Frank Joseph Kucinich, Jr.

Frank Kucinich Jr., a Marine Corps veteran and brother of Congressman Dennis Kucinich, died June 30, 2009, at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky, Ohio, at the age of 60.

The congressman once explained that Frank became a resident of the veterans home because of the lingering trauma of his combat experiences in Vietnam.

Following his military service, Frank, who attained the rank of lance corporal, remained connected to his fellow Marines and wartime veterans by assisting with activities of many Northeast Ohio veterans organizations.

According to an article on Congressman Kucinich’s website - http://kucinich.house.gov – Frank "made many friends and inspired those with whom he served. He was recently nominated to the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame."

Better yet was his encounter with President Barack Obama when he accompanied his brother to the Congressional luau on the White House grounds five days before his death.

"Thank you for serving," Obama said to Frank. "I'm proud of you."

Frank later told his brother that it was one of the proudest moments of his life.

Dennis Kucinich is quoted in his website article as saying, "He had a great love of country, which informed every moment of his life. His patriotism was an inspiration to everyone in our family and to everyone he met."

Frank, one of seven siblings who grew up in working-class community in Cleveland, also attended President Obama's Inauguration with his brother in January 2009.

He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America.

Frank is survived by four siblings: Dennis, Gary, Theresa and Larry. His brother Perry died in December 2007 and his sister Beth Ann died in November 2008.

The Kucinich family will receive friends at the Golubski Funeral Home, East 65th and Fullerton Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, on Sunday, July 5, 2009, from 4-9 p.m.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2009, at the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus, East 65th and Forman Avenue, Cleveland.

Interment with military honors will take place at Calvary Cemetery, 10000 Miles Ave., Cleveland.

The family requests that memorial gifts be made to Vietnam Veterans of Greater Cleveland Chapter 15, c/o PLAV Post 30, 1041 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113.

This obituary originally was posted on ObitsOhio.com on July 1, 2009.

Sources

• Baranick, Alana. "Frank Kucinich Jr., 60, Marine Corps vet, congressman's brother." Obits Ohio, published 6 April 2010. < http://obitsohio.blogspot.com/2010/04/frank-kucinich-jr-60-marine-c... > Accessed 30 September 2016.
• "Dennis Kucinich." Wikipedia. < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Kucinich > Accessed 30 September 2016.
• Follers. "Dennis Kucinich." Ethnicelebs, published 9 September 2016. < http://ethnicelebs.com/dennis-kucinich > Accessed 30 September 2016.
• "Kucinich, Dennis." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. < http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=k000336 > Accessed 30 September 2016.
• Patton, Susan. "Beth Ann Kucinich, 48, musician, artist, sister of Congressman Dennis Kucinich." Cleveland Plain Dealer, published 11 November 2008. < http://www.cleveland.com/obituaries/index.ssf/2008/11/beth_ann_kuci... > Accessed 30 September 2016.