Overview:
Edner Franck, a beloved chief in Chicago’s Haitian neighborhood and a pioneer of Haitian soccer within the metropolis, died Jan. 27 at 95 after a quick battle with dementia. He was the founding father of L’Ouverture Soccer Membership and DuSable Soccer Membership and performed a key function in creating the Haitian soccer scene in Chicago.
Edner Franck, a beloved patriarch and devoted chief in Chicago’s Haitian neighborhood, died Jan. 27 after a quick battle with dementia. He was 95.
Born in Anse-à-Veau, Haiti, Franck constructed a exceptional legacy of service, integrity, and devotion to his household, tradition, and neighborhood.
A talented mechanic with an entrepreneurial spirit, Franck immigrated to Chicago within the Sixties, the place he labored tirelessly to help his family members. His deep ardour for Haitian tradition and soccer led him to discovered and handle two groups—L’Ouverture Soccer Membership and DuSable Soccer Membership—which grew to become cornerstones of the Haitian neighborhood in Chicago.
“Our household patriarch was actually a selfless man,” mentioned Kareen Nunnally, Franck’s daughter. “He would fairly go with out meals to assist others—a real act of service and sacrifice. He beloved his household, his nation, his neighborhood, his Haiti, infinitely.”
Franck’s dedication to the event of Haitian soccer within the metropolis was unparalleled. A former participant himself in Port-au-Prince earlier than immigrating in 1963, he rapidly set about creating alternatives for younger Haitian gamers in his new residence. In 1981, he based L’Ouverture Soccer Membership, impressed by his childhood hero, Haiti’s revolutionary chief Toussaint Louverture. He later established DuSable Soccer Membership, named after Chicago’s Haitian founder, Jean Baptiste Level du Sable.
Recognizing systemic points throughout the Metropolitan Soccer League, Franck spearheaded efforts to determine the Third World Soccer League—later renamed the World Soccer League—in 1988. When the league struggled to safe a devoted soccer discipline, he efficiently lobbied the Chicago Park District to repurpose Jackson Park, reworking it into the center of the Haitian soccer neighborhood. His dedication turned L’Ouverture and DuSable into championship-winning groups, providing younger Haitian males an area to domesticate self-discipline, teamwork, and delight of their heritage.
For greater than 40 years, Franck was a pillar of Haitian soccer in Chicago. His contributions have been honored in 2016 when he grew to become solely the second Haitian inducted into the Illinois State Soccer Affiliation Corridor of Fame. Past sports activities, he was deeply concerned in philanthropic work, notably by means of Operation S.O.S., which offered support to underserved communities in Haiti. He was additionally an lively member of the Haitian Catholic Mission of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
A person of religion, generosity, and unwavering dedication, Franck was predeceased by his beloved spouse, Denise. He leaves behind his cherished youngsters, Kareen and Richard; grandchildren Bryan, Bradford, and Braxton; in addition to a bunch of household and mates who will deeply miss his kindness, knowledge, and enduring legacy.
A celebration of his life shall be held on Feb. 8, 2025, on the Haitian Catholic Mission of the Archdiocese of Chicago at St. Josephine Bakhita. The wake will start at 10 a.m. CST, adopted by the funeral service at 11 a.m. He shall be laid to relaxation at Evergreen Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Illinois.