Francis J. "Frank" Pianowski

Francis J. “Frank” Pianowski, 86, passed away on Saturday, December 10, 2022.  Son of the late Anthony and Adele (Dryjowicz) Pianowski, he was born in Amsterdam, NY on April 28, 1936.  A longtime Ludlow resident, having moved to town at the age of 5, Frank was a graduate of Ludlow High School and American International College, where he was a member of Zeta Chi fraternity.  He proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Skywatcher during the Korean War. Upon returning from the service, he worked as a retail credit investigator for 12 years.  He later was employed as a Transportation Representative for Smith’s Transfer and Watkins Motor Line for 35 years, retiring in 2002.  An avid golfer, Frank was a member of Ludlow Country Club for over 60 years, serving on the Board for 20 years, serving as Vice-President for 4 years. In 2017, he was an inductee in the Club’s inaugural Hall of Fame class.  Golf was his life, he scored 6 holes in one and won Club Championships twice. Frank was also a skilled pool player who enjoyed playing at the Ludlow Senior Center.  He was a parishioner at Christ the King Church and a member of its Men’s Guild.  He was also a member of the Unity AC, the Elk’s Lodge in Chicopee, American Legion, Ludlow Senior Center and the Polish American Citizen’s Club of Ludlow.  Frank was a great impersonator of Frank Sinatra, whenever there was a piano and microphone, be it at a wedding, vacation site or restaurant, you could hear him singing My Way. Frank embraced life with gusto!

Frank is survived by his lifelong fiancée Virginia Lawlor and his sister Wilhelmina Ostrowski (Joe Adamczyk).  He will be greatly missed by his nieces and nephews Linda Flahive (James), Robert Pianowski, Catherine Fountain (Timothy),  John “Jack” Bisikirski (Pam), Teresa Schultz (Rick), David Ostrowski (Christy-Marie), and Michael Ostrowski (Allison), Ginger’s son Steve Lawlor and many great-nieces, great-nephews and friends.  In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law Richard and Eleanor Pianowski and his sister and brother-in-law  Phyllis and John Bisikirski, his brother-in-law Larry Ostrowski, his niece Caren Bisikirski and nephew Steven Pianowski.  Special thanks to Frank’s niece Cathy Fountain and her husband Tim for all their help.

Rights of Committal with Military Honors will be Friday, January 13, 2023 at 3:00 PM at the Mass. Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. In lieu of flowers, donations in Frank’s memory may be made to Christ the King Parish, 41 Warsaw Ave., Ludlow, MA 01056 or The First Tee, 1300 Sawgrass Village Circle, Bldg 4, Ponte Verde, FL 32083 or https://firsttee.org or Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104 or https://shrinerschildrens.org.