Frank Legacki passed away on October 16, 2020 at the age of 81 years. The cause of death was metastatic prostate cancer.

Frank had an amazing life. He gave much more than was given to him, and celebrated life like very few.

He loved making friends, he kept in touch with elementary, high school, and college friends and those he met during his career and travels. Frank asked strangers about their life, where they were from and then, they too became Frank’s friends. When Frank entered a room, he owned it, you knew he was there, in a good way. He avidly studied history and traveled the world. A supporter and lover of art, dance and music, fishing, cooking, and a “very, very dry martini, straight-up with a twist.” Frank loved entertaining, throwing big parties and cooking for family and friends and always said the best restaurant was his home. He loved children and would get a kick in giving his undulating handshake, which always made kids laugh and come back for more. Most of all Frank had an amazing positive attitude and loved just being happy.

He loved his Alma Mater, the University of Michigan. When attending any U of M event, he enjoyed it with the enthusiasm of a first-time attendee. Through his travels, Frank always carried an extra U of M cap, which he would gift to a person that would capture his heart. Frank leaves many, many wonderful friends here and around the world.

When Frank was close to the end of his life, he wrote updates to family and friends. These updates were both sad and funny in only a way Frank could write. We will all miss him and invite you to read more about his wonderful life as follows.

Frank was born on September 28, 1939 in Philadelphia to Frank Walter and Helen (Friel) Legacki. He was the oldest of eight children, six boys and two girls. The family lived in a modest, working class, row home in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. Frank’s father was a carpenter from a Polish immigrant family, the first born in the US, and his mother from an Irish family.

Frank always appreciated and was proud of his modest background; he felt it had given him a broad perspective on humanity and life.

Frank attended Father Judge High School, where he tried out and made the swimming team his freshman year, an event that would prove pivotal in his life.

With no swimming pool at the school, Frank and his teammates traveled to pools 1.5 hours each way to train for one hour. Despite these impediments, Frank became a National Catholic High School Champion and a Scholastic All-American. He earned athletic scholarships from several universities.

Frank came down to choosing between the University of Michigan and Ohio State University, both with the top Collegiate Swimming programs. Frank asked his high school coach which school he should attend, his coach answered, “Probably Ohio State, Michigan is far more difficult academically and you may have problems getting through at Michigan.” Being prideful and competitive, Frank decided on the spot he was going to Michigan.

Frank did first struggle at Michigan, but with determination, and support of his coach and others, he became a credible student.

His success in swimming helped. In his sophomore year, first year of eligibility, Frank became an NCAA Champion in 100-yard freestyle and anchored the NCAA Champion 400 freestyle relay. Two weeks later, he swam the 100-yard butterfly at the National A.A.U. Championships (at that time, the US Open Championship) and won and set an America Record in this butterfly event.

Frank was proud of being an integral part of Michigan’s 1959 NCAA Championship Team, which to date is considered the greatest swimming team in NCAA history. As Michigan entered this event, the record points ever scored by a team in the history of NCAA Swimming Championship competition was 95.5 points; Michigan scored 138.5 points that year, more than the total of the next three team combined. No team has dominated to this extent ever since.

In his senior year, Frank was elected Captain and the Michigan team went on the be the upset victors’ in the NCAA Championships, outscoring the favored University of Southern California team, 82 vs. 60 points. Frank won the 50-yard freestyle that year with an American Record time of 21.3 seconds.

He also competed in the National AAU Championships a few weeks later and set another American Record (51.9 seconds) in the 100-yard butterfly.

Frank was also a member of the USA National Team that toured and competed in Japan in the summer of 1959.

Aside from swimming, Frank was President of the Sigma Chi Fraternity; member of Michigamua, the top senior men’s honorary; Hectorians, an honorary for the top ten Fraternity Presidents (among 48) and member of the Board of Directors of the U of M Student Union. He emceed many pep rallies and other all-campus student events.

After graduation from U of M, Frank married and had four daughters with his first wife. The couple divorced after 23 years.

Frank went on to earn an MBA at Michigan and graduated in the top quarter of his class while working 40 hours a week to pay for his continued education.

His business career began in New York City at Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, and then held executive positions as: Managing Director of the Strategic Consulting Group of Marketing Corporation of America; VP of Marketing for Converse Athletic Footwear; Founder and President of the Andover Consulting Group and President of Kaepa Athletic Footwear. Frank led a buy-out of this latter company, with support of top VC firms in the country, and eventually sold Kaepa to Umbro Sports Apparel.

Later, Frank helped Alicia Torres, who he eventually married, organize an LBO of software products, and they formed Rosebud Solutions. They generated outside investments, built a skilled team, and grew the business, which was eventually acquired by McKesson, Inc. (NYSE: MCK).

Frank went on to work part-time with Fletcher Spaight, Inc., a Boston VC Firm. He helped raise $10 Million and was key in finding two major investments.

Frank was always loyal and grateful to U of M for his education and personal growth. He often said: “I was born at the University of Michigan; it was here I learned how to think.”

Frank was recognized for his achievements by being inducted into the University of Michigan Hall of Honor and The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

He stayed very active with the University as President of the Grey Whales (Swim Boosters); Board of the Letterwinners M Club; Board of U of M Alumni Association; Board of U of M Urology Center and Board and Chair of the Marketing Committee of the University Musical Society. Frank was also

President of the Barton Hills Maintenance Corporation.

Frank married Alicia Torres, 21 years his junior. The couple had been together five years before marrying 22 years ago.

Frank and Alicia have been very involved in the community, attending over 20 UMS performances annually; School of Music Theater and Dance events; and supporters of the Michigan Theater. As regular fixtures at U of M athletic events, they have season tickets for Football, Basketball, Hockey, Wrestling, Softball, and Swimming meets.

They have also been an active fishing couple. They regularly fished in Florida and have taken many trips to exotic locations around the world.

Frank’s greatest joy was spending time with his Grandchildren, Sam, Sophia, and Noah. He loved taking them fishing, to U of M events and most of all enjoyed cooking together. The kids loved “GP Frank” and participating in these experiences.

Frank Is survived by the love his life, best friend and wife, Alicia Torres; his pride and joy, daughter Lynn Flamand and her family, Ben, Sam and Sophia; wonderful daughter Beth Legacki, her husband Mark Shockley and their son, Noah; sisters Denise Tompkins, and Jane Ferry and brother, Paul Legacki.

Frank requested his epitaph be borrowed from the last lines in Edmond Rostand’s great play, Cyrano de Bergerac. In the final scene, Cyrano lies in Roxanne’s arms, mortally wounded by his deceptive enemies, and as he weakens, he looks at Roxanne and utters his final words; “They have taken my life, but they have not taken my panache.”

Frank lived an active, interesting, and generous life, certainly a life with a great deal of panache.