Frank and Olga’s daughter Gina Ash recently made a very generous donation to the chimps in her parents’ memory. On the anniversary of Frank and Olga’s wedding, I have to share their touching story with you.
When Olga died of cancer in August 2005, Gina was very worried about her dad. At 82, he had never done a load of laundry in his life. Though they were very social before Olga’s death (playing bingo or cards at the senior center most afternoons and evenings), Frank stayed home for the next six months. Gina tried her best to help her dad mourn and recover, and he slowly started going back to his favorite activities. He started making new friends and after a while started taking one particular new “lady friend” to bingo regularly. As Gina said, “He was like a high school kid; all of his phone calls resulted in laughing so hard it hurt!” On May 12, 2007 Frank was returning from his lady friend’s house and was killed in a head on car accident.
Gina wanted to do something meaningful with her share of her parents’ estate. Around the same time, she saw Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest on ABC World Nightly News, checked out our work and our website, and took it as a sign that the chimps could use Frank and Olga’s help. Frank and Olga were good people and proud parents – they didn’t have a lot of money but they shared what they could. Now, it’s Gina’s (and my!) turn to honor their givings. So, this day is for them!
My eyes swelled with tears while reading about Frank and Olga. Thank you Gina, for sharing the story of your parents and the gift you gave to CSNW, in their name.
Thank you so much, Gina, for memorializing your parents this way. Your loss will help our lovely chimpanzee friends make up for the years they lost. They understand loss. We are thinking of you. We are so sorry that you lost your lovely parents in such tragic ways and hope the chimpanzees will bring joy to your heart. Thank you. Thankyou.
Thank you Gina. I couldn’t help but think of my own parents while reading about yours. What a lovely way to honor them and a lovely gift to the chimps.
Thank you Gina! What a beautiful story. As Theresa said, I thought of my grandmother and grandfather and their story. I am sure your parents are both very proud to have raised such a selfless and compassionate human. When I hear stories like these, I become a little less misanthropic and am reminded of the good in people. The chimps are lucky to have found a new friend
Thats our Gina !
Frank and Olga would be proud ! And Frank is probably still laughing somewhere too !!!
Love Ya
M
What Gina did is a grand example of the beautiful job Frank and Olga did in raising
their children….all of them have this great quality. The vision of smiles, bursting laughter,
gardening with butterflies, and enjoying the splashing waves are great memories Frank
and Olga shared with the rest of the gang. Love those memories!!! Gina, THANKS for
doing this!!! The legacy lives on!!!!!!!
Love ‘N Hugs, Evelyn
That’s great. What a fantastic idea, Gina! Thanks for sharing. I miss Grandma and Grandpa so.
Love, Dannielle
Thanks Gina for great way to remember these two wonderful people. What smiles they had! And, I loved playing cards with Uncle Slim and Aunt Olga. I could tell what your Dad had in his hand by watching his mouth! Aunt Olga never gave any facial hints. He was domestically challenged…….I showed him one time how to load our dishwasher,- he just smiled and said, ” So that’s how it’s done”. But, the stories they told when they visited us were always full of lots of laughter. Thanks so much for posting this on their anniversary.