Frank Norris' Obituary
Frank was born in Copenhagen, Denmark to his mother Edna Eriksen (originally from Jutland, Denmark) and father (Hans) Elis Tromholt. He was named after the author Frank Norris. He had an older sister Elsa and a much younger sister Elizabeth. During World War II, when Frank was a small boy, his father was hired by Shell Oil and moved to Venezuela. A year later he sent for his wife Edna, and Elsa and Frank. His mother later told stories about her long journey by ship to South America, with two small children and herself still in her teens. When they arrived the family joined Elis who was living in an expat community in the tropics of Maracaibo. It was a good life, for all of them, dancing in the evening to live bands for the adults, and plenty of playmates for the kids.
After several years in Venezuela, they immigrated to the US via Ellis Island, and made their home in New York, both Queens and Manhattan. When Frank started classes in the public school, he spoke Danish and Spanish, but had to learn English. He remembers when he first enrolled and the teacher asked him to stand on a chair to model his unusual clothes - a formal suit and pants. As kids do, he soon adapted. He loved playing stickball in the streets, or sitting on the stoop surrounded by the sound of many languages and smells of cooking from different parts of the world.
Just before Frank started high school, the family moved to Monrovia, in Southern California and his younger sister Elizabeth was born. Eager to be on his own, Frank left high school before graduating and joined the army. The day he was to be shipped to Korea, the war ended, and he was sent to Juneau Alaska instead. While there, he lived it up on his leave days, wrote his mother many letters, and received a medal for finding a lost soldier in the wilderness.
After his discharge, he joined a motorcycle club, went on rides and hung out with his buddies. After a couple of years he met Susan Siemon, who was working at her father's bakery. They married when he was 23 had within a few years had two daughters, Jennifer and Lisa. He supported the family by working at 3M, initially as a chemical lab assistant, and later in marketing and sales, where he was a natural. His territory was Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada and he enjoyed spending a lot of his time driving his territory and meeting with clients. As years went by, he switched companies several times, and moved the family to Woodacre, in northern California, and then to Lake Oswego in Oregon, and then back to Redwood City in northern California.
After their daughter Jennifer finished high school, Frank and Susan sold their home and possessions and with Lisa moved aboard The Stargazer, a 34' sailboat. They docked at Pete's Harbor in Redwood City. The plan was to set sail for the Caribbean and island hop for the next decade. Soon, Lisa decided to leave the boat and moved in with a friend's family. When Frank and Susan did set sail, the harrowing seas around Point Conception (near Big Sur) were more than he bargained for, so when they reached Oxnard, in southern California, they decided to dock permanently and became "live aboards". Frank and Susan divorced five years later. He continued to work in Sales and Marketing, and then eventually switched to selling boats at Admiralty Yacht Sales. Here he met his second wife, Ginger McAfee, who after a few years, brought him to Maui.
Although he and Ginger eventually divorced, he fell in love with Maui and continued living here on the West side for 30 years, until the rest of his life. When asked what he liked most about the island Frank said loved the natural beauty of the island and even more, the generous nature of the people. He worked in maintenance at Noelani and cleaned houses, including those of well known wealthy residents like Mick Fleetwood and others. He felt comfortable and easy with people in all walks of life, with his welcoming spirit and unique humor.. He made many friends at The Sands of Kahana and Dollies, and was ohana for decades with residents at Honokowai East. His greatest pleasure was sunset cruises with Patrick and other good friends.
In August 2021 Frank died of kidney failure in his Honokowai home, with his daughters Lisa and Jennifer by his side. He is deeply missed by his long-time friends and caring neighbors and his family. He is survived by his sister Liz, wife Susan, grandchildren Jasmine and Jacob, great granddaughter Sophia, nephews Frank, Zach, Gary, Norman and Jason, and niece Kirsten. He is preceded by his parents Edna and Elis, sister Elsa, wife Ginger and nephew Jeff.
Services will be on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Maui Veterans Cemetery located in Makawao, Maui, Hawaii. All are welcome to attend. Aloha Frank
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