Frank Speziale

Frank Speziale, 89, well-known photographer, peacefully passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, August 24, 2025.

Frank was born a son of the late Angelo and Domenica (Berte) Speziale on July 26, 1936 in Canneto- Lipari, Province of Messina, Sicily, Italy. Almost 20 years after his birth, Frank decided to immigrate to the United States. Booked to sail on the Andrea Doria in July 1956, he, instead, found passage on the SS Cristoforo Colombo, the former liner’s sister ship, in May out of Naples. Fortunately for Frank he made that switch, because the Andrea Doria sank off the southern coast of Nantucket Island on July 25, after colliding with the Swedish ship MS Stockholm. After disembarking in New York City, he traveled to Norwich where he was initially employed by Norwich Knitting Mills and Norwich Shoe Company before pursuing a 20-plus-year career with the Norwich Pharmacal Company. It was there at the Pharmacy where he first got introduced to photography.

While at the Norwich Pharmacal Company, Frank met a photographer who was selling all of his equipment. That transaction, which occurred sometime in the early 1960s, resulted in his first camera – a Graflex 45 speed graphic 4 x 5 large format unit. A few years later Frank would begin his long and outstanding career at The Evening Sun, where he was proudly employed for 56 years. Frank’s vast career included him covering the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Cooperstown for 17 years and the 1988 Tour de France in Paris.

Frank enjoyed proclaiming his noted resume, including notable images of Mikhail Gorbachev, former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and President of the Soviet Union, at Colgate University in April 1997; former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, at the Canasawacta Country Club in August 2002; Pope Francis in Philadelphia in September 2015; both George H.W. and George W. Bush in Cooperstown following their presidential terms in office; William Shatner, American actor; and several baseball athletes, including Yogi Berra, Ralph Kiner, and Cal Ripken to name a few. His work has been published in several Sports Illustrated magazines.

Countless wedding photos, and legal and commercial portraits have been captured by Frank during his lifetime. Frank also flew a Cessna 150 plane, took great pride in his gardens (especially his tomatoes, basil, and garlic which he shared with everyone),loved traveling to Europe, enjoyed scuba diving, and relished making wine from the grapes which flourished behind his Clinton Street home. Frank was always visible in the community riding his Vino to and from local sporting events. He enjoyed writing songs and playing guitar. More recently, his song “Filicudi” was submitted to the Library of Congress for copyright. For several years, he hosted “Chico and his guitar” - a radio talk show on WCHN in Norwich. In 2023, Frank was unanimously inducted into the Norwich High School Sports Hall of Fame for his dedication to photographing local sporting events. He was also honored as Grand Marshall of the “Parade of Lights” holiday parade and by dedication of the Basketball Boosters program.

Frank was a devout Catholic and was a member of St. Bartholomew’s Church in Norwich.

On June 7, 1969 in Norwich, Frank married Patricia Nichols, who survives. He is also survived by his children, Mark (Susan) Speziale, Cristina Green (Jeffrey Sneden), Angela M. Speziale, Domenica “Mica” (Brett) Holleran, and Francesco Speziale; grandchildren, Amanda (Jorge), Michael (Michelle), Thomas (Kirstin), Alicia, Angela, Alexandria (John Paul), Arianna, Brett, Bella “scaramouche,”and Emily; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Sophia, Noah, Chloe, Christian, and Leonardo; siblings, Tina, Bartolo, and Antonio; and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Frank will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at the Church of St. Bartholomew. Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home on Friday, August 29, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The Rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. prior to the calling hours. Burial will occur at St. Paul’s Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Frank’s memory may be made to St. Bartholomew’s Church, 30 Pleasant Street, Norwich, NY 13815 or to the Bob Simon Fund at Bassett Cancer Institute, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Funeral Home.