Frank DelBosco
Issue #97 - January 13, 2023
This edition of Sky Studio is dedicated to Frank DelBosco
who joined former colleagues in Sky Studio January 10, 2023
Frank DelBosco joined Sky Studio in his 86th year.
He’ll be recalled as a gentle person, always with a smile and a laugh. Those who worked with him will remember his quiet efficiency and determined work ethic. Frank made cablevision a viable business and a popular service in Sault Ste. Marie and grew its community channel as part of the package with legendary creative staffers such as Albert Jones and Bert Luciani among others, who brought their vast background in broadcast television from CJIC.
Frank was General Manager of Lake Superior Cablevision, originally created and owned by Hyland Radio and Television with offices on Queen Street that now house the Community Development Corporation. Cable television started in Sault Ste. Marie with Redifusion in the early 1960s that became Continental Cablevision offering the city’s first community television channel that featured Jane Richards interviewing those involved in community events and causes. Frank was there from beginning overseeing the administration, technical aspects and programming.
It wasn’t easy getting customers in the early days, as Frank said himself in a 2014 story by former Hyland Radio and Television’s Craig Huckerby in a SaultOnline story (link below). Frank called it a “hard sell” and door to door sales personnel were needed to convince potential subscribers paying for television was worth it. Frank even hosted a weekly show in Italian, “Profilo Italiniano” for several years on the Community Channel.
Patty Page says Frank was wonderful to work with and for during the 20-some years they were in cablevision together. Patty came to Lake Superior Cable from the Hyland Radio and Television switchboard starting in a clerical role and then becoming Office Manager, continuing on through the various ownership changes from Hyland to Maclean Hunter, then to Rogers (for one day) and then to Shaw. Patty and Frank worked together on plans for the building and relocation of operations from Queen Street to Manitou Park. Employment ended for office staff when the local office was closed by Shaw around 1995.
“Through all that time, different companies and staff, Frank always tried to make the operation a great place to come to work,” she recalls.
Diagnosed in 2016 with dementia, Frank and his family were supporters of and participants in fundraising efforts for the Alzheimer’s organization (see story link and photos below from 2018).
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Background story on Frank and support for Alzheimer Society, 2018:
Walk For Alzheimer's 'hits close to home' for local family - Sault Ste. Marie News (sootoday.com)
On local cable community channels, 2014:
These Guys Make Your Local TV | SaultOnline.com
Special Announcements:
DELBOSCO, Gianfranco 'Frank' - Obituary - Sault Ste. Marie - Sault Ste. Marie News (sootoday.com)
Obituary of Gianfranco DelBosco | Northwood Funeral Home Cremation...
(Names of two others who worked in cablevision came to attention while compiling this item on Frank. Eva Aileen Smith worked with Redifusion, Continental Cablevision and later Lake Superior Cablevision and would have worked with Frank. She passed away in 2005 at age 84 and is now also entered on our Sky Studio list. Eva Aileen SMITH - Obituary - Sault Ste. Marie - Sault Ste. Marie News (sootoday.com) And, Joan Collins who also worked in cablevision and recently passed away December 2022 at age 96 in Toronto is also now acknowledged on Sky Studio’s honour roll. Obituary | Joan Mary Margaret Collins | Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home