Former Special Olympian remembered

SANDUSKY — Family and friends came together to remember the extraordinary life of a former Sandusky resident. Francisco "Junior" Guevara, commonly referred to as Frank, passed away on July 3, from a long battle with cancer at Hospice House in Shiawassee County, Michigan, according to his obituary. He was 72. Guevara was born on Sept. 17, 1950, in Savanah, Puerto Rico, to Francisco and Guillermina (Alicia) Guevara Sr. and was one of 11 children, nine boys and two girls. Four of the nine boys were blind due to a genetic abnormality that causes the retina to deteriorate. Due to this abnormality, Frank eventually lost his sight at age 12. Despite these struggles early on in his life, it never held him back from having a full and complete life. Guevara would later marry his wife of 28 years, Janet Lee Cross, in Sept. 1994. The couple have lived in Owosso, Michigan, for the last nine years. He was as an avid Ohio sports team fan, especially Ohio State football, where he would listen to almost every game while backseat coaching with his friends and family on the phone. Those who knew Guevara said that he never let his disability or cancer stop him from enjoying life, and he proved his determination and perseverance by competing in the 1999 Special Olympics World Games Powerlifting competition at the age of 48, where he was the oldest competitor that year. In that competition, where he represented the United States, he took home three gold medals, his obituary states. John Apple trained Guevara in powerlifting. The pair first met after Apple responded to an ad in the paper requesting people with weightlifting experience to help train the special Olympians. That meeting began a roughly decade-long partnership between the two men. "Frank was the type of person that if you told him to do something, he would do more and better," Apple said. Guevara's list of achievements includes earning his black belt in Shotokan style karate, where he won 21 trophies. In addition, he also took guitar lessons in his mid-60s, inspired by his love of music, especially music from the 1960s. In 2006, Frank enrolled in Sandusky's Adult Education program, where met Carol Collins, a volunteer. In 2008, at 58, Guevara obtained his GED with the help of Collins. She described him as a "very pleasant and joyful person to be around." "He always had a positive attitude no matter the situation," Collins said. Guevara is survived by his wife, Janet; brothers, Fredrico Guevara and Daniel Guevara and his wife Rose; sisters, Margareta Ousley and her husband Roger, and Maria Guevara, all located within the Sandusky vicinity; and many nieces and nephews. His funeral will occur on Saturday, July 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Nelson-House Funeral Home, 120 E. Mason St, Owosso, MI 48867. Those wanting to donate in Guevara's memory are asked to do so to one of the following groups, his obituary stated: National Federation of the Blind Hospice House of Shiawassee County Special Olympics