Franklyn Rehm Atkinson
Dec. 13, 1941-April 14, 2025
Belmont, California

Franklyn Rehm Atkinson passed away peacefully at age 83 on April 14, 2025 in Stanford, California, following a brief illness. Frank was born in San Francisco on December 13, 1941 to Patricia Rehm Atkinson and Robert Wilson Atkinson. Frank was a 4th generation Californian. Due to his father’s work with a family business, the Guy F. Atkinson Company (construction), he spent his childhood with his parents and two brothers in San Francisco, Hillsborough, and Woodside, CA, Denver, CO and Harlan County, NE. He had a loving childhood full of sports, the outdoors, and beloved pets.

Frank graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School at age 16, and spent a year at Menlo College before enrolling at Stanford University, where he joined a family tradition as a third-generation graduate and athlete. Frank played football at Stanford (#79), and nurtured a lifelong love of Stanford football and Stanford sports. He was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity.

Frank was the Pittsburgh Steelers first draft pick in the 8th round in 1963. He played one season for the Steelers as a lineman, and was transferred to the Denver Broncos where he played a partial season before being injured in a game and retiring from football in 1964. He married Linda Beardwood, whom he met at Stanford, on December 27, 1963. He graduated from UCLA business school in 1965, when he and Linda started a family, moved back to the San Francisco Bay Area, and Frank began his long career in venture capital and finance.

In 1974 Frank and Linda moved their family abroad. Their first stop was Beirut, Lebanon, where Linda had to evacuate the 3 girls from the civil war. Then they moved to Dusseldorf, Germany, and finally, to London, England. They traveled the world during that time.

He continued to enjoy his lifelong love of Stanford sports, particularly Stanford football. He served as President of the Stanford Buck Club from 1984-85; continued to represent the family with the Frank E Rehm and Patricia Rehm Atkinson football scholarship and the annual Frank Rehm Award for the best forward and back of Big Game. He warmly embraced multiple generations of Stanford players and coaches.

Atkinson is survived by his wife of 62 years, Linda Beardwood Atkinson of Belmont, California; three daughters: Patricia Atkinson of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Gunhild Kristin Jordan (Larry Jordan) of Sammamish, Washington, Robin Fox (Michael Fox) of Aspen, Colorado, brother Will Atkinson of Reno, Nevada; and five grandchildren: Jordan Fox, Lauren Fox, Jack Fox, Liv Jordan, and Annika (Nikki) Jordan.