Obituary of Frank Scully

Francis “Frank” Scully of Herndon, Virginia died on Monday, October 9, 2023 after a valiant battle with cancer at Reston Hospital in Reston, VA. Frank was 77 years old.

Frank was born on June 24, 1946 in New York City to parents Alexander and Lillian (Nozir) Scully. He was the third of four children. The family lived in the borough of Queens, settling in a large, old house in Flushing, NY. Frank would subsequently return to the house in adulthood with his wife and daughter. The family remained in Flushing until 2014.

In childhood, Frank was an avid model airplane builder. He dreamed of becoming a pilot. Upon graduation from Holy Cross High School in 1964, Frank joined the United States Air Force. At the time, the war in Vietnam was escalating. As was typical of his take-charge personality, Frank volunteered to serve rather than wait to be drafted.

Although Frank was ultimately ineligible for flight school due to color-blindness, he spent four years serving honorably in the U.S. Air Force, including two tours in Vietnam. His job titles included Weapons Mechanic and Weapons Maintenance Supervisor. During his time in Vietnam, Frank also worked with USAID teaching English as a Foreign Language classes to South Vietnamese citizens.

For his service Frank was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

In later years Frank had mixed feelings about his military service in war time. His participation in violent conflict grieved him, but he always maintained a fondness and respect for the Vietnamese citizens he met there as well as a lasting impression of the beauty of the country. Frank maintained a respect and care for others who have served. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization.

Upon returning to New York after his discharge from the Air Force, Frank participated in various colorful careers such as door-to-door vacuum salesman, building alarm system installer, and lobsterman, even living for a time on a boat in Port Jefferson Harbor, NY. He also worked at Magnetico Engineering Firm in Long Island, NY.

Frank’s hobbies included playing the banjo and kayaking daily, even in the middle of winter. He always had a love of being on the water, which he later passed down to his daughter and grandchildren.

Frank married his wife Margaret in 1985 and their only child, a daughter, was born in 1986. In 1987 he purchased Kennedy Air Supply, a WWII era company that had supplied the needs of aircraft mechanics at the former Roosevelt Air Field in Westbury, NY. Frank changed the name to Beechhurst Industries and incorporated in 1988. He spent the remainder of his life running his company, often working alone to produce mechanical cable assemblies by hand for small aircraft in both the private sector and Department of Defense. His notable jobs included ejector seat cable assemblies for U.S. Navy aircraft as well as a helmet-locking cable assembly for the high-altitude flight suit used by Air Force and NASA personnel.

Frank was ceaseless in his pursuit of excellence in his business, always keeping the safety of the aircraft that carried his handiwork uppermost in his mind. He was meticulous in his design and execution of every cable, knowing they were helping to keep pilots and crew safe.

Frank moved his business to Manassas Park, VA in 2014, when he and his wife relocated upon the birth of their first grandchild. They settled in Herndon, VA, where Frank enjoyed taking his dog for long walks and always kept the bird-feeder full in the backyard. He enjoyed cooking, especially outside on the grill, and loved seeing his grandchildren. He was a caring and devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

Frank is preceded in death by his parents Al and Lillian, by his brother Dennis, by his brother-in-law George, and by his sister-in-law, Lynn.

Frank is survived by his wife of 38 years, Margaret, his daughter Andrea Knepper (Jacob), and his grandchildren Alexander and Rose. He is also survived by his brother Kevin and sister Patricia Steffen.