Frank Konesky, beloved father, grandfather, brother, and award-winning photojournalist and television producer, passed away surrounded by family on February 3, 2026.

The first in his family to go to college, Frank drove a propane truck during the day, and an ambulance at night to pay for his Quinnipiac University degree. A graduate of the first national program certifying ambulance drivers as paramedics, Frank delivered two babies as an EMT, one of which was named “Francis” in his honor. Frank earned his graduate degree at Syracuse University and was hired as a cameraman by a local station in Utica, New York. His work soon brought him to Boston where he joined WBZ-TV and produced and shot segments for Chronicle and Evening Magazine. His athleticism, sense of adventure, and eye for scenery made him a favorite to cover stories about travel, sports, and the outdoors.

In 1993, Frank started his own production company, called TV Man/Riverview Productions and began an illustrious career as a top freelancer working primarily for CBS on shows such as 60 Minutes and 48 Hours. His work brought him across the world, with memorable stories in the Ukraine, Egypt, Nicaragua, Australia, Greece, Monaco, Egypt, Alaska, and Russia. He traveled everywhere, with cases full of equipment, while navigating languages and cultures, to capture stories on sensitive issues. He met celebrities and statesmen, but was equally interested in the stories that brought him into the lives of people in small towns across America where he tried to visit every Cracker Barrel along the way. No matter where he went, Frank saw beauty and humor. He was an incredible storyteller, observing the world through his camera lens and returning from his travels with thoughtful and funny observations of the people he met and the places he saw. His work as a photojournalist earned him substantial recognition, including multiple Emmys and a Peabody.

Frank was also an incredible athlete who loved hiking, rock and ice climbing, and cycling. He was an avid kayaker and every year raced in the Run of the Charles and the Blackburn Challenge, a grueling open-water race around Cape Ann. He trained hard and pushed himself to the limit. He also loved flying sailplanes and was a long-time member of the Sugarbush Soaring Association, in the Mad River Valley. He also spent time at Ridge Soaring Gliderport, where he was proud of his performance in some of the world’s most competitive soaring contests.

Frank was an amazing father to his daughter Georgiana (“Georgie”) MacDonald, or “Geo” as he called her, with whom he shared a special bond. She was the pride of his life and companion on his many adventures. He imparted to her his love of hiking and biking and they often reminisced about an incredible week in the Southwest where they hiked the Grand Canyon and Angel’s Landing. They also spent many afternoons catching painted turtles from kayaks on the Charles River, taking tandem bike rides, enjoying leisurely after-dinner walks, and even taking a Soul Cycle class on his 70th birthday. He was overjoyed to welcome his grandsons Corey (“Corey me boy!”) and Carter (“Cartah!”) MacDonald who he found “highly amusing,” his highest compliment. He loved his son-in-law Casey so much and was a proud “groundskeeper” for their home, bringing a plant (or five or ten) to put in the gardens every time he visited. He was also fortunate to share times of his life with partners, each of whom was special to him. And of course there were his beloved labrador retrievers for whom he would throw the ball for hours and take on endless walks.

Everywhere he went, he found beauty and shared it with others. He planted incredible gardens, full of color and whimsy, incorporating rocks he collected on his travels, fences made of interesting branches, and the occasional ceramic animal who he would pose and dress up to amuse children on the passing school bus. He brought his camera to every event, using his unique eye to capture beautiful moments for friends and family. His eyes were often on the sky, looking for cumulus clouds or “cues” and watching storms blow in. He met all of life’s difficulties with a dry wit and could lighten the mood often at his own expense. He’ll be remembered by the sound of wind chimes, lighting storms, the taste of fruit just from the vine, and the joy of reaching a mountain’s summit. He was rarely in a rush, always listened, and knew how to reassure with sincere hugs and needed laughs.

He spent the later years of his life in Gloucester, a town he loved for its colorful people and interesting weather. He of course made many friends there. He is survived by the MacDonald family and his three little sisters, Nancy Lynch, Kathryn Zandri, and Sandra Leone. Please join Frank’s family to honor his life through an exhibition of his beautiful photographs at the Cultural Center, Rocky Neck Art Gallery, 6 Wonson St., Gloucester, MA on February 21, 2026, 2:00-4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Frank’s honor can be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club https://www.outdoors.org/donate/donate-form/ or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, https://www.michaeljfox.org/.