Obituary: Frank Charles Krasovec

Frank Charles Krasovec passed away peacefully in Brunswick, Ohio on Sunday, May 16, 2021. He was 91 years old. Born at University Hospital in Cleveland on May 7, 1930 to Frank and Josephine Krasovec, he was raised on Addison Rd. and attended primary school at St. Vitus School. When he wasn’t in class, he was playing sports with his friends from the neighborhood, delivering newspapers or working at Coleman’s Drug Store, where he offered to wash windows for free before he was 10 years old in order to get a job.  It was at Coleman’s that he fell in love with the pharmacy and worked his way up from window-washing to become a soda jerk. As he spent more time in the store, he admired the pharmacists behind the counter and determined to pursue a career in pharmacy. With his plan in place, he poured himself into his studies, graduating from Cathedral Latin High School in 1948—the same year his beloved Cleveland Indians won their last World Series championship—before enrolling in the pharmacy school at Western Reserve University, now known as Case Western Reserve University.  After Western Reserve decided to close the pharmacy school after he completed just his first year, he entered Ohio Northern University, graduating in 1952 and becoming the first in his family to finish college. Shortly after graduation, in January of 1953, he earned the highest grade in the state of Ohio on the Ohio Pharmaceutical Board examination. Even in his later years, he recalled this distinction as perhaps his proudest accomplishment. Following his success on the pharmacy examination, Krasovec began to work for Standard Drug on Van Aken Blvd. in Shaker Heights before being drafted into the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He was stationed at the Rhine Medical Depot in Germany for two years and was recognized as Soldier of the Month in November 1954, another accomplishment he remembered proudly. While serving in Germany, he received a letter from a former college classmate, Adolf Pretzlaf, asking if he would be interested in joining him to purchase a pharmacy business for sale in Cleveland. Krasovec replied that, when his tour of duty was over, he would, indeed, like to join Pretzlaf. They named the business, on the corner of Superior Avenue and Norwood Road in East Cleveland, Norwood Drug. Following his discharge from the army in February of 1955, Krasovec returned to Cleveland, where he met his future wife, Georgine Jevnikar. They were married on Oct. 6, 1956 and remained married for nearly 42 years until Mrs. Krasovec’s death in July of 1998. The couple went on to have three children, Frank Jr., Karen and Cheryl. Mr. Krasovec and Pretzlaf operated Norwood Drug on Superior until the early 70’s, when Pretzlaf left the business amicably. He was, at that time, joined by Rudy Kozan, who helped run the pharmacy. Not long after Kozan’s arrival, the two partners opened a second Norwood Drug storefront on E. 185^th St. in Cleveland. Between the two stores, he and Kozan, as well as another dedicated partner, Joe Sheliga, worked tirelessly before the original Norwood Drug on Superior Avenue was lost to fire in December of 1979.  Krasovec and Kozan decided not to reopen the Superior location, focusing solely on the E. 185^th store, while Sheliga opened his own storefront on St. Clair. For nearly 40 years, Krasovec was the proprietor of Norwood Drug before he sold the remaining store in 1993. Thereafter, he continued to work at Medic Drug and, until his 80th year, as a part-time pharmacist at Marymount Hospital. Overall, Mr. Krasovec spent over 50 years as a licensed pharmacist in Ohio and nearly 75 years working in a pharmacy in some capacity. When not at work in the pharmacy, he enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family and watching sports. He blended the two often, spending months at time in Florida with three of his grandchildren and the rest of his time in Cleveland with his other three grandchildren, traveling to nearly every sporting event in which they participated. If his grandkids weren’t playing sports, he was watching sports—especially the Cleveland teams of which he was so proud. He often took his grandchildren to Indians, Browns and Cavaliers games, teaching them to love his teams much in the same way he did. His advice for all was to “do your best,” no matter the task at hand. It was advice he followed each day of his life. Mr. Krasovec was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Georgine. He is survived by his three children, Frank C. Krasovec Jr. (daughter-in-law Barbara Arthur), Karen Grove (son-in-law Mark Grove) and Cheryl Levan (son-in-law Keith Levan). He was the devoted grandfather to Hayden, Gillian and Ethan Grove and to Ryan, Austin and Collin Levan. He was the brother of the late Rose Mary Perse (brother-in law of the late Elmer Perse). He was the brother-in-law of Joan Jevnikar Champa (husband Raymond Champa), the late John Jevnikar (Marianne Jevnikar, deceased) and Terese Jevnikar (deceased). He was a beloved uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was a patriarch in his family and will be missed dearly by all. In accordance with his wishes, only private services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to All Caring Hospice, 5000 Rockside Rd. Independence, OH 44131. ARRANGEMENTS BY FERFOLIA FUNERAL HOME (330) 467-4500