Obituary: Frank J. Becker / Architect had 'sensitive' eye for well-known buildings
Share with others:
Frank J. Becker was never ostentatious about his role in bringing some of the most visible buildings in the region to life. While colleagues at Astorino Architecture may have been aware of his contributions to PNC Park, Benedum Center and several local hospitals, an equal number of friends and neighbors would have likely been stunned by the accomplishments.
But as quiet as he was with friends with respect to his work, Mr. Becker took special pride in showing off his projects whenever he was around his children.
"I think his enjoyment was in part that he was able to point at something and tell his children, 'I was part of that,' " said his wife, Marilyn.
Recognized for work spanning from his own Mt. Lebanon neighborhood to the far reaches of the county, Mr. Becker died from complications related to cancer in St. Clair Hospital on May 28. He was 61.
As an architect, Mr. Becker worked on a variety of notable projects, including the helipad at UPMC Mercy, the gingerbread house at PPG Winter Garden and St. Louise de Marillac, where his twins, Emily (Becker) Liszka and Jacob Becker, were the first children baptized 28 years ago.
His last project was the Carpenter's Union building on the Parkway West. Each time Ms. Liszka drove past, she thought of her dad.
"It was kind of neat to know my dad had a hand in that," she said.
As a child, Ms. Liszka went with him to various job sites, and she recalls sitting at his drafting table, playing with his tools and wondering what they did.
Now an interior designer, she interned with her father's firm and worked with him on the Children's Hospital project in Lawrenceville.
Tim Powers was hired by Mr. Becker at one of his first architecture jobs.
"I have a lot that I owe him from a professional standpoint," Mr. Powers said. "He knew how to putting buildings together better than any architect I knew."
First Published June 1, 2010 12:00 am
