Cole
Well-Known Member
Pretty sure he has a picture like this with everyone that was that the F cancer ride. Not sure who he had take them, but I know he made me stand for one, and I only met him a couple times....
A Wookies return.....
- Thread starter Frank
- Start date
Purl
Well-Known Member
It's taken me quite a while to get through the posts here. Will post some more when I can get thoughts sorted and compose myself long enough to start writing. The kindness and memories being shared here are really special, and reflects the man that Frank was. Thank you all, and please keep them coming.
There are plans in the works for a wake/gathering of family, friends and his care team in the coming weeks. We will share details early next week. Plans are also coming together for a large celebration of Frank's life later in the summer - BBQ, big ol' group ride, etc. Something that will not fit in an indoor space, nor should it. Stay tuned.
@Juggernaut your post reminded me of this day, not too far from CT in Holyoke, MA. 2009 ish. Completely gutted, but memories like this will get us through.
There are plans in the works for a wake/gathering of family, friends and his care team in the coming weeks. We will share details early next week. Plans are also coming together for a large celebration of Frank's life later in the summer - BBQ, big ol' group ride, etc. Something that will not fit in an indoor space, nor should it. Stay tuned.
@Juggernaut your post reminded me of this day, not too far from CT in Holyoke, MA. 2009 ish. Completely gutted, but memories like this will get us through.
To clarify - we are looking for photos from friends that we can share with Cindy and use in a massive slideshow at his wake. I will mine from this thread, but if you'd like a link to the shared folder, hmu
Fuck cancer. I cannot emphasize that enough. Never had the pleasure of meeting Frank but seemed like a great man and his impact will be felt for generations of MTBers to come. We're forever indebted to him.
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
The day we got banned from doing trail work at Allaire 😂
ChrisG
Unapologetic Lifer for Rock and Roll
I fall into the category of not knowing Frank well and had only met him a few times. But there were stretches of time where he was very active on this board.
He always stood for doing the right thing. He obviously preached proper etiquette on the trails. How to interact with other trail users, why we don’t ride in the mud, etc. But he also set a good example on how to act in life.
Back in my early days on MTBNJ I would occasionally troll people and he would call me out. But always in a good/productive way that let me know it wasn’t cool without alienating me. Looking back that definitely had an impact on me. And as I get older I appreciate it even more. RIP Frank. I’ll just imagine him and Schilling are riding bikes somewhere together.
He always stood for doing the right thing. He obviously preached proper etiquette on the trails. How to interact with other trail users, why we don’t ride in the mud, etc. But he also set a good example on how to act in life.
Back in my early days on MTBNJ I would occasionally troll people and he would call me out. But always in a good/productive way that let me know it wasn’t cool without alienating me. Looking back that definitely had an impact on me. And as I get older I appreciate it even more. RIP Frank. I’ll just imagine him and Schilling are riding bikes somewhere together.
I think it was a temporary ban.
Bikeworks
Well-Known Member
I'm late to the sport, so I only had the opportunity to have met and ridden with Frank once, at Brisbane for his Fuck Cancer ride. It was there that I learned of just how important he was for trial development in NJ. He was a pleasure to ride with, to speak with. Condolences to his family, and this entire community.
Red Mosquito
Formerly RLB the Scrapple Boy
This is great, I remember this pic making rounds near the time I joined MTBNJ. I had no idea what kind of clowns I was getting involved with. Good old days!
Also had no idea I was getting involved with the very people who make all of our MTB destinations possible, thanks in large part to Frank!
Mare
Well-Known Member
The best part was, “where are my gropers?”
For those of you that don’t know…I couldn’t ride logs. Heck, I still can’t ride any that will slam into my bottom bracket, but that’s not the point. Frank always offered to be an available groper (spotter), along with @KenS and @Brian Snyder.
Johnny Utah
Well-Known Member
I met Frank almost thirty years ago in 96/97 just when he acquired his first bike - a Trek 930, which he later upgraded to his White GT LTS - I still remember the smile on his face for months after obtaining this - he later put my Junior T on after I traded for his Z1. At that point I was 15 and would ride my bike to Allaire solo.
After seeing Frank a few times in the lot out front of his Ford Mustang we finally spoke and started riding together. He was so patient as I was morbidly obese (I used to crack a frame a year at Allaire) but we rode regularly. This later turned into fight club rides and eventually road trips to Blue Mountain and other DH locations to go downhilling. If Frank ever told you about the spectacular crash that looked like an airliner going down - I was there to watch it.
As Allaire had trail issues and Wally came in I was there to help - watching JORBA form and Frank work his magic was wonderful, I never would have dreamed it would have transitioned to what it is now - But Frank was dedicated and made it happen. Our time in trail work eventually led me to a horticulture degree which turned into managing farms which led to where I am now - much of it shaped by my time spent with Frank as a young man.
We lost a unique and special individual who united so many of us in happiness. I am happy for the connections but sad to say we have lost one of our “Connectors”. The world has some large Wookie shoes to fill now.
After seeing Frank a few times in the lot out front of his Ford Mustang we finally spoke and started riding together. He was so patient as I was morbidly obese (I used to crack a frame a year at Allaire) but we rode regularly. This later turned into fight club rides and eventually road trips to Blue Mountain and other DH locations to go downhilling. If Frank ever told you about the spectacular crash that looked like an airliner going down - I was there to watch it.
As Allaire had trail issues and Wally came in I was there to help - watching JORBA form and Frank work his magic was wonderful, I never would have dreamed it would have transitioned to what it is now - But Frank was dedicated and made it happen. Our time in trail work eventually led me to a horticulture degree which turned into managing farms which led to where I am now - much of it shaped by my time spent with Frank as a young man.
We lost a unique and special individual who united so many of us in happiness. I am happy for the connections but sad to say we have lost one of our “Connectors”. The world has some large Wookie shoes to fill now.
Bikeworks
Well-Known Member
It's tributes like these that speak to a life well-lived. We can all only hope to have this sort of influence on someone else's life.
I am saddened to hear of Frank's passing. I have known him since the early days of Jorba and always remember him full of smiles and being a positive force within Jorba and in life. Even through his battle with cancer, he kept giving to others. He was a treasure and will be missed.
I especially loved his holiday greeting photo shopped pictures he used to post. They always made me laugh big.
I especially loved his holiday greeting photo shopped pictures he used to post. They always made me laugh big.
teabagger11
Well-Known Member
I had never met him but I wish I had sorry for his family and MTB community's loss