LEWISTON — Francis J. “Tiger” Soychak passed into the loving arms of our Lord Friday morning, Jan. 27, at Central Maine Medical Center, after a brief battle with cancer.
Frank “Tiger” was born in Lisbon Falls on Aug. 15, 1934, a son of the late John and Mary (Pavelko) Soychak. Francis (Frank) earned the nickname “Tiger” as a child due to his remarkable speed which he utilized throughout his life with his passion for athletics.
Frank graduated from Lisbon Falls High School in 1952. He went on to receive a BSEE from the University of Maine in 1956. He then received his PhD in physiology and biophysics from the University of Vermont in 1971 as well as a post-doctoral fellowship from UVM in 1973. He completed his post-doctoral associate work in 1989.
Frank was trained in basic and advanced training in the U.S. Army. He was pulled out of the deployment line to apply his extraordinary knowledge to necessary military projects. He served seven years in the reserve. He continued to work for IBM for the majority of his professional journey as an electrical engineer in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Burlington, Vt. He also spent part of his career working at the University of Vermont Medical School.
Some major accomplishments of his career were his assistance in the creation of the first heart bypass machine in the 1960s and the development of the cochlear hearing implant and he was one of the original computer circuit designers for IBM. He held responsibility for two registered patents and at least 46 patent publications.
His love of sports was also a shining light around him his whole life. “Tiger” played multiple sports throughout high school: football, baseball, basketball and cross-country. He went on to play college baseball for the University of Maine. He then pursued onward to play semi-pro baseball for the National Giants team, training in Florida. He was also a frontrunner in the New York-New Jersey Baseball League in 1959 where for Arlington he hit two homers that landed in the Housatonic River, which bounds on the outfield of the Canaan diamond in Connecticut. He was called a sparkplug and a hustler. As time went on, he fulfilled his athletic passions by umpiring baseball, officiating basketball and refereeing hockey. At one time he was the Vermont hockey commissioner. He continued as a baseball umpire until the last year of his life.
Frank was a dedicated Catholic and was proud of his Slovak heritage. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, birds, playing Sudoku and going on adventures with his family. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Chapter 10019.
Frank married his loving wife, Alice Faucher, in 2006 and they loved to travel. They went on pilgrimage tours to Italy, Greece, Canada, Germany, Czech Republic and Poland. They also visited Hawaii, New Mexico and Ireland.
Frank is survived by his wife, Alice Faucher; his four children, Edward Soychak and his wife, Christine, Theresa (Terry) Payea, Beverly Soychak, and Paul Soychak and their mother, Patricia Soychak; his stepchildren, John Faucher and his wife, Terry, Peter Faucher and his wife, Kerrie, and Daniel Faucher and his wife, Cindy. He is also survived by his loving sister, Bernadette (Benna) Stewart; his grandchildren, Joseph Payea, Christian Soychak, Alexis Soychak; his step-grandchildren, T.J., Pam, Mason, Alexis (Faucher), Daniel, Kayla and Lacy; his step-great-grandchildren, Evan, Emma, Noah and Nathan; as well as many loving nieces and nephews across the country.
Frank was predeceased by his parents, John and Mary Soychak; his brothers, John, Thomas, Joseph and Anthony; as well as his infant sister, Agnes.
We love you and we will miss you Husband, Dad, Brother, Zedo (Grandpa), Uncle and wonderful friend. “Boh zehnaj, Kym sa znova stretneme!”
Friends and family are invited to share their memories and offer their condolences by visiting Frank’s online guest book at www.thefortingrouplewiston.com.