Dr. Franck taught ‘us what it means to be truly human'

To the editor A giant has passed from our midst. However, the world will take little note of his passing because he was superbly modest about his accomplishments. But I will miss him greatly, because for more than two decades he was my friend, mentor, inspiration and colleague. He was Dr. Frederick Franck, who died recently just a couple of years short of the century mark. I call him a giant because of the huge legacy he has left us. Author of three dozen books, artist whose art hangs in a score of museums around the world, philosopher par excellence, friend to three great human beings: Pope John XXIII, D.T. Suzuki, who brought Zen to the Western world, and Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the famed philosopher, humanitarian and doctor in whose clinic in Africa Dr. Franck served as a dentist for three years. He wrote “The Death and Life of Everyone,” a modern version of a morality play from the 16th Century, an inspiring drama which a colleague and I presented to audiences in this area for several years. He also created Pacem in Terris, which he called “an oasis of inwardness,” a “trans-religious sanctuary,” several acres of space filled with his sculptures of wood, steel and stone, and home to the Francks. The centerpiece of Pacem in Terris is the auditorium created from an old grist mill where summer concerts of great music nourish the souls of those fortunate enough to attend. We were fortunate to have had Dr. Franck in Fort Wayne on two occasions for his Zen of Seeing/Drawing workshops and his lectures on the importance of being human. This was his overwhelming passion - our call to be human and to reject everything that is sub-human or anti-human. In this he followed the resounding affirmation of Dr. Schweitzer, who proclaimed reverence for all life, plant, animal, human. He never let us forget that each one of us is called to be completely and totally human. His obsession with this idea of being human was born in him at an early age. Born in a village on the border of Holland and Belgium, at five years of age he saw the next town going up in flames, he heard the booming of the cannons of the invading armies, and he saw the endless procession of refugees fleeing the war, old people, mothers with small children, carrying their few possessions as they fled the horrors of war, and his sudden realization that all of these were human beings. Dr. Franck’s life was built on the premise that every person is uniquely human without exception. Many times in his conversations you heard him talk about being in touch with that which matters. He had no time for the trivial, but he was absolutely consumed with things which really mattered. Little wonder, then, that he has left so rich a legacy of his paintings, books and sculptures, all of which emphasize our basic humanity, the great web of life in which all of us are enmeshed. Dr. Franck, we salute you for your insight, your courage, your creativity and most of all, for your teaching us what it means to be truly human. Dean L. Frantz New Haven, IN