Vale Frank Scharfe

It is with sadness that the School notes the passing of our former colleague Frank Scharfe.  Frank was a Technical Officer based at the Randwick Heavy Structures Lab (HSL) for almost forty years, from the 1970s until the late 2000s. 

His colleague, HSL Senior Technical Officer Ron Moncay, said that Frank had always been someone ‘who was happy to go out of his way to help out anyone who came to him.’

Frank was also known for his wide-ranging knowledge and opinions on political and other matters. ‘I fondly remember our informative discussions and even heated debates on almost any subject within and outside the Uni,’ said Ron.

Frank so cared for the School that after his retirement in the late 2000s, he became a Visiting Fellow and continued to help out his colleagues for several years.

Laboratory Manager Paul Gwynne agreed heartily with Ron’s assessment that, ‘Frank has left an indelible imprint in the Lab and in the School.’

CIES Emeritus Professor Ian Gilbert expressed his sadness when sharing the news that Frank had passed away on 26 October 2022, after a battle with lung cancer. ‘Our condolences to Frank's family and friends.  May he rest in peace.’

‘Frank was a selfless person and contributed to running of the Heavy Structures Lab in every way possible that he could,’ said Head of School PSM & Scientia Professor Nasser Khalili. ‘He was a wonderful example of a good citizen. My condolences to all his friends and family.’

The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Stephen Foster said ‘I knew Frank well, right back to the work on my PhD. Frank was very dedicated and highly valued by everyone that he worked and socialised with … the numbers of PhD and Masters students alone that he supported, and contributed to their work, would number in the many dozens.’