Frank M. Bacon

A ramblin' wreck from Georgia Tech, Frank M. Bacon passed away on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the age of 84 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's, surrounded by his family.

Frank completed his PhD in electrical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1968. His degree brought him to Albuquerque to work at Sandia National Laboratories. This fortuitous move also introduced Frank to the loves of his life: his first wife, Peggy Pick Bacon, his second wife, Cynthia Howard Bacon, hot air ballooning, and the mountains.

Frank loved the outdoors and soaring in the air in his hot air balloon. Shortly after moving to New Mexico, he learned the joy of hiking and backpacking, a sport he enjoyed all of his adult life, but then the real fun began. In 1972, Frank and his best friend Bill Douglas attended the First World Hot Air Balloon Championship at Coronado Mall. There they met and were embraced by the Dublin Balloon Team. Upon earning their balloon licenses shortly after, Frank and Bill created a new branch of the Dublin Balloon Team - the Buffalo Chip Chapter. Frank flew in every Balloon Fiesta from 1973 to 2023 (an astonishing 50 years). Along the way, he gave so many people their first flight, including Governors, Mayors, Tibetan monks, school children, and lots of family and friends. Upon learning of his passing, one common refrain was, "He gave me my first balloon ride!"

Post-retirement, Frank and Cindy enjoyed traveling around the world -- all over Europe, South America, Canada, and the United States. They also enjoyed regular Friday night margaritas at Casa de Benavidez. Frank relished attending Atlanta Braves baseball games with his children or rooting for his team with family and friends from the comfort of his New Mexico home.

Frank was preceded in death by his first wife, Peggy Pick Bacon, his parents, and siblings. Frank is survived by his wife, Cynthia Bacon; his two children, Shannon Bacon (Twila Firmature) and Josh Bacon (Ana Ontiveroz Bacon); his two step-daughters, Carrie Merner (Mark Merner) and Cristy Culpepper (Will Culpepper); six grandsons, Tristan, RJ, Grant, Aidan, William, and Masun, and three nieces and nephews, Helen Bacon, Jennifer Chavez, and David Snead.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. at the Albuquerque Balloon Museum, 9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE - Albuquerque. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association or Roadrunner Food Bank.

Frank, Dad, Papa, "May the winds welcome you with softness. May the sun bless you with its warm hands. May you fly so high and so well that God joins you in your laughter and sets you gently back into the loving arms of Mother Earth." Balloonist's Prayer (author unknown).