at Control Data Corporation”, providing successful highlights of how caring for employees and the community are an integral part of the best business plan.

Locally, Frank served as the chair of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, on the Minnesota Opera Board, as well as boards of many other companies and organizations, including the University of Minnesota Industrial Relations Advisory Council, and the Human Resources Roundtable Group, Organization Resource Counselors, and the Decathlon Club. Frank loved to invest in and mentor companies, helping them build better organizations as he always strove to improve himself.

Frank loved being part of great communities and first settled his family in Burnsville, residing 28 years in a special place named Walden. Frank later embraced the weekend cabin lifestyle in the island city of Cumberland, Wisconsin, home to Beaver Dam Lake, where Frank spent countless hours fishing. As he neared retirement, Frank and Joan became snowbirds at Barefoot Beach, Florida, which never took Frank more than two days of driving to reach or return from, a 22-year record. Next came Pelican Point in Mound, another friendly island community where Frank re-established his summer headquarters and enjoyed boat cruises with Joan around Lake Minnetonka. After Joan passed, Frank moved to “The Club”, as he called it, Trillium Woods was his final residence where he loved to greet neighbors and staff on his way to the pool or as he grabbed a bite at the Minnehaha Pub.

Until his very last day, Frank sought to connect with people, stopping to shake hands and share a smile, sharing stories of his travels, and imparting life lessons. Frank loved to teach by example and gave his family every opportunity to experience the world. He was a humble man of great accomplishments, who took life one day at a time.

Please visit Frank’s memorial page at www.KapalaGlodekMalone.com to view Frank’s memorial video and share memories of Frank with his family.

Memorials requested to:

Lewy Body Dementia Association: https://www.lbda.org/donate/

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Mayo Clinic: https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donateMC

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