Frank Bennett

Frank Gerald Bennett (“Frankie B”), of Palos Park, Illinois, was greeted on August 14, 2023 with heavenly hugs by his mother (Alice Bennett) and father (Frank Bennett).  On March 17, 1979, he married Sandra Mikolajczak, the woman of his dreams, which meant some light sacrificing of 16-inch softball and victory E&J brandy at his favorite Southside watering holes.  These adjustments were well worth it and theirs was a love for the ages, which produced his adoring daughters, Brooke Schmit (Matthew) and Erin.  He was an amazingly devoted and loving dad, who somehow pioneered a way to stay true to his beloved Chicago White Sox and spend time with Brooke and Erin - even if this meant leaving them in the trusted care of a Comiskey Park hot dog vendor or organist Nancy Faust while he used the Men’s room.  For these amazing baseball memories (and all the other memories created along the way), his daughters will be eternally grateful. 

Although born on the Southside of Chicago in 1949, Frankie B. was a lifelong fan of the New York Football Giants.  While other Chicagoans were perfecting the Super Bowl Shuffle, Frankie B. was meticulously placing New York Giants bumper stickers on the back of the Bennett family station wagon and making sure nobody keyed their car in the Rainbow Cone parking lot as a result.  After the Giants’ 2008 and 2012 Super Bowl wins, his catchphrase became “Just make sure you don’t let us into the playoffs.”  For those who had the privilege of knowing him, you can still hear his cackle after uttering those words. 

Three blessed grandchildren (Bennett, Aidan, and Montgomery) had the absolute joy of claiming Frankie B. as their grandpa. Their life with him was filled with baseball pitches in the backyard, endless teasing about their allegiance to the Chicago Bears, and homemade snack mixes comprised of goldfish crackers, M&M’s, and Goetze’s caramel cremes (he never understood why Costco didn’t want to patent his creation).  He only minded a little bit after the grandkids would kick over his 32 oz. Styrofoam cup of iced tea for the 100th time while climbing into his lap to pull on his mustache. Their adoration for him was unparalleled, and they’ll always remember the many “hockey fights” where he’d pull their little t-shirts over their heads while they screamed in feigned terror.   

Frankie B. leaves behind not only his immediate family, but also an army of friends and extended family who meant the world to him. His love of life was immeasurable and his positive attitude in the face of true adversity was remarkable.  We’re confident he’s up in heaven singing the Leo Catholic High School fight song and getting an eagle on each hole he plays . . . at least when he’s not chasing down all the heavenly Cubs fans to remind them of what happened in October 2003.

Although he made his way to heaven after a short battle with a rare and devastating condition called prion disease, he met many superheroes during his fight.  This included nurses who cared for him like he was family, and an amazing neurologist who is furiously working to find treatments for prion disease and other incurable neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.  As much as Frankie B. loved his time on earth, if he knew his story could change the future for others, he’d want his last chapter to stay the same.  In lieu of flowers, please help keep his story alive and change the future for those facing uncurable neurodegenerative diseases by donating to the research efforts of Dr. James Mastrianni (MD, PhD) at the University of Chicago.  Checks may be made payable to the “University of Chicago Medicine” and sent to the following address: University of Chicago Gift Administration, Frank Bennett Memorial, 5235 S. Harper Court, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60615. Or, you can donate online at: http://giving.uchicago.edu/goto/Frank-Bennett-Memorial.   

Thanks to all of you for keeping Frankie B. in your memories and our family in your hearts. A celebration in his remembrance will be held on September 8, 2023, from 4-8 p.m. at the following location:

Orland Park Civic Center

14750 South Ravinia Avenue

Orland Park, Illinois 60462