Frank Paul Baranowski, popularly known as “Baran,” died Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Williamsburg, Va. He was a longtime resident of the Washington metropolitan area (Bethesda, Md., and Great Falls, Va.).
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Leona Baranowski of Bayonne, N.J.; and brother, Joseph John Baranowski of Allentown, Pa. He is survived by his wife, Alma Anders; son, Michael Paul Baranowski (Oksana) of Redondo Beach, Calif.; four daughters, Jan Boyce of Boston, Mass., Susan Baranowski of Arlington, Va., Carol Douglas of Williamsburg, Va., and Kristin Mayer of Arlington, Va.; eight grandchildren, Jennifer, William and Matthew Boyce, Clayton and John Douglas, Daniel Mayer, Elena Kozina and Elizabeth Baranowski; sister-in-law, Glenna Anders Lee; nieces, Pamela Lee Arledge and Libby Shipps; and nephews, Richard and Steve Anders.
Frank, born Nov. 1, 1921, in Bayonne, N.J., received a B.S. in chemical engineering from New York University and an M.S. from the University of Tennessee. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi, Sigma XI and Phi Lamda Upsilon honor societies. During World War II, he was commissioned a second lieutenant with the Army Corps of Engineers, at Ft. Belvoir, Va., and assigned to the combat engineers at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. In 1945, he transferred to the Manhattan Project, Army Engineers, in Oak Ridge, Tenn. While in Oak Ridge, he met and married his wife, Alma. After leaving the service in 1947 as captain, he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) moving to their headquarters in Washington, D.C., in the early 1950’s.
Frank’s federal career spanned seven presidential administrations from Roosevelt (FDR) to Ford and he had over 60 years’ experience in the energy field with emphasis on nuclear materials, production, nuclear fuel cycle, plant availability and system and economic analyses. He held many management positions with the materials production operations, including isotope separation and chemical processing and nuclear research. He was appointed director of Production and Nuclear Fuel Cycle in October 1961 with responsibility for sites including Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Paducah, Ky.; Portsmouth, Ohio; Hanford, Wash.; and Aiken, S.C. He continued as director through the agency’s change to Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) in 1975.
He received the Atomic Energy Commission Distinguished Service Award (the highest in the agency) in 1972 for “demonstrating exceptional leadership, judgment, keen insight and technical competence in analyzing the complex production processes and plants achieving objectives resulting in substantial technical and economic benefits.” The ERDA Special Achievement Award in 1976 for performance in production programs for nuclear materials for National Defense, Nuclear Power and other applications yielding substantial benefits to ERDA and the Nation.
On leaving the government in 1976, he formed a private energy consulting company continuing in the field of nuclear energy with government contracted companies. He also served on many National Laboratories and government committees including: CIA Nuclear Intelligence Panel (1979-1992) and the Energy Research Advisory Board (1983-1987) to the Secretary of the Department of Energy.
Baran’s leisure activities included home improvement projects, golf and time with family and friends. He is remembered for his love of family, country and his strong faith. He was a member of Saint Bede Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus in Williamsburg and formerly a member of Our Lady of Mercy Church, Potomac, Md.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, at Saint Bede Catholic Church, Ironbound Road, Williamsburg, with interment in the St. Bede Columbarium. A reception will follow in the Church Commons.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Dreamcatchers, Toano, VA.
