Obituary of Frank J. Carnabuci, III

Frank J. Carnabuci, III passed away on December 24^th, 2024, at the age of 73.

Frank was born in Mount Kisco, New York, to Frank, Sr. and Carmela “Millie” Carnabuci.  He attended Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, NY, graduated from Drew University in Madison, NJ, and earned graduate degrees from Columbia University Teacher’s College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Frank was a lifelong educator and spent over 30 years serving as the headmaster of the Birch Wathen Lenox School, an independent K-12 preparatory school in Manhattan, where he became the longest-serving headmaster in the school’s 100-year history.  Prior to that, he served as assistant headmaster at The Dalton School, also in Manhattan.  He provided leadership at multiple additional schools and universities through service on their boards, including many years as a trustee of the Rippowam Cisqua School of Bedford, NY, a trustee of the Brick Church School in Manhattan, and as a trustee of Drew University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

In his leisure time, Frank enjoyed music—especially the Motown rhythm and blues of the 1960s; reading about John F. Kennedy and the Camelot era; poring through the histories of independent schools and the legacy airlines of the Golden Age of Flight; and most of all, spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Mary E. Farley; his sister, Nanci Carnabuci-Fitzgerald (Kevin) of Farmington, CT; his son, Andrew B. F. Carnabuci of West Hartford, CT; his daughter, Sarah E. F. Carnabuci of San Francisco, CA; four nieces and nephews, and many grand-nieces and -nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Bedford, NY on Friday, January 10 at 1 p.m.

.