Montana, renowned architect, dies
LAURA SELLINGER
News Writer
Francesco "Frank" Montana, former professor and chair of the School of Architecture, died Friday, Feb. 16, at his home in Largo, Fla. He was 89 years old.
Montana designed many buildings on the Notre Dame campus. His works include McKenna Hall in 1965, the University Club in 1968, the original Hammes Bookstore in 1955, the Center for Social Concerns and the University Village in1962.
Montana, who was born in Naro, Italy, earned degrees of architecture from New York University and the Ecole des Beaux Arts in 1933 and 1939, respectively.
Montana's colleagues remembered him well.
"He was a very warm and talented Italian gentleman who never lost his Sicilian charm," said Father Theodore Hesburgh, University president emeritus. "His passion for beauty showed not only in his architecture, but also in his paintings."
"Frank was a genuine and honest man who lived architecture as a vocation. He took his talents and used them according to the will of God. He truly did architecture for the good of the people," said Father Richard Bullene, assistant professor of architecture.
Montana also served on Notre Dame's architecture faculty from 1939-47 and acted as the architecture chair from 1950-1972.
"Frank was the most important figure in this program in the past 50 years. He was very devoted to his work and is the embodiment of the best of Notre Dame," said Carroll William Westfall, the current chair of Notre Dame's School of Architecture.
Montana worked diligently to establish the school's renowned Rome Studies Program in 1969 and directed it from 1972-75 and from 1980-86, when he retired.
"The students owe it all to Frank for establishing the program," Bullene said. "He got the University to invest in the buildings and the faculty without the help of any other European institutions. It lies in the heart of Rome and is admired by many schools."
Bullene attended the Rome Studies Program during his years at Notre Dame and had the opportunity to learn from Montana.
"Frank saw architecture as an art and not a purely technological matter. For him, architecture was a personal matter," he said. "Buildings do things for people and he loved influencing other people's lives through his works of art."
Perhaps Montana's most notable accomplishment was the designing of the buildings and gardens of Notre Dame's Institute for Ecumenical Studies. Located on the Tantor hilltop on the road from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, the building of the Institute was an amazing accomplishment, colleagues said.
"The greatest thing Frank did was design the Institute for Ecumenical Studies. We needed a spectacular building to house scholars and their wives as well as Benedictine monks, and the staff that worked there," Hesburgh said. "They needed a library, a chapel, nearly 50 bedrooms, dining facilities, offices and beautiful grounds. In the face of all this, Frank built a gem of a building which, after 35 years, is still functioning beautifully."
In his private practice, Montana also designed several buildings at Wayne State University. Later, he planned the terminal at the South Bend Regional Airport.
An anonymous contributor recently endowed a chaired professorship in architecture at Notre Dame in Montana's name. Westfall currently holds the position.
"Frank had a hands-on approach to learning and paid very sensitive attention to each of his students," Westfall said. "Many alumni tell stories of how he guided and understood them — he was loved by all his students."
Montana is survived by his wife, Angela, and sons, Robert and James. Memorial contributions may be made to the Frank Montana Scholarship Fund at the Notre Dame School of Architecture.
All News Stories for Monday, February 26, 2001
