UA records custodian dies at 58

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Frank Antinoro

Frank Antinoro, associate director of institutional data, worked at the University of Arizona for 30 years collecting university information.

In 1966, he received a bachelors degree in speech with a minor in English from UA. Two years later, Antinoro earned his masters in speech and hearing sciences.

John Wilson, director of decision and planning support, said Antinoro was known for having the answer to any question.

"Some people said, 'Oh God, we've lost our institutional memory,'" Wilson said of Antinoro's passing.

Norla Antinoro, Frank's wife of 33 years, said he paid great attention to detail.

"Anybody who ever knew him knew he was a stickler for accuracy," Norla Antinoro said.

She said her husband spent his personal time campaigning for animal rights.

"We spent most of our time working with Animal Rescue," said Norla Antinoro. "What spare money we had went to the Nature Conservancy."

Antinoro had two 85-pound dogs and 34 cats - including 19 Siberian felines imported from the Soviet Union just before the country's collapse.

"He slept with a blanket of cats on him," Norla Antinoro said. "Whenever he got cold he would say: 'where are my cats?'"

Many of Antinoro's cats had been used in scientific research experiments, and would have been put to sleep if Antinoro hadn't rescued them, she said.

"He couldn't face that, so they came home to live with us," Norla Antinoro said. "He was a very loving and compassionate man."

She added that Antinoro was also very concerned with civil rights.

"If he thought an individual was not treated fairly, he stood up and said: 'this isn't right,'" his wife said. "He never made a big deal out of that, but it was very important that people be treated fairly."

Antinoro's ashes will be scattered over his favorite place - the Pacific Ocean, his wife said.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be sent in Antinoro's name to the Nature Conservancy, 300 E. University Blvd.

Antinoro is survived by his wife, Norla, and his son, Jarrod, 26, both of Tucson.