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Obituary: Former LPD chief, prominent businessman Frank M. Wasko dies

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Sat, Feb 25th 2017 07:00 am

Frank M. Wasko passed away on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017, at his home in Orlando, at age 86.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Ann Louise (Johnston) Wasko. They were married on Sept. 26, 1970. He is also survived by his children: Marc (Lynette) Wasko of Orlando; Gary (Louise) Wasko of Lewiston; Sharon (Dean) Philips of Hepbizth, Georgia; Janice (Donald) McCombs of California; and by nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Wasko was born Feb. 2, 1931, to parents, Michael and Sophia (Nowak) Wasko. His career started at Moore Business Forms, where he served his apprenticeship and became a journeyman photoengraver.

In 1959, Wasko was appointed to the Lewiston Police Department, where he served until he retired in 1981. He became the Lewiston's first full-time chief of police in 1970. During his career, he wrote a grant that enabled the department to secure a radio system that could communicate with the New York State Police, Niagara County Sheriff's Department and all the police departments in Niagara County. He also wrote grants and received a radar unit and a Breathalyzer. He was certified by the state of New York as a radar instructor and a Breathalyzer operator.

Wasko attended a course on crime prevention in Albany, and secured equipment that residents could use to mark their property at their home. He was a life member of the New York State Chiefs of Police Association.

After retiring from the police department, Wasko went to work as the general manager of McDonald's Frontier House restaurant in Lewiston. In 1984, he was honored as Businessman of the Year.

He served as president of the Lewiston Business and Professional Association from 1984-86. For his efforts working with the Lewiston-Porter School system, the Lewiston-Porter Teachers Association named Wasko the Friend of Education in 1989.

In 1991, Wasko went to work for Burger King restaurants in Niagara Falls and the Buffalo area. He remained there until December 2007. He then retired from working and moved to Orlando in early 2011 to be close to his son, Marc, and family, and enjoy the Florida weather. He enjoyed seeing his granddaughters everyday after school.

A celebration of life in Wasko's honor is being planned for this summer in Lewiston. For more information on the date and time of the celebration of life, email [email protected] and she will update you once plans are made.

Frank M. Wasko 

Frank M. Wasko

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