On November 2, 2013, retired U of L Geography professor Frank Jankunis passed away peacefully in Helena, Montana.
The University of Lethbridge extends its deepest condolences to Frank's family and friends.
Frank was born in the Lithuanian sector of Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA, in 1935. His early adult life revolved around baseball. During his service in the U.S. Marine Corps, he pitched for a US Navy baseball team that took on Major League Baseball squads. After discharge, he signed a professional contract with the old Milwaukee Braves club. He played triple A ball in northwestern USA, but never saw the big leagues because of injuries.
After baseball, he rode the GI bill to the University of Georgia for his bachelor's degree, then moved to the University of Illinois for his master's and to UCLA for his PhD. His doctoral research took him to the city of Samarkand, USSR, in 1967. Frank was the first American student allowed to study at the University of Samarkand during the Cold War.
During his PhD, he taught at Chico State College until he was disallowed from teaching in California because he led a protest march against the Vietnam war. He emigrated to Canada with his young family in 1969, settling in the village of Nobleford, AB. Frank was one of the first professors in the geography department of the newly established University of Lethbridge.
During his years at the U of L, Frank's research focus was the social geography of the Palliser Triangle. He published extensively during his academic career and was skilled at organizing national and international conferences. He was fluent in Russian, Lithuanian, Spanish, and, as he used to say, 'Canadian'. He was well known around campus for his passion for motorcycling. In his later years, Frank took pride in a campus motorcycle parking area named in his honour. He is also remembered for his founding leadership of the Geography Club, under which there were many legendary trips south of the border. Off campus, he was an accomplished gunsmith who pursued the craft long after his retirement from the University in 1996. He retired to a picturesque ranch in the high desert of Oregon with a river running through it.
Frank had a memorable personality and led a remarkable life. His son, Frank (BMgt '88), daughter Veronica (BA '89), grandson Frank (BA '06) and granddaughter Emilyne (current U of L student) are still asked about him by those remembering the good old days. Frank will be remembered by family, friends, students, and colleagues for his independent spirit, his valuing equally scholarly and experiential learning, and for his penchant for storytelling.