Frank John Rybaczyk, 81, local hunter, marksman, and fisherman passed away peacefully on April 29, 2024.

Frank was born to Peter and Nancy Rybaczyk on September 21, 1942 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (New York City).   He attended PS 140 elementary school, PS 118 middle school, and Fort Hamilton High School.  In 1962, he enrolled in SUNY Plattsburgh.  He became a lifelong resident of the City of Plattsburgh.

Frank was drafted into the US Army in April of 1965. He received basic training at Fort Dix (NJ), medical laboratory training at Fort Baker (CA), and worked as a laboratory technician at former US Army post at Presidio of San Francisco (CA) and then at Fort Douglas (UT).  He was honorably discharged.

After his US Army service, Frank transferred into US Army Reserve where he served until his 60th birthday.  His first assignment was US Army field hospital lab in Malone (NY) after which he was transferred to the US Army 10th Reserve School in Colchester (VT).  While in the reserve, he instructed and trained troops in chemical, biological, and nuclear warfare defense at various army locations.  He retired as a Master Seargent.

Frank worked as a lab technician at ARIS Laboratories for 18 months and at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital for several years.  For the next 30 years, Frank worked for New York State Department of Correctional Services as a corrections officer.  His first year was at Attica Correctional Facility.  After that, he worked at the Clinton Correctional Facility Annex.  He retired on March 21, 2003.

A dream-come-true experience for Frank was his hunting safari in Botswana, Africa.  He earned a trophy from the New York Metro Chapter of Safari Club International for his 300-yard shot of a 240-pound red lechwe antelope which made SCI Record Book as third best-overall for Africa 1988. He also made six other successful shots—impala, reedbuck, and greater kudu antelopes; a common tsessebe; a common warthog; and a 2,000-pound Cape buffalo with 37-inch horns.

Throughout Frank's life he enjoyed fishing on Lake Champlain and hunting in the local area.   He also took hunting trips to Texas and Canada, and did some deep-sea fishing.

Frank is predeceased by his parents.

Frank is survived by his sister Nancy (Geoffrey) Landis; his niece Jessica (Andrew) Giannotti and their daughter Ainslee; and his other niece Brittany Landis and her children Andrew-Ryan, Josephine, and Audrey.

Frank relished the companionship of his friends and was always appreciative of those who helped him during his later years.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 17th from 5:00 to 6:30pm at the R. W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Prayer Service will follow at 6:30 in the funeral home chapel.

To share a photo, story, or offer online condolences, please visit www.rwwalkerfh.com (http://www.rwwalkerfh.com).

The arrangements have been entrusted to the R.W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court Street, Plattsburgh.