Frank W. Lewis
Encyclopedia
Frank Waring Lewis was an American cryptographer and cryptic crossword
compiler. His puzzles were printed in The Nation
for over 60 years, for a total of 2,962 puzzles. Leonard Bernstein
, Kurt Vonnegut
, and Katha Pollitt
were listed among the fans of his puzzles.
. His father was from England
.
Lewis attended secretarial school and the University of Utah
, from which he later earned a degree in absentia. He passed the federal civil service test
, and earned a master's degree in music from The Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
In Washington, Lewis worked at government secretarial jobs. Just before World War II
, Lewis was approached by Col. William F. Friedman
, head of the U.S. Army
's cryptography
section, who was looking for "very smart" people. Lewis was hired as a civilian and helped break the code used to coordinate Japanese ships. After the war, he joined the National Security Agency
(NSA). He was awarded the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
by both the War Department
and the NSA. He may be only person to have won two such medals. Much of his work remains classified.
In 1969, he retired with his wife to the Caribbean
, but they relocated to Massachusetts
after the eruption of the Montserrat
volcano.
He died on November 18, 2010, at age 98. He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Sylvia (née
Shosteck). They had five children.
code-breaking station in England. Lewis took over as The Nations puzzle setter in 1947. When The Nation started running his puzzles every other week instead of weekly starting in 2008, the public outcry was so great it resumed printing the puzzles weekly. Lewis published his last puzzle in The Nation in December 2009, after which the magazine began reprinting old ones. Since Lewis's death, the magazine has continued to reprint old puzzles while it searches for a new puzzle setter.
Cryptic crossword
Cryptic crosswords are crossword puzzles in which each clue is a word puzzle in and of itself. Cryptic crosswords are particularly popular in the United Kingdom, where they originated, Ireland, the Netherlands, and in several Commonwealth nations, including Australia, Canada, India, Kenya, Malta,...
compiler. His puzzles were printed in The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
for over 60 years, for a total of 2,962 puzzles. Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
, Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
, and Katha Pollitt
Katha Pollitt
Katha Pollitt is an American feminist poet, essayist and critic. She is the author of four essay collections and two books of poetry...
were listed among the fans of his puzzles.
Personal life and career
Lewis was born on August 25, 1912, in Salt Lake City, UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. His father was from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Lewis attended secretarial school and the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, from which he later earned a degree in absentia. He passed the federal civil service test
United States civil service
In the United States, the civil service was established in 1872. The Federal Civil Service is defined as "all appointive positions in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the Government of the United States, except positions in the uniformed services." . In the early 19th century,...
, and earned a master's degree in music from The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In Washington, Lewis worked at government secretarial jobs. Just before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Lewis was approached by Col. William F. Friedman
William F. Friedman
William Frederick Friedman was a US Army cryptographer who ran the research division of the Army's Signals Intelligence Service in the 1930s, and parts of its follow-on services into the 1950s...
, head of the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's cryptography
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
section, who was looking for "very smart" people. Lewis was hired as a civilian and helped break the code used to coordinate Japanese ships. After the war, he joined the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
(NSA). He was awarded the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
The Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service is the highest award granted by the United States Secretary of the Air Force to civilian personnel. It consists of a medal, lapel button, and citation certificate...
by both the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
and the NSA. He may be only person to have won two such medals. Much of his work remains classified.
In 1969, he retired with his wife to the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, but they relocated to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
after the eruption of the Montserrat
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately long and wide, giving of coastline...
volcano.
He died on November 18, 2010, at age 98. He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Sylvia (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Shosteck). They had five children.
Puzzles
Lewis discovered British-style cryptic crosswords while stationed during the war at the Bletchley ParkBletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an estate located in the town of Bletchley, in Buckinghamshire, England, which currently houses the National Museum of Computing...
code-breaking station in England. Lewis took over as The Nations puzzle setter in 1947. When The Nation started running his puzzles every other week instead of weekly starting in 2008, the public outcry was so great it resumed printing the puzzles weekly. Lewis published his last puzzle in The Nation in December 2009, after which the magazine began reprinting old ones. Since Lewis's death, the magazine has continued to reprint old puzzles while it searches for a new puzzle setter.