Frank Schubert (1915-2003) Last Civilian Lighthouse Keeper in the USA Born in Staten Island, New York in 1915, Frank was the middle of seven children. His parents Mary and Theodore raised him on Staten Island where he was mainly a solitary child, enjoying the playground and swimming pools of the area. He first attended Public School 17 and later Curtis High School, a good kid learning about sports and helping out Dad with his projects. Theodore was a carpenter and young Frank learned all about the job by helping, as well as plumbing, painting, and other types of repair.

Caught in the Great Depression after graduating High School, Frank joined the WPA (Works Progress Administration) and was given a job watching over the WPA swimming pool. Frank was not only the lifeguard, but also the swim director and whatever other role needed filling at any given moment. It was here that his skills with the water and as a life-saver became apparent.

Soon afterwards in 1937, Frank applied for and secured a job as a seaman on the buoy tender ship "Tulip." This was an era when lightships and buoy ships were still manned by civilians. He admits that the work was tough, but says it "wasn't too bad." However, it could be so hazardous that workers couldn't get life insurance because of the danger involved.

After about two and a half years of duty on the Tulip, the Coast Guard took over the lighthouse service and didn't want anymore civilians on the tender ships (for safety reasons). Frank was offered a position as a lighthouse keeper at Old Orchard Light, a lighthouse about 3 miles south of Staten Island. There were three keepers at this light, and he was on duty for 21 days straight, followed by six days off, and then he would have to go back to work for another 21 days, and so on. It was good work, but you were out on the station in the ocean for so long that by the time you were almost ready for your time off, you were half crazy with boredom. It was here that Frank picked up the hobby of Marquetry (making pictures from different types of wood) and became very good at it.
	After about three years, Frank was transferred to Governor's Island, where he was to be a keeper. This time, he would have to be on duty for 24 hours straight, and then off for 24. Soon after arriving another keeper was added and so Frank was given 48 hours off instead of 24. When World War 2 was first being waged, Frank was warned by friends that he might be drafted into service, but didn't believe it would happen. Sure enough, in 1942 at 27 years old, Frank was drafted.
After passing his physical examination he was asked where he would like to go. Having been sick of being on boats and around boats, he chose to go into the Army. Little did Frank know that at the time the Army had been using the most boats out of anyone. He was first sent to Camp Gordon Johnston in Florida to be a Naval landing craft instructor, and when instructors were no longer needed, he worked running combat and utility boats in Japan and the Philippines.

In 1944 he returned to land and his job of Keeper at Governor's Island in New York where he worked for 16 years before taking residence at Sea Gate. When he started at Coney Island in July of 1960 he was responsible for turning the light on every evening and off every morning, and for winding up a mechanism resembling a grandfather clock, to keep the light turning. Because the winding had to be done every four hours (including at night), one of the first changes Frank made was to lengthen the cable used to allow for 24 hours between windings.

Frank chose the appointment at the Coney Island Lighthouse because it allowed him to live with his wife Millie and have a normal family, in the Keeper's residence on the grounds. Originally, Frank was required to be on the grounds at all times to maintain the equipment necessary for running the lighthouse. He had to perform many different functions, including carpentry, painting, gardening, plumbing, and electrical work. His wife, Millie, was responsible for the grounds should he ever leave temporarily, so the family was not allowed to go on spur-of-the-moment trips or vacations.

	By now the family consisted of Frank, Millie, and their three children, Kenneth, Francine, and Thomas. All three attended school nearby and were typical children, enjoying television, sports, and other things. Francine was active in the Girl Scouts, and the boys enjoyed building model boats and planes.
Eventually the children grew up, the lighthouse was automated, and sadly, Frank's wife Millie passed away. Frank has had many visitors throughout the years, often surprising him at home with no prior notice. He is generally very cordial and nice to visitors, even unexpected ones, and takes time to talk to whoever wants to learn about the lighthouse. He has also been on numerous television shows and in many newspaper and magazine articles. Frank has even been invited to the White House to meet President Bush (Senior) who Frank describes as a Lighthouse buff.
	Before his passing in December 2003, my grandfather watched over the lighthouse and kept busy along with his dog Blazer, who sometimes let him be the boss. He watched television, played golf and bowling, cooked, and generally enjoyed life. He was also still interested in Marquetry and woodworking, even making furniture like picnic tables, beds, and chairs. We would visit him often, spending Sundays with him and dropping by during the week. He was a smart, funny, tough but friendly guy with a knack for tinkering with and fixing all kinds of things. He was just a great guy, and we all miss him very much.