Frank Edward Proch

Frank Edward Proch, age 74, of Ridge Manor, Florida passed away on Monday, November 7, 2022. He was born on July 19, 1948, in Lynch, Kentucky. His family moved to Tampa, Florida when he was 12. He graduated from Hillsborough High School and Hillsborough Community College.

Frank began working for the Florida Department of Transportation in 1966 as a construction inspector and rose through the ranks to become an Engineer IV Project Engineer and retiring with FDOT as Asst. Resident Engineer after 30 years of service. After leaving FDOT in 1996, he remained in the highway and bridge construction industry and joined AIM Engineering and Surveying, Inc. as a consultant Project Administrator. He was with AIM for over 24 years and worked on many major highway and bridge construction projects in District 7. Due to his extensive knowledge of the industry, he was an active member in arbitration and the Disputes Resolution Board and served as President of the Florida Chapter. He was President of Proch Enterprises, Inc. He was also a board member for the Police Athletic League in Tampa for many years.

Frank enjoyed participating in many sporting activities such as tennis, golf and running. He ran in 24 marathons (26.2 miles) and ran the Disney Marathon 13 times, New York City Marathon twice, The Gasparilla Marathon many times and even traveled to Dublin, Ireland to participate in that marathon. He was a member of the Brandon Running Association. He loved watching and going to ball games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Gators. Frank was a very generous man and he was well known for throwing a Halloween Party every year for over 16 years which included all his friends and neighbors. His favorite activity was traveling around the world and especially cruising with his wife and friends.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Steve and Ethel Mitchell Proch, and brothers Bobby Papagano and Floyd Papagano.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Patricia Medley Proch, his three children, Paula Proch, Michelle Gibb (Shaun) and Michael Proch (Kate); three grandchildren, Lily Gibb, Emmeline Gibb and Edison Proch; and two brothers Jimmy Papagano (Donna) and John Proch (Linda).

There will be a Celebration of Life held on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at the Merritt Funeral Home, 2 South Lemon Avenue, Brooksville, FL 34601. There will be visitation from 12-2 and a service at 2:00 p.m. 352-796-6699

merrittfuneral.com