Stephen Jay Frank, a seasoned American Sign Language interpreter, product developer and “serial inventor,” and founder and owner of the Clear View Innovations company, passed away last Saturday, Nov. 29.
A Northwest Baltimore native and resident of Mount Washington’s Copper Hill neighborhood, he was 64.
At approximately 8 p.m., Baltimore County Police were contacted about an individual pinned under an SUV at Smith Avenue and Penny Lane, near Copper Hill. Officers found an unconscious Frank trapped beneath his own vehicle.
Emergency crews removed Frank and began performing lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“This appears to be an accidental death,” Baltimore County Police said in a statement to WMAR-2 News. “The Baltimore County Police Crash Team responded and will be investigating the circumstances of this incident.”
A 1983 graduate of the University of Oregon, Frank founded Clear View Innovations in 1998.
He also attended the Pushkin State Russian Language Institute in Moscow. From 1989 to 1990, Frank served as the Moscow office director of the American Councils for International Education.
In addition, he served from 2012-2015 as director of the video remote interpreting division at the Hearing and Speech Agency, now known as Gateway Maryland.
In a post on the website of Sol Levinson & Bros., Pikesville resident Larry Hofmeister wrote, “Steve was so warm and friendly when I met him at family events. His love of singing and our conversations over the Russian repertoire. What a great guy. Steve’s work ethic started early at the Beef Inn [a defunct Pikesville eatery] when he would clean the tables. You could only see his hat when he was behind the counter. He will be missed by everyone he touched.”
Frank’s colleague Brigitte Biondo-Smith, who lives in Michigan, posted, “Steve was wonderful to work with when I was a newbie interpreter. Always professional, positive, encouraging and friendly. I learned much from him and have missed working with him in the years since I have left Maryland. May his legacy be all of the ways he helped the interpreter profession and the individuals he served. Much peace to Steve’s family and friends.”
Steve Frank is survived by his wife of 18 years, Jayne Frank (nee Sullivan); his daughter, Florence “Florie” Frank; his brothers, Larry (Lori) Frank and Andy Frank (Mark Benson); and many loving aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents, Paula and Stanley Frank.
Services will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4, at noon at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road in Pikesville. Interment will be at Baltimore Hebrew Cemetery, 318 Berrymans Lane in Reisterstown.
Contributions in Frank’s memory may be sent to the charity of your choice.
The family will be in mourning at the home of Lori and Larry Frank, 8206 Anita Road in Pikesville, immediately following interment until 5:30 p.m., with services on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. Receiving on Friday between 1-4 p.m.
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