Lawdwaz Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 I have an apartment complex in Lockport that I do a fair amount of work for and had a job scheduled for tomorrow. The manager of the complex told me yesterday to give him a call late today and let him know what time I'd be over to do the job on Friday. I called around 3:00 today and got no answer on his cell. That was odd I thought then just seconds later my phone rings and it was his phone..........I said "hi Fran, it's Larry". I heard a ladies voice crack and she said, "no Larry, this is _______, Fran's daughter. He died this morning." I was stunned................................ I mumbled some quick broken words of condolences and utter shock. I was floored. She said he passed this morning of a massive heart attack as he dressed to go do some clean up plowing at the apartment complex. She cried and I cried.... Damn it all. I only new Fran for about 6 years. He and another older fellow did all the maintenance work for about 100 well kept units, mostly occupied by seniors. Both guys were very unique in their own way. They got along great but were constantly busting each others balls for one reason or another. All in fun, usually. They met MANY years ago at the Niagara Raceway in Niagara County. Remember the radio ad, "SUNDAY, NIAGARA RACEWAY" the announcer would yell. It was a big deal in the 60's and 70's. Dean owned it and Fran raced there. I don't know their entire relationship but they were friends for many, many years. I talked to Dean today and we shared a few stories. Just last week Fran was telling me about a lady that passed away a month ago in one of the units and he discovered her. We had a couple of normal goofy guy comments and that was that. He was rushing to get two units ready to be occupied so he could take a weeks vacation next week with his wife. He was leaving this Monday................... Damn it all. His wife has had some health issues and he did everything with and for her. This will devastate her and his entire family. Ballroom dancing was a passion for them. He would love to tell me about all their trips to dance, it bored the hell out of me. I was all ears and did my best to look interested but he also new I'd rather talk about his drag racing!! Hell, how many handy men have SnapOn tools? I will miss him, RIP Fran. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbucks27 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Sorry to hear about your friend. John 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fasteddie Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NFA-ADK Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 My condolences to the family and you Lawdwaz. Hang in there and be strong. Every supporting arm is cherished in these times of need. Prayers to you and yours. God Bless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nomad Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 (edited) Sorry to hear. These things always remind me how unimportant hunting is In the big scheme of things ..... Smoke sent. Edited March 13, 2014 by Larry302 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wooly Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Sorry to hear you lost a buddy Lawd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ny hunter Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ants Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Sorry man……. I know the feeling, but remember the good times. RIP Fran... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
First-light Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Seems like he had a nice life, sorry for the loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bone Seeker Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Sounds like a good reason to Dedicate this upcoming Hunting season to Fran. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reeltime Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 sorry to hear of your friends passing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg54 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Sorry for the loss of your friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Four Season Whitetail's Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Sorry to hear this news. We all only get to meet one or two of those very special people in our lives and most times its only those few six years or so that we get to know them. We have our friends and family and then we have those couple special people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt_a_KISS Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Soo sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince1 Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 condolences, dealing with people passing is the worst. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 It's a hard thing to deal with, and it is not something that you ever get to accept any easier. As you get older, these things get more frequent as your circle of friends also age. No one can ever say or do just the right thing to make the grief pass. Only time can do that. The best anyone can do is what has already been mentioned, focus on the good times with a celebration of his life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WNYBuckHunter Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Sorry to hear that Lawdwaz, my condolences Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JALA RUT Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Sorry to hear about your buddy...thoughts and prayers for you and his family! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmo Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Sorry to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phade Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Sorry to hear, Larry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deerthug Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Sorry for your loss. Prayers to you and his family. Sent with Tapatalk on my Samsung Galaxy 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawdwaz Posted March 14, 2014 Author Share Posted March 14, 2014 For anybody interested, here is Fran's obituary................ http://www.lockportjournal.com/obituaries/x787216799/Francis-Fran-S-Licata I could only hope to have an obit that glowing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaldguyLee Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I missed Franbilt's heyday after I moved south, but I heard a lot of good about Fran after moving home. I know a couple of other people who were close to him and will miss him greatly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawdwaz Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 I know a couple of other people who were close to him and will miss him greatly. Amen to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneHunter Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Sorry to hear ... my sympathies to the Family . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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