UPDATE: I am saddened to report that we lost Frank at 12:05AM on Saturday Sept 24, 2016. He was in his home surrounded by his wife, Barbara, his sister in law, Carol, and his 3 dogs.
We will miss him greatly.
My brother-in-law, Frank R. Severance, is fighting for his life. I can’t let another moment pass before letting him know what he’s meant to me.
Frank was born in Maine in 1945 and grew up near Kennebunkport. He referred to himself as one of the “Paddy Creek Boys”.
His father worked in the pulp and paper industry so prevalent in Maine back then. He held a management position at a paper converting factory that made part of the soles of high-end shoes. Frank said that no matter how bad things got when he was young, neither he nor his family ever went without nice shoes. His Mom was loved and respected in the community but, died of cancer way before her time.
Frank did well in high school, excelled in several sports and was an accomplished jazz drummer. When he graduated he didn’t feel that college was the right choice for him. He wanted to see the world, embark on some adventures and besides…he needed a job and college was expensive. Pulling lobster pots with Uncle Bozo was ok for part-time work but, not a career. Maybe the US Navy would be a good place to start.
He enlisted into the US Navy right out of high school and began his 34 year adventure. Although he started at the bottom rank of Seaman he knew he’d found a home. Frank worked hard, signed up for all of the extra training he could get and quickly progressed through the ranks. He served during the Vietnam war and was fortunate enough to be assigned to several ships including 3 aircraft carriers; USS America (CV-66), USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). He was a “plank holder” on the Abraham Lincoln and worked closely with Newport News Shipbuilding during the construction, sea trials and early deployments of that ship.
By the time Frank retired from the Navy he had attained the rank of Commander. Needless to say, it’s pretty rare for anyone to reach that rank without a degree from Annapolis…much less a “Paddy Creek Boy” with no degree and just a shit-load of confidence, determination and drive to succeed.
Our paths were brought together when I married his wife’s sister, Beth, a year or so after he had married Barbara.
Here’s a shot of Frank with our Mother-in-law, Mae, at Newfound Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. What an extraordinary lady she is but, that’s another story for another day.
Frank and I hit it off ok from the beginning but, not great. He was focused on his career in the Navy and I was focused on mine at GE. We had some common interests such as fast cars and electronics but, rarely had enough time together to really get to know one other.
Frank reached out first by inviting Beth and I to come visit he and Barbie in California. This was shortly after Beth and I were married in 1985. Included in the invite was an opportunity to spend an entire day at sea on the USS Enterprise. Frank was the EMO, Electronic Maintenance Material Officer, on the Big-E. I’ll never forget cruising under the Golden Gate bridge, watching ear-numbing fighter jet catapult launches and seeing the power of the R2D2 Phalanx close-in weapon system. I was somewhat familiar with the Phalanx since my first job with GE after college was working at GE Ordnance Systems in Pittsfield, MA. GE along with FMC were the only licensed manufacturers of the Phalanx. GE also made 5-inch deck guns for destroyers and Trident missile fire control and guidance systems in Pittsfield. We did lots of work for the US Navy. That gave Frank and I something else in common.
Beth and I returned the favor in 1988 by inviting Frank and Barb to spend a week in the Smokies in a log cabin we’d rented near Gatlinburg, TN. Little did we know that years later we would spend much more time together in the Smokies.
Not to be outdone in 1990, Frank invited Beth’s son, Lee, and myself to take a 4-day cruise on the USS Abraham Lincoln from Florida back up to Norfolk, VA. Lee and I had our own private stateroom and ate, slept and experienced just about everything you can imagine about Navy aircraft carrier life. Frank at this point in his career was the Combat Systems Officer on the Lincoln and got us access everywhere onboard except the reactor area. We saw the secret Combat Information Center and Lee even steered the ship from the bridge as the Lincoln steamed alongside a support ship to offload ordinance. Cat launches and landings, live 500lb bomb drops and supersonic fly-bys. How can you top that??? Hanging with Frank is cool!
Here’s Frank with Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate Carl M. Brashear. The movie, Men of Honor, with Cuba Gooding, Jr as Brashear and Robert De Niro as his hard-ass instructor, chronicled his Navy life.
Fast forward to 1998 and Frank hears about a new Concours d’Elegance being held at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, FL. 
It started in 1996 and is fashioned somewhat after a similar event out at Pebble Beach in California. Amelia will be the “Pebble Beach of the East” and feature the finest, most expensive classic cars in the world all displayed and judged on the beautiful manicured golf course by the ocean. He says we gotta go there!
I think that Amelia was Frank’s evil plan to parlay my known weakness for fast cars with his love of photography. He was starting to get me hooked on cameras…Nikon cameras. 
During this period, I had started a little website devoted to Mercedes, MercedesShop, and was selling Mercedes parts on the web. I needed content for the website and what could be better than images of beautiful classic and new Mercedes all in a lovely setting.
We met a ton of interesting people at Amelia over the years. Here’s Frank with Brock Yates of Car and Driver magazine fame, creator of the Cannonball Run race and screenwriter of the Cannonball Run movie. Brock attended Amelia every year from 1998-2000 when I was there. Having a beer with Brock and talking cars was the norm. Frank and Brock became good friends.
This is Frank with David E. Davis at Amelia. He was an automobile journalist, publisher of Car and Driver magazine and creator of Automobile magazine. He basically created modern automotive journalism. He also hired and fired Brock Yates 3 times over the years. Quite an interesting fellow indeed.
Frank spotted John Fitch at Amelia and struck up a conversation. Fitch was born in 1917 and was really the first American to successfully race cars in Europe. He raced Formula 1, Le Mans, Mille Miglia, Sebring, Carrera Panamerica, Indianapolis…you name it, he did it in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He partnered with Stirling Moss and Briggs Cunningham. Oh, and he piloted a P-51 Mustang in WWII. If it involved going fast and risking your life, John Fitch was the MAN. Even into his 90’s he was still active in the racing world as a consultant.
Ok so Frank and I are talking one day and he says we’ve got to plan a trip down to Daytona in February 2000 to experience the 24 Hours of Daytona. Sounds good to me! We had a BLAST! The only problem was that Daytona had record-setting cold weather that year and I froze my ass off. I didn’t care!
I got a chance to meet Rob Dyson at Daytona and get my picture snapped by famous photographer, Frank R. Severance. Dyson was a driver in endurance racing and is currently the team owner of Dyson Racing. Hanging with Frank is fun!
Later in 2000, I invited Frank down to Atlanta so we could attend the Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta. Another endurance race. We spent lots of time in the pits and all around the racetrack that weekend taking tons of pictures. Needless to say, I was getting into photography by this time…and Frank and I were really getting to know and appreciate one other.
Yes, Frank loves to photograph planes, trains and automobiles but, he REALLY likes to do much more. Here he is in a WWII era 2-seat airplane flying around Norfolk, VA. 
…and here’s Frank flying around in a WWII B-25 bomber.
How does he manage to find opportunities to DO shit like this??? He’s living the dream!
In the Fall of 2006 Frank invites me to come to Virginia Beach to see the Blue Angels perform at Naval Air Station Oceana.
What he didn’t tell me until I arrived was that he had something special in store…
Frank hung a parachute on my ass and stuffed me into the back seat of a Russian Yak-52.
My pilot was an active F-14/F-18 fighter pilot who loved to do aerobatics. HANG ON and try not to lose your lunch! Yee-Ha!
Hanging with Frank gets the blood pumping!
The next year he calls and tells me we need to drive up to West Virginia to see some trains. Not just any trains but real honest-to-God coal burning STEAM trains. Count me in!
We hopped on board and rode up the mountain from Cass to Spruce. But, that wasn’t good enough for Frank. Oh no…
He made friends with the Engineers and Firemen and got to DRIVE the train. Typical Frank.
I went to Cass with him in 2007 and 2008 but, he continued to go up there for several more years.
Unfortunately, I missed out on Frank’s “bucket list” trip to Alaska in 2007 to shoot eagles and his 2009 trip to England to attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed. But, we took many many memorable trips together from 2008 until the present.
The “consummate professional” honing his craft. Shooting Elk at Cataloochee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 2009.
Frank gave us a tour of his beautiful and unforgettable home state of Maine in 2009.
Lining up his shot atop Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, Maine.
We’re freezing our butts off at Alligator River NWR in 2009. Anything for the shot, right?
Frank has the ability to go where no-one else is allowed but, convince the park rangers that he NEEDS to be there. He’s ‘splaining that right here at Cades Cove in 2010. The ranger tells him it’s ok but, she needs to make it look like she’s reading him the riot act.
Beth and I would go to Virginia to visit her family around Thanksgiving or Christmas. I would be there about one day and Frank would say we need to drive up the Eastern Shore and go to Conowingo Dam to shoot eagles or Blackwater NWR or Bombay Hook NWR or …
Hanging with Frank is a sure bet that things will not be boring. He always makes certain I am having a good time.
We made a run up to Barnegat Light in NJ just to shoot some Harlequin ducks. It was cold and breezy but, better than sitting on the sofa watching NCIS.
Harlequin Ducks at Barnegat Light – 2012
Our most audacious and grand trip was in 2013. Frank, Barbie and I drove out to:
Badlands National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Teton National Park
It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Here we are in the Tetons clowning it up as Barbie captures the fun.
We’re shooting moose in the Tetons. Somewhere in that crowd is Frank chatting up some stranger. The only thing he loves better than photography is finding someone to share a story with. I think it’s a Navy thing…he loves to meet new people.
Another day, another park, another Ranger meets Frank. We’re shooting Moose again in the Tetons and Frank is ‘splaining to the Ranger why he NEEDS to be there. He’s certainly got a way with those female rangers!
The trips I have mentioned here only scratch the surface. We’ve taken more journeys together than one can imagine. It’s been one hell of a ride! Along the way, our relationship has solidified. Frank is much more than just my brother-in-law. He’s my friend. He’s my close friend. He’s my BROTHER!
Frank is a strong man but, cancer is taking him down. A cruel brain tumor has robbed him of his two most precious gifts…sight and speech. He’s lived life his own way and experienced things that others can only dream about. I am honored and privileged to have shared part of our lives together.
Godspeed CDR Frank R. Severance, USN(RET)
The Lord is my pilot, I shall not drift.
He guides me across the dark waters.
He steers me through deep channels.
He keeps my log.
Yea, though I sail ‘mid the thunders and tempest of life,
I shall dread no anger, for He is with me;
His love and His care, shelter me.
He prepares a quiet harbor before me.
He anoints the waves with oil
My ship rides calmly.
Surely sunlight and starlight shall guide me on the voyage I take,
And I will rest in the heaven’s port forever.
(THE PILOT’S PSALM)
You knocked it out of the park Bill! Thank you. Cakie
I first encountered this “bigger than life” kind of guy when I first went to a Hampton Roads Digital Shutterbug Club meeting several years ago. This powerful figure was telling the members about several field trips he had lined up (much like the ones you mentioned in this wonderful tribute to Frank) and provided the logistics of going. He was SO confident in his demeanor that I stayed in the background for a while – until I realized that he was very approachable – very much a people person and once you met him one on one – you were friends for life. That was a couple of years ago and he’s since recruited me to take on a leadership role in our photo club. His enthusiasm for life is contagious and is unquenchable desire to go out and experience “more” makes me want to live life richer and to go out and experience more. Frank Severance, my live is richer because I know you and can call you my friend! Love you man!!!
Frank, This is Iain Reid from the HRSBC sending you a message. Thank you for all the time you spent with me at the club and helping me with Nikon camera questions. You have always been a great friend even though we did not spend a lot of time together. I am very sadden to hear about your condition and I send me prayers to you and your family. Take care my friend.
Frank,
This is Cristal Bass from the HRDSC. You might not remember Jesse (husband) and me but as long as I have been in the club, I have enjoyed your stories and the adventures you have shared with us. Your enjoyment of life and photography is evident with each adventure you have shared. I got excited to hear of the planned field trips that would be upcoming in the club-perhaps some of your adventures you wanted us in the club to experience and the beauty to be seen. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me one on one, never seeming to mind chatting after the meetings to help us along. You are a special person and I appreciate your time and patience. God bless you and I will continue to pray for you and your family. You are missed.
Frank was my go to guy on any question Nikon related. Always a gentleman and loved to photograph everything and any thing and make it look great. My prayers are with Frank and his family.
My best friend has MS. It’s robbing her of her mobility and soon it will do the same to her mind. One year I asked for volunteers to help take photos of the annual bike ride on the Eastern Shore to raise money for this devastating disease. You won’t be surprised to know that Frank was the first volunteer! He wanted to do what he could to help.
The ride started in Cape Charles. As the ride started Frank was no where to be seen. When found, wouldn’t you know he was atop the ladder truck leading the start of the ride! He had convinced the fireman that he just HAD to climb up there to get the perfect shot! This is a link to the photos he took. http://www.pamelajenkins.com/Events/MS-Bike-2012-Franks-Photos/
Thank you Frank for all you have done. Smooth sailing to you Sir! I salute you!
Frank,
Thank you for your gift of showing us life through the lens of a Nikon. The special moments of life well lived will stay with us forever.
You are the champion of living life to the fullest and an inspiration to us all. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
thank you thank you for a tribute to one of the great paddy creek boys- frank has been a constant in my life Since elementary school . he is totally loved by our family. you have portrayed uncle frank as he lived his life. all of us are eternally grateful;
Wow! Sad to hear about Frank! Thanks to the generosity of you ,Bill, Frank, Barbara, the Tetons in 2013 was not a total disaster. Seems Frank and I just hit it off and I really think he would have given me the shirt off his back if I had needed it.
Frank is one of those people that will leave a big hole in the big picture of this world, always giving and trying to help. Trying to live life to the fullest. I remember I would call him Captain and he would correct me, by saying he was only a Commander, but to me he was the Captain!
I met Frank in a Michael’s store when I was looking for some options to frame a photo. He was wearing a Nikon shirt, and so being a Nikon guy myself, I took a risk and struck up a conversation with him. That short little interaction led to many subsequent years of him helping me grow as a photographer. From lending me gear to providing feedback and ideas on how to present and show work, he was very instrumental in growing my passion and love of photography and more important, life. I will forever be grateful for Frank. My biggest regret is honestly that we never went and photographed together. But in a way, I think he liked the storytelling moments from our adventures that much more. Thanks Bill for putting this together and let me know if there is anything we can do to help.
I met Frank on my first day at Cades Cove while taking a day off from my conference in Knoxville. I was looking to shoot my first black bear.
I am from Italy living in Switzerland and passionate about wildlife photography, I am a beginner and you can imagine what this chance to see Black Bear would have been to me.
I saw Bears and Frank immediately offered for me to drive with him. Within a few hrs., I got all the best tips and spots about Cades Cove and he was talking to me like we always knew each other.
It was very pleasant . I met him and his wife and Bill the day after for another ride in Cades Cove.
I was impressed by his enthusiasm and his ability to approach people, although I am quite an open and easy natural person, I was way behind him.
Frank’s attitude is natural. That’s probably why he loves nature. He has the fresh air of a kid although he faced several difficult decisions during his career.
Life is a gift to be appreciated to it’s fullness, Frank’s attitude follows exactly what everyone should do.
Big Big hug to you Frank and Barbara.
What a delightful detailing of Frank’s adventures and your travels!
I, however, had Barbie out to visit me when she was a 19-year-old, and met Frank. While I cannot take credit for their romance from there on out, I was delighted that they found each other, two very unique souls. When we were stationed in Virginia Beach and Jim was deployed much of the time, Frank and Barbie were our close family, and our two boys (George then 6 and John then 3) got so much of Frank’s long-suffering patience and attention. We remember the Spirit of Norfolk cruises and much of our time together.
Frank brought Jim (and others) to tears at Jim’s retirement when Frank read the “This Sailor Stood the Watch” and we cherished the bonds we have had.
What a wonderful tribute to Frank. I’m so very sorry. Frank will be greatly missed. I met him through the Shutterbug club where he was nothing but generous, and caring to me. He loaned me gear, passed on books and articles he thought I might be interested in, and generally supported and encouraged me. My thoughts and prayers are with Frank, Barb, and the whole family as he fights this battle.
Kindly,
Jennifer Carr
Frank and I and our families have been friends for years and is the only one from Cape Porpoise who still calls me Billi. We have settled most of the world problems during our many phone calls!! Years ago when he was getting one of his many security clearances he put down my fathers name for a reference and when they called and started their questions my dad interrupted and yelled that he was a good kid and to leave him alone and before my Mother could stop him he hung up on them!. Frank and I had a good laugh over that. So very glad I got to see him this spring. Thank you Bill for sharing this wonderful tribute with all of us.
For me Frank will always be Frankie. We all grew up together on Paddy Creek and Frankie, my brother Pete and I spent much of our very early years playing together, mostly at Frankie’s house.
My regret is that we all drifted apart as we grew older. The Paddy Creek gang: Carol, Frankie, Gordon, Butch, Bonnie and Bruce probably had one of the most ideal childhoods in Cape Porpoise. I remember the three mothers: mine, Frankie’s and Bonnie’s hiring the firehall to have a combined birthday party for the three of us because we all had March birthdays.
Frank ( ok, I will go with your adult name) you are amazing. What great things you have done with your life and how loved and admired you are by so many people.
This is a wonderful and sad tribute to Frankie, the guy from the creek. So sorry to hear the news about Frankie. Growing up in a small town like Cape Porpoise everyone knew everyone, ( the good ol days) and most had basketball hoops. We had good times playing round ball with the group from the creek.Frankie loved it. I also remember taking rides on his hydroplane. Sitting on the bow to plane the boat for faster speed. I can also remember hitting a lobster buoy and flying off into the ocean. We both had a laugh over that. Listening to him play the drums at home and before the basketball games, he especially liked the theme “Peter Gun.” Life being what it is drew us apart after h.s.. We both entered the Service in the early 60’s after graduation and didn’t see each other for some years. For myself and all who grew up in the cape, it was great fun with a lot of wonderful memories with friends. Wonderful place to grow up.
It is really saddening to hear about the cancer affecting Frankie. It’s so awful that bad things happen to nice people, and Frankie is a nice person. Our thoughts and prayers are with Frankie and all his family as he battles this awful disease.
“The Guy from the Creek” Gods Blessings!
Thanks Bill for sharing this side of Frank. I knew you were good friends and went on a couple of photography trips together but I had no idea. I just got back from VA and seeing Barbie, Carol and Mae. I kept expecting to see him walk through the door of Mae’s house. Hard to know I won’t see him for a long time. Thank you for this tribute to Frank’s life. He was such a good man and a good uncle and brother. Love to you and Beth!
To a fellow shipmate,
While photographing the takeoff of a 70 year old B-17 while standing at the end of a runway…literally, on the runway. As the aircraft approached and began to fill our viewfinders, Frank turned to me and said. “You do know what to do if that aircraft does not get airborne don’t you?” Thus I learned…
Rule 1: Take care of your sailors.
Frank approved of my plan of action…just in case something went wrong with the rapidly approaching aircraft. (Forget the gear and lay down, avoid the wheels and cover your ass.)
We successfully photographed several takeoffs and landings and thus with Frank’s help we managed to…
Rule 2: Accomplish the mission.
Shortly, thereafter we noticed an official looking airport pickup truck racing down the adjacent taxiway with flashing blue lights. Frank turned to me and said, “Remember, it is always better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.” Somehow Frank had managed to talk his way past airport security gained us unlimited access to all of the restricted areas at this small airport. Somehow Frank convinced airport management what our presence in restricted areas was simply a misunderstanding, a failure of communications so to speak. Frank smiled and winked…”Mission accomplished”, we got our images before being escorted off the field.
Post Script: Not only did we get our pictures but before we left the airport that day, Frank managed to “get both of us a hop” on that very same B-17 the following day. Thus…
Rule 3: See Rule 1
To Frank, every day was a holiday and every meal was a feast. You touched the lives of so many of us around you. You will be missed.
“Shipmate . . . the watch stands relieved.
Relieved by those YOU have trained, guided, and lead
Shipmate you stand relieved . . . we have the watch!
“Fair winds and following seas and long may your big jib draw!”
“Boatswain . . . Standby to pipe the side . . . Shipmate’s going ashore!”
Frank……from the time you relieved me on the Big “E” until you retired, we remained friends. Fare winds shipmate. It was my esteemed pleasure knowing and serving with you. Rest well ole friend……..Ron.
That was a great tribute. Frank was an amazing guy….quite the character. We were both lucky enough to have served onboard the Big E (years apart and on different coasts)
Godspeed old friend.
LCDR (Ret) Bill Conoscenti
I met Frank when he came to SUPSHIP Newport News as the Combat Systems Officer. That first morning, the guy in the cubical next to me called me over to meet Frank. I had a Nikon camera and he knew Frank and I had at least that in common.
I asked Frank what he had. I think he recited almost the complete Nikon catalog to me! He said he would bring his bag in the next morning, maybe I could help him with something on his F2. Later I wondered if all the cameras and lenses he mentioned were not what he had but like me just what he wanted!
The next morning, there was a leather Domke camera bag on my table chuck full of lenses! My friend said Frank came in early for a meeting and left the bag for me to look through. That was the start of our friendship. Lots of memories, like the time he came over to my desk and said “come with me, I want to show you something”! He proceeded to take me for a drive in his Mercades 5.0. In those days you could find an empty highway over across the M&M bridge tunnel to test a car. He pulled the Mercades over, stopped in the middle of the road, no traffic either way, pushed some little button on his console, then stepped on it! After it was over I was amazed and told him it was like being in my 1971 429 Cobra Jet! He said, I had to show you because I could tell you didn’t believe me when I said I had a really fast Mercades!
Then there was the time he picked me up after work in upper Newport News to pick up my car. He was in the Porsche. Between stop lights he went from zero to 90 and back!
After a bad experience with slide processing, we started taking turns going to Richmond Camera in Norfolk to take and pick up slide film. We both seemed to use several rolls a week.
Frank was a good friend of mine. He was one of a kind! He helped me and my son Chip rebuild our 289 Fairlane engine quite a few years ago. While I had to check tolerances from the manual, Frank had them all in his head! I soon stopped checking him on anything.
Frank was one of the the three best photographers I know. (The other two are Harry and my son Chip)
I learned a lot from Frank. I will miss him.
Don Johnson
A great story and tribute to one of my shipmates. Frank was in the same Naval year group as I, I knew him well and he will be missed dearly by a lot of people whom he touched. Fair Winds Shipmate.
Safe travels, dear Frank. You will be greatly missed. You were one kind, generous man and Ken and I were honored to know you.
Frank, I met you while shooting eagles at NBG. You were a great guy (even if you were a Nikon guy). I loved spending time gabbing with you while shooting. Would have loved to have gone on more shoots with you, however I lost touch with you.
I am so sorry to hear you are gone. I guess God needed a great photographer. Godspeed friend.
Frank,
You were my biggest advocate, you were my friend, from the first time we met in 1975 when I spent three days trouble shooting an electrical problem on your new Nissan “Z” car! I always looked forward to your visits to the dealership with your larger than life stories and incredible photography. I will always cherish our times together and the special photography you gifted to me over the years. You will always have a special place in my heart.
Good sailing my friend, until we meet again.
Frank… you were a true friend and shipmate..larger than life and always looking for the next adventure… you got me interested in photography and were always there to be my mentor… I will see you on the otherside