Frank Osborne Sieh
Frank Osborne Sieh was born June 5, 1944, to Rosemary and Edwin Sieh in Flushing, New York. The family relocated in his youth and Frank grew up in Torrance and Redondo Beach, CA. He passed away peacefully at home on November 1, 2021, in Ventura, California, surrounded by his family.
Frank leaves behind his best friend, witty repartee partner, and devoted wife of nearly 50 years, Nancy. It didn’t matter how long they had been married, new acquaintances they met while traveling often assumed Frank and Nancy were newlyweds. Frank is additionally survived by his daughters Kathleen Sieh-Pirtle and Nicole Sieh, his sister Rosemary, his four grandchildren Christopher Pirtle (28), Kaelie Spencer (28), Tyler Pirtle (25), Keenan Duncan (14) and his loving dog Boo Bear.
Frank attended the University of California at Berkeley earning first a bachelor’s degree in economics and then a Juris Doctor degree, three years later, from the Berkeley School of Law. His first position was as a Deputy District Attorney in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, the place where he was to meet Nancy. Frank left the DA’s office for private practice in civil law where his colleagues would remark “he is scrupulously honest and fair”, and “he conducts himself graciously, ethically and with wit and humor”.
Frank served and gave generously of his time to many of the legal organizations in the County including the Ventura County Bar Association (secretary/treasurer, president), the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association, California Trial Lawyers Association, Ventura County Family Law Bar Association, Ventura County Law Library, and County Counsels’ Association of California. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ventura and Santa Barbara Colleges of Law. Early in his career he also volunteered at the Ventura County Free Law Clinic.
The latter part of his career was spent back in public service at the Ventura County Counsels’ Office where he joined as an Assistant County Counsel, two years later becoming Litigation Supervisor, then, after five years serving as Chief Assistant County Counsel, he assumed the responsibilities of County Counsel in 2001. He enjoyed the complexity and breadth of his work for the County. Throughout his professional career he was known for his “unquestioned integrity, high standards of fairness, respect for both colleagues and opponents, and commitment to the public interest”.
In retirement Frank divided his time between volunteer work (Meals on Wheels, Docent for Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary, Volunteers in Policing), recreation (sailing, hiking, biking, and gym training), traveling with Nancy, and visiting his grandchildren. Frank was a longstanding member of the Ventura Yacht Club and subscribed to the view that the two happiest days in life are the day you buy a boat and the day you sell it. When sailing the Channel Islands waters amongst whales, sea lions, and dolphins, exploring the Rogue River with eagles and otter, or walking the grounds of the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Frank was in his element surrounded by nature and wildlife, so long as there were no snakes nearby.
Frank touched the lives of so many, and his departure is all too soon given the zest for life he demonstrated daily.
Services are pending.
When you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance. -Gibran