Franklin Wayne Grizzaffi

Franklin Wayne Grizzaffi, 70, of Chappell Hill, Texas passed away Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. He was born July 28, 1951 to Vincent & Patricia Grizzaffi in Houston.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith.

In 1970, he graduated from Waltrip High School.

On April 15, 1972, he married Deborah Kathleen DeMottier in Houston.
In March 1978 he completed training and became registered as an Emergency Medical Technician – Ambulance Paramedic.

He completed his education from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Allied Health Sciences.

Frank also worked part time with Hou-Tex Professional Ambulance Service. He was the chief brisket cook for the Hou-Tex Husslers and Hussies, where he helped the team win trophies at various cookoffs. With this team, he was proud to say that they won the overall award for Walker County Fair and Rodeo Cookoff one year. He also enjoyed barbecuing with the cookoff team, Doctor Ds Cure All Cookers.

As a side job Frankie had a lawn business, Bayou City Lawn Care. During this time he formed a bond with Brian Wischnewsky, who he considered “the son he never had.”

He retired from the Houston Fire Department in 2004 following 30 years of service. During his time with HFD, he served as a firefighter, paramedic and worked on the accident review board in Emergency Operations. He took his service through HFD very seriously and treated each of his patients as if they were his own family.

Following his retirement from the Houston Fire Department, he volunteered with the Washington County Citizens on Patrol, where he served countless hours.

He greatly enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, barbecuing and cooking. He also loved spending time at the beach and swimming. He could always be seen with a camera or camcorder in hands.

Frankie was a devoted grandpa, known as Pap by his 3 grandchildren who he adored.

He was always willing to go above and beyond to help others, even if they were just strangers. We will greatly miss his humor and pranks, his smile and that twinkle in his eye, as well as his caring heart.

Survivors include his loving wife of 49 years, Debbie; daughters and sons in law, Wendy and Stephen Loesch, and Hilary and Alan Morgan; grandchildren, Zoey, Cameron and Cooper Morgan; brother and sister in law, Vincent and Donna Grizzaffi; sister and brother in law, Annette and Chris Michels; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; other relatives and many friends, including David and Debbie Moore and family, Ronnie and Linda Wischnewsky and family and Todd Clark.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent and Patricia Grizzaffi, as well as many other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be Cameron Morgan, Cooper Morgan, Ryan Michels, Chris Grizzaffi and Brian Liccioni, and Chuck Gardner.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Houston Fire Department, members of the HFD Street Machines, as well as his great friends David Moore, Ronnie Wischnewsky, Todd Clark, and Brian Wischnewsky.

For those who wish, memorial donations may be made in his memory to Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Hospice Brazos Valley or Washington County EMS.

Special thank you to Washington County EMS and all the nurses and doctors who cared for our loved one during the months of his sickness.

Guests attending the following services are required to wear masks.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. with family present from 4-7 p.m. at Brenham Memorial Chapel.

Visitation will also be held Wednesday, Sept. 15 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Brenham Memorial Chapel.

The service will begin at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15 at Brenham Memorial Chapel, with burial following at Prairie Lea Cemetery. A gathering celebrating Frankie's life will take place immediately following the burial at Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department Event Center.