Frank Joseph Hippler Jr known to all as "Grandpa Woody" passed away Jan 6th, 2023 in Port Jefferson, NY with his loving family at his side.  Frank was born in Brooklyn, NY to parents Frank & Frances Hippler (Christophel) on Sept 14th, 1935. He welcomed a little sister Rose in 1937 who survives him.

In his early years he lived on Linden St in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn for 8 years and then attended the St. Pancras Elementary School in Glendale, Queens.  Frank continued his studies at Brooklyn Tech HS graduating in June 1954.

Frank enlisted with the US Army Reserve and reported to Fort Dix, NJ in Nov 1958 for Basic Training and was stationed at Fort Jackson, SC in 1959.

He started his formal career at the Bulova Watch Company in 1961 and on June 3rd of that year married Dolores Weber at the United Methodist Church of Glendale after meeting her years before while hanging around a jukebox at the local candy store.

In the summer of 1965 Frank & Dolores started their family in the Village of Islandia, Central Islip, NY and raised 3 children: Frank, Donna & Michael supporting all their endeavors while continuing his drafting career with work on plans for the landing gear of the Lunar Module on the Apollo program & the F-14 "Tomcat" Fighter Jet amongst many other projects for Grumman Aerospace.

As his children grew, he enjoyed many years of coaching his two boys in roller hockey with the St. John of God youth league in Central Islip and attending many horse competitions, recitals & concerts for his daughter.

He loved the Ford Mustang and had his first, a 1991 LX 5.0 Notchback in Silver Titanium which he used nearly every day for the end of his working years and into retirement. That was followed by a 2007 Ford Mustang in Alloy Gray Metallic and most recently with a gorgeous 2017 model in Ruby Red.

Frank was an avid runner and ran the very first Newsday Long Island Half-Marathon in 1984 and continued that tradition including the Cow Harbor 10k race for many years (which he held the 5k senior record for 65 & over with a time of 22:03) and stayed very active playing paddleball with nearly daily trips to LA Fitness for exercise.

He enjoyed taking his grandchildren each summer to the Sunken Forest, a National Park on Fire Island, NY.

Frank enjoyed winter trips to Marco Island, FL over his last 8 years vacationing in a condo overlooking the lagoon at Tigertail Beach, the glorious sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico and especially the blackened Grouper sandwiches at each local eatery.

For the last 28 years he lived with his son Frankie and wife Karen in Port Jefferson Station & most recently Nesconset which he immensely appreciated. His son Michael and wife Lisa will miss him at their annual Hippler Seafood fest each August. His daughter Donna Clackett & her husband Charles will certainly miss all his enthusiasm for his grandchildren's efforts in sport.

Frank is fondly remembered and greatly loved by Dolores and her husband Daniel Feldle which he had a beautiful relationship with. So many in recent days will miss his cute smiling face as he always enjoyed his time out in the sunshine or mist while exercising or just sitting outside with loved ones.

He dearly loved his family and will especially miss his proudest achievement, his 8 grandchildren - Emily, Rebecca, Luke, Justin, Michael, Matthew, Joey & Jake.

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