Frank D. Faga

Frank Dominick Faga, 91, Sarasota, retired General Motors executive and plant manager, died April 20, 2017. Mr. Faga was born on March 3, 1926, in Utica, New York, to Mary Grace (Tomaino) and Anthony Faga, both of whom emigrated from Calabria, Italy. He grew up in Utica among a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins. His father worked for the New York Central Railroad and his mother worked in textiles. At age 16 he graduated with honors from Proctor High School, Class of 1942. He attended General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in Flint, Michigan on a full scholarship. He was drafted and served in the U.S. Army in 1943 where he was a Tech Sergeant at Camp Croft in South Carolina. In 1947, he married his high school sweetheart Beatrice Cavaretta, also of Utica. Frank and Beatrice were active in their Catholic Church communities and Community Chest/United Way. Mr. Faga's career in General Motors took the family to several cities in Michigan and around the country. He spent early years in Flint, Michigan (Fisher Body #1) and Lansing, Michigan (Fisher Body Oldsmobile). He served as Plant Manager at the auto factories in St. Louis, Missouri (Fisher Body Chevrolet), Atlanta, Georgia (Lakewood Assembly), Detroit, Michigan (Fisher Body Fleetwood Cadillac), Pontiac, Michigan (Fisher Body Pontiac), Willow Run, Michigan (GM Willow Run), and Orion, Michigan (GM Lake Orion). Mr. Faga was known for managing high quality plants while maintaining strong shop floor relations. He was honored and very appreciative of the strong support of the United Auto Workers organization. He knew everyone in his plant on a first-name basis, and he even performed an employee's wedding on his shop floor. After retiring from GM in 1990, Mr. Faga briefly consulted with Pina Farina in Turin, Italy. Frank and Beatrice retired to Sarasota in 1990, where they were active members of St. Thomas More Church and the Sarasota Opera Guild. At St. Thomas More, Frank served as chair of the Diocese and Parish funds as well as chair of the building committee for the Chelsea Center, Spirit Center among other parish projects. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and took numerous trips to Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Australia, Alaska, Mexico and the Caribbean. He leaves behind two children Frank (Capri) Faga of Birmingham, Michigan and Barbara Faga (Paul Kulinski) of Atlanta, Georgia; his grandchildren, Christopher (Caroline) Kulinski, Matthew (Kathleen) Kulinski, and Elisabeth Kulinski (Tony) Liou, Laura Grace (Andrew) Macfarlane and Andrew Kieffer, Brian, Michael, and Megan Faga; and great-granddaughters, May, Sabrina and Lillian Kulinski. He was preceded in death by his spouse, Beatrice Faga in 2007; his daughter, Maryellen Faga Kieffer in 2012 and his sister Angela (Faga) Evangelista in 1994. He is also survived by cousins in Italy, New York and North Carolina, nieces and nephews in Florida, New York and Michigan, and many dear friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Beatrice Cavaretta Faga and Maryellen Faga Kieffer Fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, 2608 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13502 and to St. Thomas More Church, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota, FL 34231. Arrangements by Toale Brothers Funeral Homes.

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Frank D. Faga

March 3, 1926 - April 20, 2017