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Writer's pictureRachel Cobb

Betsey Marek Frankel 1921-2024



Betsey Marek Frankel, a long-time member of the Balboa Park Committee of 100, died peacefully on June 30, 2024, with her three children and their spouses by her side.


Mrs. Frankel was born Dec, 1921 in Pontiac, Michigan. She briefly attended Michigan State prior to dropping out for financial reasons during the Great Depression.


She worked at Fisher Auto Body during World War II, while taking private flight lessons and soloed in a single engine tail dragger.


After she moved to California,  she met her future husband of over 50 years, Ensign Donald D. Frankel, USN, at the MCRD Officers’ Club. After a very brief engagement, the couple was married at the Base Chapel on Ford Island in Honolulu, Hawaii.


The couple subsequently moved to their newly built home in El Cajon, where they raised their family and lived the rest of their lives.


With Don, Mrs. Franckel traveled the world, enjoyed local music and theater venues, including the San Diego Opera; the Old Globe Theatre, and volunteered for many local activities and groups, including C100 and its board. In her more than 25 years with C100, she was recording and correspondence secretary, cake chair and member of the membership committee and contributed generously to the organization.


In later years, Mrs. Frankel enjoyed Wine Talk Fridays with local neighbors, during which they tried to solve the many problems of the world with engaging conversation.


Mrs. Frankel was preceded in death by her husband and her two sisters (Helen and Gerry) and is survived by her children, William, Robert (spouse Mary), and Susan (spouse Tracy); four grandchildren (Chelsea, Justin, Katelyn and Jillian); and one great-grandchild (Nora).

In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Frankel’s children request that a donation be made to C100, 1649 El Prado, Suite 2, San Diego CA 92101.


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