Wednesday, May 30, 2018
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Frank,
It remains a blessing to have you in my life and to have your friendship - from our kindergarden days to today and beyond. Choking up as I write this, I have tried to find a old black & white photo of us together in Cub Scounts when we stood together in uniforms, on the front patio of my childhood home, holding our 'forms of transportation' projects we each made with our Moms - yours a really nice looking car made of cardboard, about the size of a shoebox, mine a hot air balloon made of crushed aluminum foil about the size of a softball.
During Oldfield Jr. High days we were part of a neighborhood core of friends who enjoyed hours of daily pick-up games - basketball, baseball, football, street hockey and more, all year, any weather! You were a fun and great competitor in every sport!! We also enjoyed some 'bike hikes' back then as we kept pushing the bounds of distant cycling trips out east on L.I. (Back then we also enjoyed seeing your grandfather.)
As we began to go beyond our local area, together we often took the LIRR to Shea Stadium along with Gary, Bruce, Chuck, Michael and others (packing our own food, drinks, and materials to get autographs), arriving 2 hours early/when gates first opened, then sneaking down from upper deck to box seats. We also took bus service out of Whitman Mall to Yankee Statium to do the same there.
Even over decades of our adult years after we scattered around the country, we'd sometimes cross paths, typically at Greenlawn's annual fireman's fair. My Dad - a volunteer GFD fireman for ~55+ years - always enjoyed your visits to the booth he worked (either the Meat Booth, or in his retirement years the Pizza Booth). He and you were among the two best ambassadors of Greenlawn I knew.
So nice that we reconnected in the last year, meeting at Miller's Ale House in Commack last October 2017 (see uploaded photo) plus that you made the effort to get us back together in March over lunch to update us on the medical challenges you faced this year. So grateful for the time together.
Frank - you had a personality that was admired in ways you may have not known. A upbeat demeanor that was always there, a chuckle/laugh that still echoes and gives comfort. You are a rock to many you touched. When you have that type impact, you remain with us - always!
May God comfort your family and friends ... and enjoy watching Yankee games with you!
Love John, Kim & family
