Frank Kosier was born July 2, 1934 in Lansing, Michigan.

Frank Kosier had a wonderful ability to connect personally with absolutely everyone that he met—from an elementary school student at Penn School, where Frank volunteered his talents, to the calculus student at the University of Iowa, who learned more than she might have, to the German cook who did not speak English, who found they could still communicate, to his grandchildren, who found a mischievous grandfather full of gentle understanding.

Frank was taken from this earth on June 3, 2006 and as a Unitarian, had his own understanding of what life is supposed to mean. During the last few months, when Frank was consoled that he will soon be in a better place, he replied, “as long as it is not Texas,” which gives an idea of the playful spirit he seemed to carry with him.

Frank studied mathematics at Michigan State University and received the PhD degree in 1960, under the supervision of Robert Oehmke. His dissertation (entitled “On a class of non-flexible algebras”) and area of research both concerned non-associative algebras, wherein he wrote a number of articles. In addition, Frank collaborated with J.M. Osborne, Margaret Kleinfeld, and Erwin Kleinfeld on research in this area.

Frank was interested in teaching and service to the field and was a long time member of the MAA (49 years) and the AMA (48 years). His service to the University of Iowa included invaluable tenure as Associate Chair during the important expansion years, when Oehmke was Chair of the Mathematics Department.

Frank was an extraordinary teacher of mathematics and became very popular with his students, both at the undergraduate and graduate level. Indeed, his students were continually enriched by his wit, energy and warm personality. Frank had a number of successful PhD students, and quite a number of “grand” PhD students, as well.

Frank retired (became a emeritus professor) in 2000, when he and his wife Nita built their dream home close to Solon, where Frank dearly loved the outdoors and his dogs.

However, knowing there must be another generation to delight; Frank went back to teaching by volunteering at Penn School in Solon, where a new generation of students learned to love mathematics—Frank-style.

Frank and his wife Nita (Juanita) have known each other essentially their entire lives (since 2nd grade), were high school sweethearts and shared fifty-three wonderful married years together. Frank is survived by Juanita, their three sons, Todd, Jeffrey and Jacque, and their four grandchildren James Todd, Dylan, Winston, and Addison.