Larry FrankelThe man who was found dead in Rock Creek Park on Friday has been identified as Larry Frankel, 54. Frankel was State Legislative Director for the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office, and previously served as executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
Sources say Frankel had been missing since at least Wednesday, and preliminary word is that he died of natural causes. D.C. police found Frankel face down in a creek in the park on Friday morning. He was dressed in jogging clothes.
The ACLU put out a statement today reacting to the news of Frankel’s death, which reads, in part: “Frankel was an irreplaceable member of the ACLU staff who was dedicated to working to defend the Constitution and individual rights throughout his long and distinguished career. A committed workaholic with an irreverent sense of humor, Frankel played a key role in analyzing legislation, conducting background research and providing legislative strategy to the ACLU’s 53 state affiliates.” The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette both have obits today, and Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell took the time to express his condolences: “Larry Frankel was clearly one of the most effective advocates for civil liberties and justice in Pennsylvania. Larry understood that in the fight to preserve and expand our civil liberties, being civil was as important as being right,” Rendell said.
