Franklin L. Bass, born May 26, 1926, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2012 after a long illness, surrounded by his family. A retired partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, one-time resident of Great Neck, NY, and longtime Manhattanite, he was 86. He is survived by his beloved wife and soul mate of 60 years, Phyllis (nee Feldman), three children, Claudia, Andrea (Jim) and Jonathan (Tatiana), and four grandchildren, Thomas, Elizabeth, Francesca, and Nicolas. Raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, he was a member of the last graduating class of the original Townsend Harris H.S. He continued his education at Brooklyn College, which he left for a time to serve in the Army Air Corps. Thanks to the G.I. Bill, he went to Harvard Law School, graduating in 1951.
In 1949 Frank met his wife Phyllis at Camp Milford, CT, where he also made many life-long friends. In 1951 he joined a small law firm. The firm and Frank grew together. In 1960 he became a partner in the firm today known as Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson. As head of the real estate department, member of the executive committee and chairman of its finance committee, his brilliance and integrity helped guide Fried, Frank as it expanded into a large international firm. He was also a founding member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Frank retired from active practice in 1993, and served as a Pro Bono Assistant District Attorney with the Brooklyn DAs office.
Frank loved to cook for friends and family, perfecting an arsenal of recipes over the years, most notably an annual Thanksgiving Day feast. Frank lived the American Dream, finding personal fulfillment and professional success. He had a passion for living as well as a great capacity for self-discipline and sacrifice. To his family, he was a man of tremendous love, strength, knowledge, curiosity and humor. His spirit will live on in our hearts. Funeral service was held on Tuesday, July 24 at 12 noon at Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, 630 Amsterdam Avenue at 91st Street.
Reprinted from the New York Times, July 24, 2012.
