There is a particular kind of connection to a place that goes beyond simply living there. For Frank Thorp IV and his wife, Tammy Kupperman Thorp, Eastport is not just a neighborhood they moved to. It is, in many ways, the place where Frank’s story began.
His parents, Frank Thorp III and Dorothy Thorp, arrived in Annapolis in the 1950s to open Thorp Chevrolet, and Frank grew up along these same waterways, swimming in Spa Creek as a boy. After decades of military service that took him from San Diego to Japan, Bahrain and Qatar, Frank and Tammy settled permanently in Eastport in 2014. They have been putting down roots here ever since. The deep community roots of the Thorp family began with Frank’s mother, whose tireless commitment to Eastport and Annapolis set a powerful example. While managing the family business, she dedicated herself to volunteering at the local hospital and her children’s schools, approaching motherhood with a profound sense of purpose. As the youngest child after several sisters, Frank attributes much of his character to her influence, living with a desire to honor the standards she set, a feeling that her watchful, guiding presence remains with him to this day. His parents first established their home in Eastport during the 1950s, where Frank spent his early years until he was 11, before the family moved just off Forrest Drive.
Frank’s path to Eastport is one that few neighbors could match for sheer breadth. A 1981 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he served 28 years in the Navy, rising to Rear Admiral and serving as the Navy’s Chief of Information, its senior public affairs officer and spokesperson. He was deployed to the Middle East during Operation Earnest Will and later led the coalition’s media operation during the invasion of Iraq. Following his naval career, he served as President and CEO of the US Navy Memorial for eight years before being elected Alderman from Ward 8 on the Annapolis City Council, taking office in 2025.
On the morning of September 11, Frank was at the Pentagon, having stepped away from his desk for a rare cup of coffee. He was only a single traffic light’s distance away when the plane struck his office, an event that instantly plunged the building into smoke and absolute pandemonium. In the chaos, he led his team to safety, though the day was marked by the profound loss of many close friends. For a naval officer, hearing the declaration that the country was at war reshaped his entire perspective. It became one of his life’s greatest honors to serve as the global spokesperson during this critical period, representing the brave men and women who put their lives on the line. Reflecting on his career, Frank feels incredibly fortunate for the opportunities he had and the caliber of people he served alongside with. One of his lasting contributions was the “Leaders to Sea” program, designed to bring educators, journalists, and other influencers aboard vessels to witness the Navy’s mission firsthand, a storytelling initiative that has since expanded into a significant global program.
Tammy’s career is equally remarkable. She spent nearly 17 years with NBC News as a Pentagon, State Department and White House producer, with postings in London and Tel Aviv. It was actually at the Pentagon where she and Frank first met, in August 1996. They were professional colleagues for years before beginning to date in early 2002. Given Tammy’s widespread popularity, Frank initially harbored doubts that she would ever consider a date with him. Their engagement came quickly, and so did an unexpected twist: Frank received three weeks’ notice to deploy to the Middle East to lead media operations for the invasion of Iraq. Rather than postpone, the couple pulled off a full wedding in two weeks, gathering family and friends with “everything but invitations, all phone calls!” as Frank recalls. It is the kind of story that tells you something essential about who they are.
Together, Frank and Tammy share their Eastport home with Riley, a 13-year-old yellow Labrador who remains as spirited as ever. Riley accompanies them on regular walks down Boucher Avenue to what the family affectionately calls the “canine cafe,” still eager to swim and fetch, and a clear favorite whenever the grandchildren visit. Those grandchildren, Laines, Newell and Monroe, belong to Frank and Tammy’s two children: Frank Thorp V, a coordinating producer and off-air reporter for NBC News at the US Capitol, book author and award-winning photographer, and his wife Hallie Jackson; and Brittany Thorp Gourley, who works as a Local Food Systems Coordinator for the State of Virginia, and her husband Sevren, an attorney.
Family traditions matter deeply to the Thorps. They alternate Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings each year and organize a big family vacation every two years. Frank grew up Catholic, and Tammy is Jewish, and over the years, their children and grandchildren have embraced her traditions at Passover and Hanukkah. Some of the family’s best summer memories revolve around a simpler pleasure: eating crabs together whenever everyone visits. Homemade pizza nights and grandad’s pancakes round out the table, to considerable enthusiasm from the grandchildren.
When it comes to Eastport itself, the water is central to everything Frank loves about being here. He and Tammy co-own a sailboat with a friend and neighbor and spend as much time as possible out on the Severn River. Long walks around the neighborhood or along the Spa Creek trail are a regular part of life, and the couple takes full advantage of Eastport’s dining scene, frequenting breakfast spots like Eastport Kitchen, Leeward and Bread and Butter, along with the many places they enjoy for lunch and dinner. Frank is also an enthusiastic Navy football fan, attending games and tailgating alongside the midshipmen he and Tammy sponsor.
When it comes to local dining, Frank’s loyalties run deep; he has been frequenting Rocco’s for pizza since his high school days. The Boatyard is another staple, perfectly capturing that quintessential Eastport atmosphere, much like the neighborhood institution that is Davis’s Pub. For the Thorps, it is the community itself that defines these spaces. They also hold a special appreciation for Lewnes’ Steakhouse, a family-owned landmark that has served as a cornerstone of the Eastport business community for many generations.
Community involvement has been a constant thread throughout Frank’s life, from his years on the board of the Annapolis Maritime Museum to his trustee role with the Naval Academy Athletic Association. His decision to run for City Council grew from that same sense of commitment. As he puts it, “I love Eastport, and I love Annapolis. My favorite part about Eastport is ‘Eastporters being Eastporters.’ The people are what make Eastport so great! People here tend to be friendly, willing to lend a helping hand, and engaged in the community. Oh, and fun!”
It is hard to imagine a family better suited to this neighborhood. The Thorps bring decades of service, deep local roots, genuine warmth, and an infectious appreciation for everything Annapolis has to offer. If you spot them walking Riley down Boucher Avenue or cheering at a Navy game, stop and say hello. Chances are, Frank will tell you that you are one of the luckiest people in the world to live here, and then he will invite you to make the most of it.
