03/16/2026
Frank Carmel Annati
It is with great sadness announcing the passing of Frank Carmel Annati, 74, of Willimantic on March 14th, 2026. Born in Tripoli, Libya on January 17th, 1952, to Ida (Mallia) and Ettore Annati. Together, they gathered young Frank and crossed the ocean to New York in 1955 and settled in Willimantic, Connecticut.
During Frank’s attendance at Windham High School, he met Eva in art class, and they started dating in 1969. Before he could officially tie the knot in 1971, Frank helped his mother take over the operations of the Bench Shop in 1970 after Ettore passed away. Frank stayed true to his virtues; deeply devoted to his family and his work. Frank poured all of the love he received from Ida into his own children and grandchildren, and especially his great-grandchildren.
Frank loved reading, the ocean, crossword puzzles, the Olympics, sunbathing, gardening, and keeping to routine. Seven O’clock was Jeopardy. He enjoyed watching MMA and boxing matches. Frank also had a great interest in bird watching and travelling. Frank took Eva to Amsterdam, Jamaica, Canada, Florida, along the Maine coastline, and some trips out west. Many business trips took them all over the country.
Frank was always hands on. In earlier years he built several stone walls and walkways around the home which he also helped build. He was such a hardworking man and had incredible attention to detail. In the early 70s, Frank started building his basket case 1942 Harley Davidson motorcycle: a ten year project. He rode that bike with his brother and his friends for decades. Mechanics was a true passion, along with the outdoors, Rock and Roll Classics and especially Reggae.
Out of the many phases of his life, West African drumming had the most impact on Frank. He had taken two trips to Guinea, West Africa to study the percussion, music, and building of the drums. Frank was a member of the Soli Soma Djembe Orchestra (Magicians of Transformation). Frank also led an annual gathering of drum builders called the Drum Builders Conference (est. 2001). This annual conference brought likeminded individuals from all across the United States and several countries together to the Bench Shop every summer for many years.
Frank leaves behind his true love of 55 years, Eva (Makray), two sons, Lucius (Luke) Annati, Jacob (Jake) Annati, and his only daughter, Jilliana (Jill) Scott, his children' s spouses, granddaughters Alicia Annati and Juliet Duchesne, grandsons Nicholas (Nick) Duchesne and Andrew Annati, great-grandsons Virgil (Virg) Annati, Landon Duchesne and Tychus (Ty) Mostowy, his younger brother Richard (Rick) Annati, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, and his cherished friends Rick Liegl and Judd Ayer.
Frank was incredibly easy-going, kind, and a friend to all. He helped countless people in need, even those who did him wrong. A true Capricorn. He did things his way, always the same way and for that he is loved. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, the Willimantic Community, the African Drumming Community, and endless other people.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Willimantic Public Library, Willimantic Third Thursday Street Fest, Willimantic Footbridge, The Covenant Soup Kitchen, and any other local charity of your choice. He always gave back to the community and he only shopped locally.
Frank touched so many lives, and there truly aren’t words that describe just how much he will be missed. He filled in all our missing pieces and made us whole with nothing but love, always.
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