Frank Slapikas

Francis "Frank" Ralph Slapikas was born March 16, 1938 in Camden, New Jersey. He died on March 1, 2022, with loving family by his side, at his home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was 83. There will be a memorial service Monday, March 7, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. Frank earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business at Pennsylvania State University and went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps followed by an illustrious career with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. His fidelity to his country was eclipsed only by his supreme devotion to his God, his children, and most of all, his beloved Barbara, whom he met in San Diego in1965 and married later that year. Their marriage, an epic love story and relentless friendship, spanned 56 years, 4 children, 3 grandchildren, a great grandchild, a bevy of Shih Tzus and German Shepherds, thousands of runs together, 3 states, and many couples retreats with Marriage Encounter, Cursillo and Cairos, religious pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Central and South America, and Asia with The 101 Foundation, and romantic getaways to Hawaii, New Zealand, and Europe. Upon retirement from the FBI in 1989, Frank served his community as a private investigator for many years. Frank found a great deal of pride in serving his country, friends, and his community. His greatest loves, however, were his wife, children, and God. A lifelong Catholic, Frank was ordained as a deacon in 2000, and he served the Archbishop of Birmingham as The Director of Child Protection for the Archdiocese. Frank also served in prison ministry throughout his tenure as a Deacon. Frank’s loved ones will remember him for always putting people first, including serving as a volunteer coach for youth athletics for many years, leaving a lasting imprint on the lives of countless children. He lived his life with kindness, humility, patience, simplicity, and sacrifice, values proudly carried on in his honor by those he leaves behind. Also deeply embedded in the hearts of his children are Frank’s lived values of sportsmanship and healthy, athletic competition. His sons and daughter Paris especially cherish memories of playing golf with their dad for many years and will never forget their dad’s recounting of his hole-in-one. If Frank wasn’t coaching his kids sports teams, he was busy transporting or rooting for his kids’ as they played soccer, baseball, softball, swimming, tennis, or golf. Frank also enjoyed playing baseball and softball with friends and watching the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, and Penn State football on TV. He was most proud of his family, the blessings in his life and his service to the church, particularly serving on the altar. Frank leaves behind his beloved wife of 56 plus years, Barbara Slapikas (Browning) of Tuscaloosa and his children Frank Slapikas, Jr. of Birmingham, Shereen Zaidan (Dominic) of Birmingham, Heath Slapikas (Marian) of St. Simons Island, Georgia, and Sister Paris Slapikas of Louisville, Kentucky. He also leaves his grandchildren Rhianna May (Ben) of Tuscaloosa, Sierra Zaidan of Birmingham, Isabelle Slapikas of St. Simons Island, Georgia, his great grandson Ambrose May, and many extended family members and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to https://www.catholiccharitiesbhm.org/donate.html