Jack Frank

John Henry “Jack” Frank passed away in his sleep April 7, 2026, at home in Harbor Springs, Michigan.

Jack was born March 26, 1939, to Joseph Charles and Faye Catherine (Myles) Frank. He grew up in Midland, Michigan where he mowed down his parents’ rhubarb plants and played football for the eventual 1957 State Champion Midland Chemics. When that football season was over, he followed a girl to Snowsnake Mountain and found his favorite sport! His love of skiing grew while he played football for the Wyoming Cowboys out west.

After college he returned to Michigan and eventually became a ski instructor at the Otsego Club in Gaylord, Michigan. There he passed on his love of skiing to others and met Barbara “Bonnie” Dana Shaw. They were married November 25, 1967, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. They lived there for several years and had three children to whom they purposely gave non-nicknamable names: Dana, Brian, and Toby.

In 1976 the Frank family moved “Up North” to Petoskey, Michigan, to be much closer to the slopes. Jack worked many years at Petoskey Plastics, but spent as much time as possible at Nub’s Nob Ski Area. He continued to instruct, but found his true passion with mentoring and coaching young racers. He helped start and later ran the Northern Michigan Ski Academy which continues today through the Nub’s Nob Winter Sports School. At a request from his neighbors, he also organized and coached the Petoskey Middle School Ski Team for many years. Jack purchased the Brown Jugs that are still awarded at the last race of the season.

For almost 60 years Jack taught and coached skiing, passing on his love of the sport to thousands of people. Although he would have preferred his work to go unnoticed, it wasn’t. Jack was the first recipient of the Jack Frank Award given to community members who have made an outstanding contribution to amateur skiing. He was picked as one of Ski Magazine’s Top 100 Ski Instructors in 2001. The Nub’s Nob ski hill Outback Jack on Pintail Peak was named in his honor for his work with Northern Michigan youth. Jack was humbly inducted into the Petoskey High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024 with former student Jennifer Crockett. Together they were “the heart of the hills.”

Besides skiing and football Jack kept busy with other sports: biking, racquetball, kayaking, golf, paddle, and more. During the late 70’s he and some other dads bought a soccer rule book and started coaching kids. Jack felt that was the best way to get kids in shape for skiing. He was a devoted fan of the Petoskey Northmen boys and girls soccer teams. He was their scorekeeper for many years and was dubbed “The Assistant Athletic Director in Charge of Soccer” by AD Gary Hice.

Jack is survived by his wife and their three children. He also leaves behind his twin sister Barbara Frank; sisters-in-law Nancy deFries, Patty Shaw, and Karen Shaw; brothers-in-law Ross deFries and Ted Shaw; nieces Liz, Lisa, Cathy, Betsy, and Bazel; nephews Paul, Doug, Will, and Eddie; granddog Gus; and so many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Charles Frank and sister-in-law Etta Frank, brother-in-law Edmund Sutherland, sister-in-law Susan Sutherland, and his in-laws Howard and Elizabeth Shaw. The family would like to thank Hospice of Northern Michigan for helping with Jack’s last days.

A gathering will be held April 25 from 4 to 6 pm at Nub’s Nob Ski Area where family and friends can share some great stories and eat some of Jack’s favorite food.

Jack’s family suggests memorials to Hospice of Northern Michigan or the Scott’s Skiers Memorial Fund through Nub’s Nob Ski Area.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.