Born in San Francisco on July 1, 1928, Lazaneo moved to Los Gatos when he was a teenager and graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1946.

After graduation, Lazaneo worked a variety of jobs in the area, including a management position at the Mercantile Acceptance Corporation and an assistant fire underwriter position at Insurance Companies of North America.

In 1957 he acquired the Lincoln Market at 26 N. Santa Cruz Ave. The store had a long history in Los Gatos, opening in the late 1800s as a meat market and changing hands several times before Lazaneo's purchase from Neva Whiteman. Lazaneo changed the name to Frank's Los Gatos Market and added a liquor department and fancy food section. He owned the market until 1982, and in that time became a downtown social staple, priding himself on knowing hundreds of townspeople.

"He always said he was an introvert, but that store made him into an extrovert," says his daughter Patty Hannegan. "The friendships he made were just amazing."

Friend Paul Mahoney met Lazaneo in 1989 through St. Mary's Church, where Lazaneo was an active member for more than 35 years. "Frank had that market for years and years—he was one of the most well-known people in town," he says. "He'd have a list of 20 to 30 people he would personally deliver a fruitcake or bottle of wine to on Christmas morning. He wanted to keep contact with all the people he knew."

Lazaneo also kept a prominent profile through his involvement with the Los Gatos Lions Club, of which he was a member for 40 years. He was club president from 1983 to 1984 and served on dozens of committees. He also served on the Los Gatos Planning Commission from 1972 to 1977 and was on the board of directors for the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce for five years. After selling his business, Lazaneo went on to start his own window-shade business in 1983, which he kept running until recent years.

"He had a great sense of humor and was very involved," says John Lochner, a friend since 1959. "He was active in the community and was always available to help when you needed him. He was a kick. But the worst thing to do with Frank was to ask him how he was doing."

Patty's husband, John Hannegan, agrees. "He was a wonderful man, I'd do anything for him. But he wasn't happy unless he was complaining about something."

In addition to his passion for long-winded answers, Lazaneo was fond of cooking, golf, fishing, and splurging on holiday displays and family gatherings.

"Our dad did have a big heart," says daughter Connie Lazaneo. "His family was very important to him, and the holidays were big for him."

Mahoney says Lazaneo's "Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at home were legendary. He loved to cook. Holidays were huge for Frank."

Lazaneo was a big proponent of the Los Gatos Christmas Parade, and was dedicated to its continued success throughout the years. Ironically, the year Lazaneo headed the parade committee, the parade was canceled.

"That was the only year it was ever rained out. It rained on Frank's parade," Lochner, also a Lions Club member, says with a laugh. "Things always happened to him like that."

"The poor guy had more things wrong with him than anyone else," Mahoney says. "Yet it never prevented him from doing what he had to do. Frank was a character—a very, very unique person."

Although his health was always a concern, Lazaneo spent more of his time being concerned with others, helping whenever he was needed.

"Frank was a friendly person. He was always doing something for someone else, always trying to help out," says friend Don Davies. "He was a very good-hearted person who made friends easily. He was just one of those guys people liked. A lot of people loved him and a lot will miss him."

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Penny Lazaneo, daughters Connie Lazaneo, Pam Rizzi, and Patty Hannegan, stepchildren Sandy Alubowicz and Chip Alubowicz, sons-in-law John Hannegan and Bill Brill, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services have been held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Los Gatos Lion's Charities, P.O. Box 522, Los Gatos, 95031.