P.O.Box 168, Lake Wales, FL 33859-0168 | email: clerk@highlandpark-fl.org | call: (863) 455-6518
Community News
Remembering Frank Kanzinger
Resident and former Mayor, Blair Updike, shared information recently in the Highland Park Association Group on Facebook about longtime resident, Mr. Frank Kanzinger. The writeup comes from the school where he worked for many years. During his time in Highland Park, Mr. Frank Kanzinger and his wife, Kim, oversaw the Highland Park Association. When the HPA dissolved, they contributed approximately $12,000 to the Village of Highland Park Beautification Fund. Beyond the generous donation, it is the generosity of spirit that Frank will most be remembered.
I am saddened to share that this past weekend saw the passing of Frank Kanzinger.
Franklin William Kanzinger age 74, beloved husband of Kim (nee Ingersoll); loving father of Bill ‘88 (Cheryl), and Greg ‘90 (Jean); devoted grandfather of Ellen, Megan, Eric, Ginny, and Marie. As a physical education teacher at University School for almost forty years, Frank coached middle school and varsity soccer, swimming, and track.
Born in Bangor, Maine, Frank grew up in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, the fifth of seven children and worked as a child and young man in the family newspaper delivery business. In his youth, he played soccer and put on water ski shows on the Schuylkill River. He graduated from Harriton High School in 1966, then played Division I soccer at Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business.
He followed his father-in-law, Jack Ingersoll ‘36, into teaching at US, where he later taught physical education with his son Bill. In 1975, Frank earned a master’s degree in physical education from Kent State University. He was responsible for bringing movement exploration into the US physical education curriculum. As he progressed through his graduate courses, he enjoyed sharing what he learned with colleagues. In the 1990s, he researched the fundamental skills of throwing, catching, and kicking and wrote a booklet for parents related to coaching their own children. In his tenure as a coach, Frank’s soccer teams had only one losing season.
A 1996 recipient of the Alumni Faculty Fellowship, Frank was a gifted athlete and creative educator. He was an avid student of history and, in particular, loved to learn about Abraham Lincoln. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge of our sixteenth president with primary students. His lunch students looked forward to his engaging “Questions of the day.” In order to teach the boys about scale and “what a million looked like,” he held a million-penny drive. Those funds were then applied to a scholarship. He also hosted the sixth-grade end-of-year party at his home for many years.
Frank volunteered at the Chagrin Falls Historical Society conducting historic tours of Chagrin where he and his wife Kim are head of the garden committee. He also participated in their ‘Spirits Alive’ program at the Evergreen Hills Cemetery where patrons learned about local historical figures.
Frank’s enthusiasm for teaching was contagious and he enjoyed working with boys of all ages. All of us at US will miss him dearly.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Frank’s name may be made to University School at www.us.edu/memorialgiving or 2785 SOM Center Road, Hunting Valley 44022.
© 2011 Village of Highland Park. Revised 2023.
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The Village of Highland Park is looking forward to a new year filled with new opportunities to visit with neighbors and friends here in our little corner of the world. Already, improvements and new projects are underway. On January 2, 2024, a new park bench was dedicated in memory of Frank Kanzinger. Our City Manager, Ric Busbee, honored Frank's memory in the presence of his family and friends. Highland Park was truly blessed by Frank's spirit and energy.
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