Longtime Lawrence resident is daughter of Pep Boys founder

The daughter of a founder of the famous Pep Boys automotive franchise and a longtime resident of Lawrence learned a lifelong lesson from her father Jack Strauss.

Bea Franklin, 98, has lived a fulfilling life. A resident of Lawrence since 1958, Franklin is the daughter of the Pep Boys tire company founder Jack Strauss. along with Emanuel (Manny) Rosenfeld, Maurice (Moe) Strauss, and Moe Radavitz. Franklin’s dad Jack of the Pep Boys later came to NYC & formed another automotive chain of stores, Strauss Stores. When her family moved to New York, her father would make a business decision that would teach Bea a lifelong lesson.

“My dad wanted to have his own business, not just with Manny and Moe and he opened five stores at one time and a warehouse,” said Bea Franklin, 98, “He was a lawyer before he went to Pep Boys but he didn’t have a lot of money. When he came to New York, he went to a bank and the manager asked him what he had to put up for collateral. My father said he would put up his good name and the manager gave him the money.” He opened five stores and a warehouse at that was my lesson about having a good name.”

Bea Franklin moved from Philadelphia to New York in 1933 when she was 9. In 1945, she married Jerry Franklin. They were married for 51 years. For three years, Jerry, a corporal, was a Army photographer. He photographed the invasions throughout Europe and North Africa and took graphic photos when the Dachau concentration camp was liberated. Jerry Franklin died in 1996 and Bea still lives by her husband’s philosophy. “My husband taught me many years ago, always think positively because all the aches and pains go away, she said.”

A former substitute librarian for several Nassau County schools including several elementary and high schools in the Five Towns, Franklin received her master’s in library science, at CW Post in 1968. Franklin was very active in Temple Israel of Lawrence and the National Council of Jewish Women.

She has three sons Rick, Bruce and Ken. Rick and Bruce are lifelong residents of Lawrence. Rick was also a veteran of the Army and spent 14 months in Pleiku, South Vietnam. Rick and Bruce now own the company, Jerry Franklin Inc. that their father formed. Ken is a New York City media and music agent for popular singer-songwriters.

Franklin has visited 34 states and 30 countries including Japan, the UK, Bali, France, Ukraine Italy, Hungary and the USSR. An avid theatergoer, she loves eating at upscale city restaurants and has played hostess to many home gatherings. Franklin’s household friends have included boxing great Rocky Graziano.

She has been a friend to Broadway actresses and actors and she travels across the country to visit her acting friends when they are performing in touring companies. She traveled to Phoenix, Memphis, Louisville and Buffalo in 2022. Though traveling is in her blood she has never considered moving. “I love the house, I love the location and I love being near my friends. I am not moving out of my house until they carry me out, Franklin said.” Her life continues to be stimulating and has no intentions on slowing down. “If I still feel as good as I do now I’ll go for 105 years old,” she said. “There’s nothing that can stop me while I’m out. You only have one life, you may as well do what you enjoy doing.”