Obituary of Frank Charles Burkhard Jr.

Frank Charles Burkhard, Jr., 93, passed away peacefully at home Monday, May 5, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Charles, Sr. and Mary Catherine Burkhard and his beloved wife, Mildred "Milly". Also preceding him were his brother-in-law Frederick Lee and nephew Thomas Lee. Frank is survived by his son, James Frank Burkhard (Kimberly), and grandchildren Frank, Greta, Agatha, and Beatrice. He is also survived by his sister Dorothy and her children, Karen (Dennis), Kathy, Jacqueline (James), Nancy (Fred), and Frederick (Sandra), and their children and grandchildren.

Frank was born in Queens in 1932. He spent his early years there and in Nassau County, Long Island, attending Chaminade High School in Mineola, where he was the valedictorian of his 1950 class. Following high school, he attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. His studies were interrupted for two-years of active duty in the U.S. Army from 1954-56. Following that, he completed his degree, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1957.

In his early professional life, Frank was employed as a chemical engineer for several chemical plant construction firms in New York City, including Chemico Chemical Construction Corporation and Hoechst Uhde. During this time, he traveled extensively for his work visiting many countries in Europe and Asia, enjoying their culture, and forging deep friendships.

In 1965, Frank married Milly, and his son James was born the following year. He took a new job with Allied Chemical and the family moved to Lake Intervale, in Parsippany, NJ the following year. He was to spend nearly five decades at that home. His job with Allied Chemical's Selexol Division was the one in his life he most enjoyed. Even in later years, he remained proud of his work there and spoke very highly of his Selexol colleagues and friends. In the early 1980s, Allied sold his division to a company out of state and he switched jobs in order for him and his family to remain at the home they loved. He closed his career with Foster Wheeler, retiring around 2000, the year his dear wife Milly passed away.

In retirement, he spent time visiting friends, traveling to car club events with his son, and spending most holidays with Jim, his wife Kimberly, and the grandchildren near Rochester, NY. When Frank was 86, he relocated to be near them. In Rochester, he was merely a short walk from his four grandchildren, whom he enjoyed regular visits from, always carefully preparing a plate of treats for each beforehand. They enjoyed together "both" kinds of television: 1960s Star Trek and old musicals.

He was unashamedly proud to be an engineer. Although his degree was in Chemical Engineering, in truth he was multidisciplinary, being very capable in mechanical and electrical matters as well. There was hardly a car or appliance of any sort which Frank couldn't patch up and keep going another few years. His love of reading technical journals and car magazines of every sort was intense and his library of back issues was legendary within the family.

Frank was particularly fond of the Chevrolet Corvair, owning only Corvairs (usually four at a time) long after the car was out of production. He was an early member of the Corvair Society of America and the New Jersey Association of Corvair Enthusiasts, where for some years, he had been club secretary and newsletter editor. He had many friends among their members over the 50+ years of his involvement. Together with his son, they attended many gatherings and events, sometimes traveling great distances in a very old car with no air conditioning.

For many years, Frank was a generous supporter of Chaminade High School. As an eighth grader, all the Catholic school boys in his area of Long Island were encouraged to take the placement test for Chaminade. The school was more expensive than his family could afford, but because he achieved the highest score among all applicants that year, Chaminade generously granted him a full four-year merit scholarship. He remained eternally grateful to them for the opportunities this provided him and how the religious and academic education he received from the Marianists there impacted his life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the in his memory:  https://www.chaminade-hs.org/online-giving/ or via check to Chaminade Development Fund at Chaminade High School Office of Advancement, 340 Jackson Avenue, Mineola, NY 11501. Phone (516) 742-5555 ext. 483.

His family will receive friends Thursday, May 15, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Dangler Lewis & Carey Funeral Home in Boonton. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Friday, May 16 at 10 a.m. at St. Christopher's R.C. Church in Parsippany. Interment immediately following at Greenwood Cemetery, Boonton.