Frank Tresente, Jr

I met Frank the week of Thanksgiving 1956, and the mutual friends who introduced us. Frank and I used to go to the "dollar a carload" drive-in movie. We had to pool our money in order to buy two or three gallons of gas for his friend's old jalopy and to pay our way into the outdoor movie park. Then we usually had enough money to buy a couple boxes of popcorn and sometimes even sodas. But quite often we just brought a gallon of water with us and sometimes that had to be used for an over heated car radiator. I went to Boston to have Christmas with the Woodsies and expected to use public transportation, but when I arrived at the airport three days later, I was really surprised to see Frank walking towards me. He had on his Army uniform and he just strutted...a very confident, macho walk...like he owned a good piece of National Airport. I looked at him and I said, "WOWZA!" and so we were married February 16, 1957. Frank had a good life, we had five super children, eight wonderful grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Frank had a lot of health issues so he never really expected to live to see his grandchildren, never even thought he would also enjoy the added privilege of living to see five great grandchildren. We had also welcomed in-laws and almost in-laws into our growing family. which was fine with Frank because now he had a new captive audience for his stories and jokes. Did I say that Frank never met a stranger and that he loved to talk? Anyone who ever met Frank knew that he had hundreds of stories and jokes that he was always willing to share with anyone, anywhere, anytime. He was an extrovert and always liked to meet new people because this gave him an opportunity to tell them his stories and make them laugh with his jokes. His supply of stories was always added to because of new experiences and meeting new people. After we both retired, we spent about ten weeks camping at Assateague and each evening after supper Frank would get on his red electric scooter and ride from camping loop to camping loop. Sometimes it would be dark before I would see this one bright headlight coming down the path to our own site. Campers and Rangers know him as Mr. Frank, the Loop Man. Frank found out everything that happened that day, and, of course, he had to tell me all the gossip. Frank loved to fish; he was a good fisherman and brought many a big fish home for supper, but he had to stop fishing because of his health issues. Of course we all realized that wouldn't stop him from getting the daily fishing news on the island or telling people his own fish tales. He knew a lot about fishing, had a lot of special rods and reels, knew what baits to use and hoped he knew where the fish were biting. Frank stopped cleaning fish when the children were old enough to do that chore for him. We think that is one of the reasons he took them with him, although he never admitted that was the reason. Frank was interested in so many things and kept adding to his knowledge of many subjects. He was interested in different guns and firearms. He would read the gun catalog, check out the prices, and read about the new ones that were on the market. Then he would discuss this with other gun enthusiasts or anyone else who would listen. I learned more than I ever wanted to about guns. Of course Frank loved music. His favorite Country Western singers were Hank Williams and Patsy Cline. We both enjoyed listening to the 1950 and 1960's musicals, especially Camelot, which was a family favorite. He liked the tenor, Mario Lanza, but his all tme favorite music was opera and it had to be sung by Luciano Pavarotti. And the opera music had to be loud, very loud because he said that was the only way anyone could enjoy it. And I guess he wanted the neighbors to enjoy it also because if the weather was pleasant, he would open up all the windows so that everyone in the surrounding area heard Pavarotti singing loud and clear. Frank liked to sing along with the CDs and all I can say is he was not a Pavarotti or even a Hank Williams. But he did try even though we did both end up laughing at him. Frank was also very clever about fixing things. If something was broken or not runnig right he would think about it for two to three days and then he would have a solution to the problem. When we first got our home we also got a new stove, but about six months later the oven door wouldn't shut so we couldn't use the oven. A couple days later Frank came home with a hook and a eye door latch, bolted one piece to the front of the door and the other piece to the side of the oven. The door was closed, it locked and it was as good as new. Everyone knew that Frank always bought old used station wagons. He always had to fix them so that they would pass inspection. One old station wagon had a rusted floor on the passenger side, and rust on the rear wheel well. He bolted some old license plates together and bolted them to the non-rusted part of the floor, then tossed a car mat over it. Next he got a piece of aluminum siding, cut it to fit the rusted part of the car, riveted that in place, and then spray painted the whole sectiom white. The car passed inspection and we put many more miles on it. He had that clever kind of mind that saw a problem, thought about it, and then found a solution. Some of this was about saving money, but most of it was about solving a probelm. Even late this November he was thinking about a problem with my car and he did find a workable solution. Frank lived 75 years so there are many, many stories that could be told about him. He had a great sense of humor, not just the jokes but he could see humor in a lot of things. He was clever and intelligent and quick witted and really enjoyed the company of his friends, but most important of all, Frank loved his family. Frank was himself even in the rehab facility and knew everything about his own family because they all came frequently to visit him and kept him up to date on family news. His sister Mildred and her husband Howard came to visit him every mornig and he really appreciated seeing them. She was a very caring sister to Fank, and Howard was a good friend for many, many years. Frank had been sick quite a while and the week of Thanksgiving we both knew it was his time to go home. We had come full circle, 54 years and a few days. Frank will be buried right by the water spigot. When we bought our retirement land in the country the water spigot was a major selling point with the salesman, so over the years we had had quite a few friendly discussions about who would get the prime site. My argument was that I sign the payment checks, his argument was that he drove us out there to see our property. We finally decided that the one who went first had first dibs. Right by the water spigot. Frank will have that prime spot, he will be pleased. So many people will miss you BuhBuh, your own family, Mildred and Howard and their family, and, of course, the many friends you have made along our life's journey. But you know that I will miss you most of all, dear heart. But now by God's grace you are free of pain and the frustration of not being able to do the things you once did, and for that we can be thankful. Please God bless Frank, and his family and friends. Till we are together again. Love and Goobies, Pat ~ ~ * ~ ~
On Tuesday, December 14, 2010 of Colmar Manor, MD. Beloved husband of Patricia E. Tresente; loving father of Dianne (Michael) Swenton, Guy (Tita) Tresente, Michelle (Gary) Snider, Alayne (Van) Sias and the late Karyn Moore; caring brother of Mildred (Howard) Smith; cherished grandfather of Justin, Mandi, Thomas, Elizabeth, Richard, Kyleen and the late Michael Swenton, II and Grace Reyes-Tresente; devoted great grandfather of Tatianne, Hailey, Shyanne, Brian and Christian. Family and friends may call at GASCH'S FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 4739 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD on Sunday, December 19th from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. Services will be held on Monday, December 20th at 11 am. Interment Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Thomas More, c/o Dr. Devore, 4922 Lasalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782.