Syracuse, NY -- Warren H. Frank, Centro’s former executive director credited with transforming a nearly bankrupt Syracuse bus company into one of the nation’s best transit companies, died Monday at his home in La Quinta, Calif. after a long illness. He was 85. Frank was appointed by former Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller in 1970 to the then newly formed...
Warren H. Frank
Syracuse, NY -- Warren H. Frank, Centro’s former executive director credited with transforming a nearly bankrupt Syracuse bus company into one of the nation’s best transit companies, died Monday at his home in La Quinta, Calif. after a long illness. He was 85.
Frank was appointed by former Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller in 1970 to the then newly formed Central New York Regional Transportation Authority, a state public authority. Frank became the authority’s executive director in 1971. He oversaw the condemnation and acquisition of the financially troubled Syracuse Transit Corp. in 1972. The authority launched its own bus service, Centro, which today serves Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga and Oneida counties.
In 1983 the American Public Transit Association named Centro the best mid-sized transit company in America. Under Frank’s management, Centro developed several transit industry innovations. The company established “Call-A-Bus,” a program for people with disabilities in 1973 that became a model for transit agencies nationwide. It also developed wheelchair lifts on its buses that became an industry standard.
Frank Kobliski, Centro’s executive director who worked for Frank, described him as a “person of vision.” Kobliski said Frank had a keen interest in staff development. “He was a coach and cheerleader all rolled into one,” he said.
Centro’s 15-acre main office and maintenance facility at 200 Cortland Ave. in Syracuse are named after him.
Frank retired as Centro’s executive director in 1992, but continued serving as a board member until 1995.
His career at Centro ended on a controversial note. The state Office of the Inspector General criticized Centro for allowing Frank to run the bus company from California, where he had a home, and Florida, where he visited friends. But the inspector general’s report praised the bus company overall, saying that under Frank’s direction, it had been a cost-effective, quality transportation system in the face of decreased state funding.
As a young man Frank excelled in athletics. He left Nottingham High School during his junior year to accept an athletic scholarship to the former Manlius Military Academy. He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 and served in the South Pacific for three years during World War II.
Before joining Centro, Frank owned and operated Bonded Freightways, a trucking company that transported bulk commodities.
He is survived by his wife, Janice, and four children. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Temple Adath Yeshurun, 450 Kimber Road. Friends may meet with the family prior to the service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Burial will be in Adath Yeshurun Cemetery. Sisskind Funeral Service LLC is handling arrangements.