TAMPA – Stacy Frank, a political activist very much involved in Hillsborough County politics, recently died from lung cancer at age 61 in June.
The daughter of the long-serving Hillsborough Clerk of the Circuit Court Pat Frank and the late Richard “Dick” Frank, she was an attorney business owner.
She was born Oct. 8, 1954, in Washington, D.C., the oldest of three daughters. She grew up on Davis Islands.
In her life, she helped assist in her mother’s campaigns for the clerk of courts, for which she is seeking a fourth term. In work, after many years as an attorney, Frank was president and CEO of Collier Enterprises II at the time of her death. The company negotiated leases for and constructed cellular towers.
In 2010 she ran for state representative in House District 57 for a seat vacated by then-representative Faye Culp. Frank, however, lost her bid by a vote of 56 percent to 44 percent in the November 2010 election.
Political strategist Ashley Walker is based in Fort Lauderdale. She met Frank in 2009 when Frank decided to run for state representative.
“I got to know her when I was working as a consultant with the Florida Democratic Party, but we soon became friends,” Walker told the Florida Record.
Walker said although they shared a common interest in politics she and Frank became close friends and she often turned to her for life advice.
“Some of my fondest memories of Stacy include talking politics over cocktails, eating fried chicken at the Yacht Club (one of her favorite and more frequented restaurants) and fishing and boating in Anna Maria," she said.
Walker said Frank always had a positive attitude and was always looking to share and afternoon or catch up over a glass of wine or a martini.
“I will miss those afternoons,” Walker said.
She said Frank was like a big sister to her as well as a professional mentor.
“She was a successful businesswoman and I had a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for her accomplishments,” Walker said.
She often turned to Frank for advice on major career advice, not because she would tell her what to do, but because Frank would help her walk through the thought process of those major decisions.
“Most importantly, Stacy was a dear friend who was passionate about politics, equality and looking out for those less fortunate. She had a big heart and she valued family, friends and loved ones,” Walker said.
She said she lived life to the fullest and spent time with those that mattered to her.
“And in today’s hustle and bustle lifestyle, everyone can learn a little from her in that respect,” Walker said.