THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604120231
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
By the end of Frank Mikoliczyk's 20-year Navy career, he was chief boiler technician and steam generating plant inspector on destroyers, supply ships and amphibious landing craft.
When boilers, pumps, forced air blowers, high pressure water blasters and trash burning incinerators broke down, Mikoliczyk fixed them.
The worst repair problem he ever dealt with was repairing two of the four vertical forced-draft blowers aboard a ship.
``We had to climb to the overhead space and into the blower's suction air duct to replace the upper oil seal,'' he said. The fan end of the blower had to be completely disassembled so that the seal could be replaced. But the job was not yet finished. The fan wheel still had to be replaced.
``We used the ship's galley oven to heat the wheel to 150 degrees so it would properly fit the blower shaft,'' he said. ``It had to be a quick process because as the wheel cooled, it shrank.''
Some of his military co-workers credited Mikoliczyk with sort of second-sense ability to hear and diagnose a problem.
After retiring from the Navy in January, he just naturally continued to fix things. Some friends and neighbors asked him to repair appliances.
``I realized - I can do this,'' he said. So the South Norfolk resident started his own repair business. It's called Mikoliczyk's Mechanical Repair.
Now instead of repairing boilers, he's repairing washers, dryers, dish washers, ice makers, compactors, microwave ovens and boiler and furnace controls. Soon, he hopes to get a license to repair appliances that use freon.
Full name: Franklin A. Mikoliczyk
Hometown: ``Route 1, about five miles from Pittston, Pa.''
Fond childhood memories: ``Working on the farm with my dad. On the days when we cleared land, we'd burn brush and trees. Dad always baked potatoes and hamburgers right in the fire. I learned to repair things in the most cost efficient way possible on that farm. The training helped me out in the Navy, where I continued to work hard.''
Spouse: Alyce
Children: James, Timothy, Jennifer and my nephew, Anthony
Occupation: ``Owner and operator of Mikoliczyk's Mechanical Repair. `Just call Frank' is what I have on my sign.''
Hobbies: ``Tinkering around with something in the garage.''
Last book read: ``Hunt for Red October'' by Tom Clancy
Describe yourself as a color: ``Blue, because it's a primary color and goes with just about anything.''
If you could be any animal, what would it be? ``A cat or a dog because they have the life of Riley.''
What irritates you the most? ``People who drive and use cellular phones at the same time.''
Favorite type of music: ``It has to tell a story, so country or rock 'n' roll.''
Can't resist: Butter pecan ice cream
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``I'd be more organized.''
Favorite TV program: ``Anything on Discovery or the Learning Channel.''
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant: Una's Deli on Bainbridge Ave.
What would you choose for a last meal?
``It's a tossup between lobster and prime rib.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Frank Mikoliczyk
by CNB