FRANK LOZANO

 

 LOZANO, known by friends as "Panchito" was born July 6, 1924 and passed away on Feb. 18, 2014 in Walnut Creek, CA. Mr. Lozano was born in Joliet, Illinois on July 6, 1924 to Inez and Antonia Lozano, the third of eight brothers and sisters. Shortly after his birth the family settled in Southwest Detroit. Mr. Lozano started playing the trumpet as a young boy, and along with his brothers formed a family band. When WWII began, he joined the army and was assigned to the "great battle of Reno" playing in the military band. Once the war was over, Mr. Lozano joined his brothers and formed Panchito & Orchestra which became one of the premier dance bands in the city. Riding the crest of popularity of Swing and Latin dance music, they appeared in venues across the city as well as Windsor and Ohio. In the golden age of television, Panchito & Orchestra was the "house band" for the "Arthur Murray Dance Show". Mr. Lozano was involved in community activities, frequently volunteering for Father Kern in whatever capacity needed. He and his brothers were the clowns for the annual Christmas Day Show for the children of SW Detroit. He never missed a Veterans Day Parade, and played the Shrine Circus every year. He was a founding member of Post 505 and Latinos of Livonia, and served with numerous community organizations throughout his life. As the music scene changed in the 60's and rock and roll, and then disco, became the dance music of choice, Mr. Lozano decided the time was right to resume his education. He enrolled in Eastern Michigan University majoring in Music. He received his BA and started his career with the Detroit Board of Education as a music teacher in 1975. He became Asst. Principal at Maybury Elementary School and then Principal of Webster Elementary School, a position he held when he retired. That position was particularly gratifying as he and his siblings had attended Webster as children themselves. When he was appointed principal of Webster, Mr. Lozano was the first Mexican-American principal in the Detroit School System. There was no greater advocate for education than Mr. Lozano. He believed that an Education was essential to success and never failed to advise people to either start or continue their education. Mr. Lozano finally finished his education in 1990 when he earned his PhD in Education from the University of Michigan. Mr. Lozano retired from the school system in 1989. He continued to play with his band until his late 70's when health concerns sidelined him. Mr. Lozano was preceded in death by his wife Barbara (1986), his companion Marie Lukes (2013), his brothers Joseph (Joann) and Martin (Lucy), and sister Mary Moomaw (Joe). Mr. Lozano is survived by his daughters Stephanie (Henri) and Antonia, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, sister Natalie Armendariz (Jesse), brothers Albert (Linda), Leon (Lorraine) and Philip (Joy) and numerous nieces and nephews. A Memorial is scheduled for April 11, 2014 at Laurel Manor, 39000 Schoolcraft Road, Livonia, MI from 1 - 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Detroit Musicians Fund c/o the Detroit Federation of Musicians, 20833 Southfield Road, Suite 103, Southfield, MI 48075.

[Detroit Free Press April 6, 2014]

 

From Lois Carpenter, WHS Class of ’44:  “My personal opinion would be to make our memorial to our own Alumni Association Scholarship Fund to honor Frank’s entire lifetime spent in the education field. (His family probably had no knowledge of this organization.)”