Senate Resolution No. 369

BY: Senator AKSHAR

MOURNING the death of Frank S. Lopke, astute
businessman, family man and devoted member of his
community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the Empire State whose lifework and civic endeavor served to
enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great State of
New York; and

WHEREAS, A life-long resident of Apalachin, New York, Frank S. Lopke
died on Friday, January 29, 2021, at the age of 84; and

WHEREAS, Frank S. Lopke was born on May 13, 1936, to Frank Sr. and
Mary Lopke, on their second-generation family farm; as a young man, he
became interested in machinery and cars and could often be found in his
number 44 automobile at Glen Aubrey, Shangri La, and Five Mile Point
Speedway, where he will always be remembered as a pioneer and a great
competitor; and

WHEREAS, After purchasing his first dump truck, Frank S. Lopke
discovered his entrepreneurial spirit and started on a path of many
successful business ventures with his wife Barbara, with whom he had
four lovely daughters; and

WHEREAS, With a strong work ethic, Frank S. Lopke toiled many long
hours to provide for his family; through the years, he purchased other
trucks and formed his first company, F.S. Lopke Contracting Inc. was
started; currently, with over a 50-truck fleet, distinctively colored
green with the slogan "We Rock The Southern Tier," his company proudly
serves customers across the area; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, Frank S. Lopke continued to build his
empire when he started a rock and aggregate business at his first plant
in Lounsberry, New York, and later, several locations in Broome and
Tioga Counties; he formed Lopke Quarries Inc., which today, consists of
14 plant operations which crush up and down the East Coast and in 10
states; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1990s, Frank S. Lopke acquired a location in
Birchardville, Pennsylvania, which was the first site where stone was
blasted, allowing the expansion of product types; at the end of the
decade, he once again expanded his thriving business by purchasing a
plant in Las Vegas, Nevada, which became Lopke Granite Products; and

WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Frank S. Lopke, and with
the assistance of over 200 dedicated employees, the business became one
of the top sand and gravel producing companies in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Frank S. Lopke was a well-respected member of numerous
industry organizations, and took great pride in knowing his stone
products were part of many major construction, blacktop, and concrete
projects in the area; and

WHEREAS, Frank S. Lopke truly enjoyed working, and remained involved
with daily business activities until 10 days before his passing; leaving
behind a company only he could have built, his influence will be
long-lasting, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of the Lopke
Companies; and

WHEREAS, When he was not working, Frank S. Lopke enjoyed listening
to polka music and spending time with his cherished family, whether it
was a picnic on the fourth-generation farm, or a road trip with his
atlas in hand; and

WHEREAS, Predeceased by his parents, his parents-in-law, Donald and
Estella Watkins, brother in-law Raymond Watkins, and dear friend Paul
Laszko, Frank S. Lopke is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara;
four daughters, Judith (Christopher), Anne (Michael), Mary Ann (Steve),
and Betsi (Woody); nine grandchildren, Jessica (Joseph), Kaitlin (Mark),
Katherine (Nicholas), Ryan (Stacey), Cody (Gina), Amanda (Phillip),
Nicholas (Kendal), Stanley (Karlie), and Madlyn (Paulie); and 13
great-grandchildren, Lily, Lia, Nora, Luna, Hudson, Hayden, Natalee,
Makenna, Steven, Estella, Tobin, Macy, and Sawyer, as well as numerous
colleagues and friends; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Frank S. Lopke leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Frank S. Lopke, astute businessman, family man and
devoted member of his community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Frank S. Lopke.