Family Man...celebrating Father's Day

 Ernie Frandsen was born on Easter Sunday in 1930 and spent his early years living in Berkeley. After attending seven schools by seventh grade due to his father's job assignments for a mortuary, the family settled in Healdsburg where his father started his own business and Ernie quickly found work for McGill's Market at the young age of 13.  One of Ernie's favorite memories growing up in Healdsburg was the band concert that was held in the plaza on Saturday nights, after chores were done.  When he was growing up, prunes were a major crop in Healdsburg, and the start of school in the fall was delayed if the harvest was late. 

Ernie's grandparents on both sides of the family were his mentors, supplying a strong foundation and reliability he knew he could trust.  They also gave him a sense of independence with firmness when needed. He recalled one day when he had to race home from school in the pouring rain to get to work on time.  His grandfather had driven to school so he could give young Ernie a ride home, but Ernie refused so the elder simply followed this miserably drenched youth home (undoubtedly with a smile on his face!)  Grandparents and extended family were included in every holiday.  Their memories are also carefully placed throughout the house, including the artistic metal work of his grandfather, a blacksmith who immigrated from Denmark.

From the minute I met this inviting man, I knew why a mutual friend, Evelyn, recommended Ernie Frandsen as an interview candidate for my June (Father's Day) column.  Ernie and his wife Marilyn must have been quite a team.  These Healdsburg High sweethearts married after high school and Ernie leased and operated his own small grocery store in Healdsburg before they started their family of four daughters in their early 20s.  Ernie spent 9 years working at this "Night and Sunday" store on highway 101 (i.e. he worked days, nights, and Sundays/holidays!) that stayed open until 9 PM daily at a time when other stores closed at 6 and on Sundays.  Ernie continued running the store until his mother, who had MS, became very ill and his father asked him to help with his mortuary business in Healdsburg and Cloverdale.  Ernie eventually took over the family business until his retirement in 1997.

Marilyn loved being a mother and kept the home fires burning to balance their work/family partnership: cooking, baking and sewing most of the girls' clothing.  After the children had left home, Ernie recalled going out to dinner with Marilyn and being disappointed in the food (so you know she was a good cook)! Even though he worked "all the time," family came first.   Ernie came home after work at bedtime in those early years and always tucked the girls in.  They now fondly remind him that he tucked the sheets a bit too tight!  The family's annual vacations were special times together.  Gualala or camping in Van Damme State Park were two popular treks. They also made monthly trips to Santa Rosa to shop and to San Francisco a few times per year. 

The delight Ernie Frandsen feels about family is visually displayed in photographs and mementos throughout his Cloverdale home, and in his detailed descriptions of his four daughters, ten grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.  Raising four girls was "fun," according to Ernie; the Frandsen's provided their children with various opportunities from music to 4H and animals to raise on their 5 acre parcel.  After Marilyn's death in 1999, Ernie moved from Healdsburg to a smaller house they owned in Cloverdale.  He also still owns a home in Fort Bragg on the coast that he tries to visit with one of his daughters monthly.

Not one to show favoritism, Ernie described the unique talents of each of his daughters who are each "special in her own way."  Claudia, the oldest, always wanted to be a teacher, and retired from the position of Cloverdale Unified School Superintendent last year. Marjorie is retired from the Sonoma County planning department.  Elaine works for a veterinarian and there's "nothing she can't do."  Rebecca, the youngest, currently teaches pre-kindergarten in Cloverdale.  He's equally enthusiastic about his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his current service work as a member of the Cloverdale Kiwanis Club, with the mission of "Serving the children of the world," reinforces this man's strong commitment to children and helping others.

As a touching example of this father's devotion and family ties, Claudia's first birthday away from family was just last month.  So Dad sent her four cards: the first said "Happy Birthday;" the second, "party;" the third, "flowers;" and the fourth, "cake."  Money was enclosed in each envelope to accompany the sentiment.

Happy Father's Day, Ernie!

P.S. Thanks for the jam!