Frank Pallett Memorial Fund ~ For the Girls
Frank Pallett was an iconic member of the Hudson Valley music and fitness industries who was known for giving people a chance. Frank helped hundreds of thousands of people to launch their dreams – supporting them along the way, giving them a hand up when they were down, and encouraging them to fight when the odds were not in their favor. His contributions are countless, and in many cases were offered quietly, behind the scenes, unknown and unsung. Most people knew Frank as Owner of The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie, NY. I knew him as the rock that held our family steady.
I personally am beyond devastated with the passing of Frank. He was the brother God gave me. Frank married my sister Michelle in 2010 and I gained so much that I never even knew was missing. Throughout my own struggles Frank was always there, larger than life but with the kindest, steadiest, most unselfish presence I have ever seen in a man. He never faltered. Not for me, not for my sister or our family, and never for his girls. No matter how high life raised the bar, Frank was always there fighting to surpass it. During Covid I watched him continue to press on to try and save two businesses that were shuttered by the pandemic. He continued to pull money from his personal savings to keep paying the bills and to make The Chance and his gym, Maximum Fitness, better and stronger for the reopening that he ensured could happen; but he never got the chance to earn that money back. In a day he would be working on the roof at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, racing over to Newburgh to reupholster equipment at the gym, running back to Wappingers to get the girls, have dinner with the family and then spending the rest of his evening filing paperwork with the state for his employees and the two businesses. I don’t think anyone has a clue how much time he spent on the phone or online in this past year trying to secure the funding to keep things afloat. When I say it was blood, sweat, and tears, I do not exaggerate.
As physically strong as he was, Frank’s greatest strength was his unwavering dedication as a father and a husband. Whether hosting family and friends every holiday, changing diapers, laying flooring, repairing roofs, rushing all over the county between businesses and daycare, home-schooling during Covid, or chasing his ever exuberant two-year-old as she escaped yet again, Frank put family first in a way that many of us only wish we could aspire to. The difference is that Frank’s family mentality extended beyond his wife and two girls to his friends, his employees, and his patrons. Not only would Frank give you the proverbial shirt off his back, but he would also give you the pants and shoes to go with it, walking away with nothing left for himself. The combined circumstances of the past year’s pandemic and the tragic and unexpected battle that he fought for his life left his family with an uncertain future. He leaves behind his wife Michelle and two amazing little girls, Daniella age 7 and Angelina age 2.
If Frank has helped you in any way, I would ask that you please consider a donation, however big or small, for his girls during this heartbreaking time. Without him here, they will need it.
Frank was one of the few true gentlemen. He gave us an example to live up to. There’s not a soul alive that could say anything negative about him…and if they did – well, I can promise you that the story is not correct. Frank was a mentor, a true entrepreneur, a father, a brother, and a friend and he shone in every one of those roles. He did not demand respect, he earned it. He gave his trust first and then gave you a chance to fix it when you messed up. I struggle to find the words because there are not enough and there is no way for me to give him the credit that he deserved. For the last three weeks of his life, Frank fought through unbearable challenges to stay with us. He fought to the very last. Please help me to honor his fight and to help his girls in a way that would make him proud.
We love you forever Frank. You can rest now.
https://mikeberretta.com/2021/08/12/a-true-end-of-an-era/