Jo Ann's Friends: Dan and I Treasure Our Friendship With Frank

There are some friendships that I cherish. One of those friendships is with a special friend I made during my senior year of college (1977-78) named Frank. What is so special about the friendship my husband Dan and I have with Frank, is that for a period of almost 20 years we lost touch with Frank, but when we reunited, our friendship was one we all cherished more than ever and our friendship has grown stronger and stronger and more and more special.

Frank, Dan, and I have had experiences from our past that have caused us to think the same and we just enjoy being together when we are able to get together. Our thoughts on religion and politics are very similar, but even if we disagree sometimes, we just enjoy keeping in touch since we know that our friendship is now a lifelong one that can't be taken for granted. We never want to be out of touch again. Most of the time, we just talk on the phone or chat online and we follow one another's lives on Facebook, but when we can, we try to see one another face to face.

Below is a summary of how this cherished friendship came about:

When I was a senior at Colorado College in the fall of 1977, shortly after I stopped competitive skating, I moved into the dorms at the college. I was very eager to make friends that year since I had been so busy training that I'd never really just been a "regular kid," so almost every time I met a new person, I wanted to get to know that person better. Making (and keeping) friends was and is just so important to me.

So....during the very first part of the semester, I sat down to lunch in the Rastall Center college cafeteria one day alone. I had discovered if I sat down alone other students would join me and that there was always a chance I'd meet someone new since the students at Colorado College always were anxious to have conversations with students they did not know yet.

A few minutes later, I was joined by my new bubbly and cute red haired friend Elaine who was from Boston. Not long afterward, another student joined us.

Frank put down his tray and began to settle in to eat his lunch. Elaine made some introductions.

“Jo Ann, this is Frank," said Elaine. "Frank, this is Jo Ann."

I really liked Elaine since she was so cute, and anyone Elaine liked, I instantly liked.

On the day, I made a friend at that lunch who would become very dear to me, and later, to both me and my husband, Dan.

I still remember Frank eating melted ice cream that day in the Colorado College Rastall Student Center Cafeteria. A funny memory I have of Frank as a college student was that he always got ice cream for dessert and let it melt...:)

I have no memory of what we discussed at that first lunch together, but after lunch, we were certain we had begun a friendship.

In a few short weeks we had a discussion in the THE HUB (the College’s snack bar) over ice cream cones, on whether any romance was involved in our friendship, and we decided, “No,” there was no romance, just a good old platonic friendship. Ever since I was a little kid, I had a lot of friends who were boys, so it didn't seem odd to me to become friends with Frank even though he was a guy.

I really enjoyed Frank. He had a quiet manner I can’t explain. He lived in McGregor Hall, a boys' dorm on the Colorado College campus, near to the Ticknor Hall women's dormitory where I lived during that school year. It was common for college students in those days to just drop by one another's rooms to just say hello, so I visited him in McGregor a few times and he dropped by to see me in Ticknor many times.

Frank had a car and didn’t mind giving me a ride when I needed one. Most of the students at "CC" Colorado College lived on campus without cars in those days, so asking friends for rides was common. (Too bad there was no such thing as Uber in those days!)

One of my favorite places to take my college friends was “The Condo,” a condominium near the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs that my dad had purchased for our family while my brother and I trained in figure skating at The Broadmoor. It was common for me to get a group of kids together, and Frank would drive us all to “The Condo.” We would sometimes eat a meal there, but would also always take advantage of the indoor pool and hot tub there. What great memories I have of those visits to the condo! Many of the college friends I'm still in touch with still talk about those "condo gatherings!" The hot tub and pool was just so luxurious and it was fun to sit in the hot tub as we watched the snow fall down through the glass that surrounded the pool and roof.

Frank also became close with my friend, "Melinda." (Not her real name, since "Melinda" has asked me not to use her real name on this blog) and I became close with a young freshman named Jeff. The four of us sort of like a gang in those days. We did everything together! We went to movies, ate together, sang songs together, and just had fun.

Frank loved sending cards, and bought many in advance so they would be ready to give or send for any occasion. It was not uncommon to receive neat cards from him and it was so special to receive one of Frank's cards. Getting a card from him was a great treat, since he put much thought into every card he sent or gave. I was happy before I opened one of Frank's cards!

Frank, Frances, Fran, Susan

Frank's family was from San Antonio, Texas and before attending Colorado College, he attended a high school there. Frank told me that his father’s name was Frank, his mother’s name was Frances, his name was Frank and his sister’s name was Fran. But....there was also another sister, named Susan! I always thought that was very "interesting" and funny! Frank's parents really must have liked their names!

Note: Frank gave me the following trivia about his family: 'My dad was actually "Francis" at birth, but early on used "Frank." In 1917 my grandfather changed the spelling of our surname, so maybe Francis officially became Frank then? All his ID was in "Frank." '

So...Francis and Frances were really Frank's parents' first names! I bet that must have caused lots of smiles among their friends and family and naming two of their children Frank and Fran continued those smiles!

Susan, Frank, Fran

Frank was/is integrated into so many memories of my senior year at Colorado College. In November, I remember baking him a Devil's Food dark chocolate cake for his 21st birthday and delivering it to McGregor. Also, in that same month of November, I remember eating Thanksgiving Dinner in Bemis (a very fancy dining hall on campus that was designed like a British hall from the best colleges in England) with Frank and my friend Elaine in 1977. Elaine and I had been invited to a Thanksgiving dinner at someone's home that evening, but still took advantage of the free meal on campus! We ate so much and talked about the things we were thankful for. Most of the students at CC had gone home for the holidays, but the students who remained on campus had been provided with a meal and we were glad to be together.

I was an art major and I remember Frank helping tremendously with my senior art show on campus in the college's art building Packard Hall. I still have an album of wonderful photos he took from the reception. He even took photos of every single one of my paintings! I still have all those photos from that art show, and I treasure each one. Frank loved photography and was and is great at it. (He still posts amazing and wonderful photos on Facebook.)

Center Left Photo - Frank and Freinds Helping With My Senior Art Show

Frank gave me a ride to a public high school in Colorado Springs so I could interview a teacher for one of my education class projects. He just always seemed to be there for me and his other close friends. I was so grateful that he took the time from his busy student life for others.

When my closest friend Marion visited me during January of 1978, Frank drove Marion and me to the airport at the end of her visit. I still have the photo that Frank took of the two of us as we said good-bye.

JO ANN and Marion - January 1978 At the Old Colorado Springs Airport - Photo by Frank

On a Saturday night Frank drove me and a couple other friends to Denver to see my brother, Billy compete in the Midwestern Figure Skating Championships. Going to Denver in those days was considered a long drive! I will never forget how he went over and beyond for me in those days. (Frank still goes above and beyond for those he cares about.)

On Saturday night, dinner was not served on the Colorado College campus to the students who lived in the dorms, so on many Saturdays, I went out to dinner with Frank and other friends. He almost always drove. Many times we all went to "The Condo" and had an enjoyable evening that included a pot-luck dinner, swimming, and sitting in the hot tub and sauna.

Frank went skating with me once at Honnen Ice Rink on the CC campus, and I remember him clinging to the rail the entire hour. I offered to teach him to skate, but he didn’t take up my offer! I think that may have been the last time he tried ice skating...

Once the four of us (Me, Frank, "Melinda," and Jeff) went out to dinner at Senor Manuel's at the north end of Colorado Springs on a Saturday night. I remember our server recongizing me and telling me she sat next to me during the GRE. I said I was surprised she remembered me and I remember Frank and "Melinda" saying “Everyone remembers you, Jo Ann!”

We went out to eat at lots of other places with Frank: Mexican restaurants seemed to be our favorites: I especially remember he liked Jose Muldoons, and I even remember going to a Mexican restaurant at the Citadel Mall with "Melinda" and Frank and Jeff. Frank always ordered Chimichanga at Mexican restaurants.

When we graduated from Colorado College in May of 1978, Frank and I marched together and sat together for the Senior Class graduation photo and stayed near one another through the giving out of diplomas and the reception.

JO ANN and Frank - 1978 Colorado College Graduates!

We did not say good-bye right after graduation day, since Frank needed to stay in Colorado Springs after the dorms closed, so he stayed at "The Condo" with me and my parents for a few days. Even after my parents left for California with my Green Gremlin car and after I left on a plane for California that summer to begin a post-graduate life in southern California (the summer of 1978), Frank stayed at the condo since he was such a trusted and close friend that my family had no problem with him using the condo while we were not there.

Just before I left Colorado that summer, as we said our good-byes, I invited Frank to visit me in California and stay with me in Hollywood, although I really did not have a home there yet. I think Frank arrived in California about a month later.

My experience living in Hollywood turned out to be a nightmare; I was just so lonely there, so I was overjoyed to see Frank when he arrived in Hollywood to visit me. He ended up staying with me at a house on Berendo Street that was owned by a somewhat fanatical religious group. That group had given me a temporary place to stay for a short time that summer and the group also allowed Frank to stay there during his visit.

Frank and I were also extras in a movie during his Hollywood visit. We spent the night (graveyard shift I recall) on the set of THE FAST BREAK with Gene Kaplan. We just sat in the stands pretending we were watching a basketball game. We had "lunch" at midnight, courtesy of the studio. We each made $25.00. It’s a memory I’ll never forget. I remember asking a security guard for permission to use the restroom that evening and the security guard told me he was only an actor and to go ahead!

I took Frank to Long Beach to visit my grandmother during that visit too. I remember trying to guide him through as he drove through the difficult Traffic Circle that is near PCH and Lakewood Blvd.! I also remember walking through Belmont Shore and Frank taking photos of interesting sites. (About a month later, I gave up on living in Hollywood and moved in with my grandmother in Belmont Shore in Long Beach.)

I don’t remember if I saw Frank again until after I married Dan on April 7, 1979, but right after I married Dan he sent me a neat photo of me skating with my ice dance partner Richard and he put my wedding picture alongside my skating picture – he made one photo from two!

In early 1980, we took a vacation to northern California, visiting Marion’s parents and took a quick trip to Yosemite, then we decided to head for the San Francisco Bay Area to meet my friend "Melinda" and her mom and to also meet Frank. During that visit, Frank and "Melinda" and "Melinda's mom" enjoyed getting to know Dan; so now, Dan was part of my close friendship with Frank, "Melinda" and "Melinda's mom." Frank was attending Santa Clara University School of Law at the time. "Melinda's mom" sort of "adopted" me and Dan, so all of us became sort of one big extended "adopted family!"

Frank visited Long Beach and The Atherton House (a commune where we lived during our early days of our mariage) many times. I don’t really remember if Frank stayed at the house or not. I imagine he did, since all our friends stayed with us; there was always room on the couch!

He visited us often, and later, after the house closed down, even attended The Atherton House Reunion in 1983. I remember Dan and I going to Disneyland with Frank and enjoying the Tahitian Terrace Restaurant together.

I began teaching skating in 1983, and Frank visited me at the rink when he visited. He spent many holidays with us too. Every holiday season, he sent us a fruitcake. His wonderful and thoughtful cards kept coming and every time I opened one of his cards I was happy!

It became a tradition to combine a visit with Frank with our trips to Northern California. When we went to the Bay Area by plane, Frank always picked us up at San Jose airport and we stayed at his small apartment.

Frank went to Israel on a tour and brought back Coca-Cola shirts in Hebrew and and a set of Israeli records especially for us.

Unfortunately, around 1986, Dan and I lost touch with Frank, but we continued to think about him. I treasured our friendship so much and held on to the hope that we would all reunite again.

At the end of 2005, my husband Dan was in a horrible life-threatening accident. I sent out emails to every person I could locate asking for prayers and thoughts, and shortly afterwards, I heard from Frank! Wow...I was overjoyed! What a wonderful thing for that to happen during a time in my life that seemed surreal.

Frank began exchanging emails with me and rejoiced with me when Dan woke up from his coma and would perhaps recover and paid attention to his progress when Dan came home and began his rehabilitation. When Dan improved, he too, exchanged emails with Frank.

I was so happy when Frank joined Facebook in 2010 since now we could really share our lives and thoughts, but the highlight of being reunited happened in 2012 when I attended the US Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, Frank met me in San Jose and we reunited face to face! For me, that was the most wonderful reunion! During that same trip, Frank and I got together with "Melinda," Marion, and my friend Jessica.

Later, when Dan and I both were in Long Beach, Frank drove all the way from the San Francisco Bay Area to southern California just to see us! We ate a wonderful meal together and just enjoyed one another again.

Ever since we reunited, Frank has met two of my children, Joel and Annabelle (he has not met Rebekah yet). Frank's daughter Monique and her four children (yes...Frank has four grand-children!) went to see Joel perform in Disney On Ice Frozen when the show was in San Jose.

Click Here to See a Video Frank Captured of My Son Joel Performing in Frozen!

I've never met Frank's two other children, but have heard about them. When I was in northern California for a skating related event, I was able to meet Frank's very sweet friend Jeanette who now has become a friend of mine. Frank and Jeanette and her niece went with me and my dad to see my son Joel perform in Disney On Ice in 2015 when the show was in San Jose. In addition, my close friend Kathie met Frank and Jeanette at a concert in Santa Cruz. He says it was great to meet another friend of mine at that concert.

Frank tried to drive to Colorado for my daughter Annabelle's Bat Mitzvah, but due to snow he had to turn around and could not make it. How meant so much to us that he made a real effort to come and shows how loyal a friend Frank is!

Frank's Route 48 States Challenge and Also His Trip to Alaska on His Motorcycle!

In 2006 Frank rode his motorcycle up the Alaska Highway and Haul Road to Arctic Ocean!

Frank Photographed the Beautiful Alaska Scenery

By the way, Frank has done something quite impressive! He did the 48 States Challenge on his motorcycle and he has done that incredible challenge more than once. The 48 States Series consists of motorcycle rides that include the challenge of visiting all of the lower 48 states on a motorcycle and the challenge must be completed in 10 days. He's also done the National Parks Tour Master Traveler rides where he visited 50 National Park Service sites in 25 states in the USA within a year. That was also done on a motorcycle! In addition he's done the 50cc Quest where he rode his motorcycle coast-to-coast within 50 hours and the Border-to-Border Insanity where he rode his motorcycle from Mexico to Canada in less than 24 hours!

We look forward to continuing the friendship we cherish with Frank. By the way, Frank, thank you so much for being my friend!