Walter Stanley Franiel

He was born January 4, 1931 in Częstochowa, Poland with parents Michal Franiel and Waleria Kujawska. He had 2 brothers Stan and Eddie and was a loving father who will be fondly remembered by his daughters; Rosemary (Ken) Hill, Andromeda (Dave) Dean, Valerie Franiel and Mira (Mike) van Bodegom and his son; Michael Franiel. He will be forever cherished by his 10 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Wally had a love for astronomy and was the assistant/production editor for the Stardust Newsletter and often a keynote speaker for the Astronomical Society. He worked for Douglas Printing before he opened his first camera store, Foto Hobbitorium in 1973. He opened up Camera Corner in 1984 and later renamed it Classic Camera Exchange. He taught photography at NAIT years ago and professors there still instructed students to go visit “the expert” at his store! We joked about him “retiring” for the last 20 years but he said he would “work” right to the end. And he did. He was the sweetest guy full of stories, many hats, inventions, crazy ideas, “get rich quick” schemes and endless humming or singing whatever was just said. He survived on homemade soups, coffee, Polish food and Costco samples. He loved his Polish heritage and shared his love of their traditions and songs. We can’t speak Polish but can sing it! He was an avid soccer player/fan and we learned he was the goalie for the Calgary White Eagles in 1956! He also loved gardening, FLEA MARKETS, garage sales, fishing and drives to the mountains and of course playing chess. He played chess in many tournaments, online, and with anyone who would play but especially with his best friend Jack. Heck chess actually saved his life one time! He lived almost a full 90 years and somehow survived being taken prisoner by the Germans, taken by Gypsies, refugee to Canada, eye surgeries, major heart attack, brain aneurysm, and pancreatitis. He loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and we all we knew he had an unwavering love and passion for photography and his cameras. We lost a Dad, but the world lost an icon of the camera world. He knew every camera, projector, darkroom supply, lens and filter ever made and the story behind it.

Thank you to everyone who visited his store, listened to his stories, admired him and supported him, and now us, in any way. We are lost without him but grateful for the memories and the ridiculous number of photos we will cherish.