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Community Corner

Meet Frank Strano, Retired Real Estate Broker/Builder

"I have the perfect job now: I'm retired."

I met Frank Strano for the first time in the late 1990s while I was a member of the Manchester Board of Directors. Frank had agreed to serve on an Ad Hoc Committee to formulate the wording for the Manchester Property Maintenance Code.

Last week a photo of her Dad completing a mural of the American Flag on his shed to honor veterans and the victims of 9/11/2001.

He had promised his granddaughter Lena Muraski that he would finish it by Veteran's Day and did so. Frank Strano has had a very interesting career, and although he is a retired builder, he says “ I still may have a house or two left in me.”

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Timothy Becker: Frank, when did you arrive in Manchester?

Frank Strano: I grew up in Manchester in the Trebe Drive area. I lived in a Cape Cod style home that were sold with the second floor unfinished.

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Timothy Becker: Did you stay here in Manchester?

Frank Strano: I moved to Florida in the 1960s. We went on our honeymoon in Florida and I really liked it there. A job opportunity came up in Indiana and I moved to Fort Wayne and served as Admissions Director for St. Francis University for 12 years. Later I worked as assistant to the Mayor of Fort Wayne. We returned to Manchester in 1977 to be closer to our family.

Timothy Becker: Is that when you went into real estate?

Frank Strano: I became Development Director of the Greater Hartford Chamber of Commerce. At that time the Greater Hartford Chamber was one of the most powerful in the country. That was the era when the “Bishops” or CEOs of major companies in Hartford pretty much ran everything in Hartford.

Timothy Becker: What type of work did you handle for the Chamber?

Frank Strano: I coordinated the summer youth employment and study programs sponsored by the business community.

Timothy Becker: When did you open your real estate business and what motivated you?

Frank Strano: I opened Strano Realty in 1978. I wanted to live the American Dream. My father came over from Sicily. My mother's parents came over from Poland. I was the first in my family to graduate college. I started on East Center Street. I had 12-15 agents in the 1970s and 1980s. I retired in 2007. It was the perfect time to phase out. I have the perfect job now: I'm retired.

Timothy Becker: I understand that you are also a home builder. What homes have you built in Manchester?

Frank Strano: I started by buying homes, fixing them up and reselling them. In 1988, I built the condos on New State Road near East Catholic High School. I built all of Stephanie's Way. In 2005, one of the homes I built won an energy star award. Back then it was new and cutting edge to build an energy efficient home. As a builder, I had the privilege of naming the street. I named it after my youngest daughter. Stephanie will be graduating from Hofstra in December. I still have a building lot left if you would like a new home.

Timothy Becker: A you willing to come out of retirement to build another home?

Frank Strano: I still have a house or two left in me.

Timothy Becker: Your daughter Shelby sent your photo to Patch of you and your flag mural. What inspired you to paint the mural?

Frank Strano: I love this country. It has given me and my kids the opportunity to live the American Dream. When the 9/11 anniversary came around I started painting it. My grand daughter Lena said “Grandpa when are you going to finish painting the flag?” I promised her that I would finish by Veteran's Day.

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