Frank Martin Griboski, born March 11, 1958 in Pasadena, Calif., died Dec. 12, 2010 in Chapala, Mexico

“Frank, you lead a tumultuous life,” a friend once remarked. Frank laughed and, ever after, “tumultuous” became his word for himself. He rebounded from crisis after crisis, possessed of an indomitable spirit, inexhaustible resourcefulness, and a profound faith in Jesus Christ that never was exclusive.

Frank was complex: acerbic, sweet, maddening, heroic, inspiring. Hearing of Frank’s death, a friend wrote, “A troubled man, to be sure, but kind, gentle, and thought-full at his best.”

Frank was proud of the fact he grew up learning the craft of meat-cutting from his father, and prouder still that his three brothers and he all became meat cutters, following their father.

Locally he worked at Saar’s Market Place, Oak Harbor, and Payless Foods, Freeland. In later years Frank fell in love with philosophy, spirituality, and mysticism. He became well-read in the writings of Kierkegaard and Gurdjieff, and began using what he learned in addresses on spirituality to those in recovery from addictions.

Frank struggled most of his life with trauma, anxiety disorder, alcohol addiction and diabetes. But when he died in Chapala on Dec. 12 of complications from diabetes, Frank had attained sobriety and was receiving the care he needed for his anxiety. He was looking forward to starting a new life in Mexico with a little horse-farm, his lifelong dream; playing golf, his passion; studying piano; and doing chaplaincy to those in recovery like himself.

Seeing him on the brink of a new life, his friends feel his death all the more keenly because of the struggles we shared with him. We envisioned one new path of life; Jesus has led him onto another than we planned. Frank was a man of faith, and did not fear death; we have to believe that what Jesus gives him now exceeds what he and we had imagined in this life, but we are sorry we cannot share these present days with him.

Frank is survived by his siblings Jerry, Littlejohn, Belinda and Morgan.

One month before his death, Frank wrote of himself, “Frank M. Griboski was lost and now is found. He has wrestled with his demons and with much courage has won the battle. He has climbed the highest mountains, swam the deepest oceans with heavy burdens most men could not bear. I have left these burdens at the mountain tops and have, with much grace, climbed back down. I have left these burdens in the ocean’s depths and swam to the other side breathing the breath of life — free at last!”

Frank’s Service of Remembrance and Farewell will at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Saint Mary Catholic Church, 207 Main St. N, Coupeville.

Gifts made be made in his memory to the American Diabetes Association.