By Gabes
May 19, 1998
In memory of Frank Sinatra

I expected one of the greaseballs in CyberZahm to pay homage to " The
Chairman".  With his body getting colder by the minute, however, I
thought someone should say something. Sinatra is worthy of comment.

Frank Albert (now we know who Babs was really named after) Sinatra was,
and always will be, an American icon, a legend.  There were better
singers, though every restaurant and gin mill probably plays a Sinatra
ballad at least once an hour.  There were better actors, though Oscar
will carry his name forever. There have been better entertainers too,
though  no one could pack a house better than "Ol Blue Eyes". For all of
his accomplishments however, the thing that I enjoyed, respected and
admired most about Sinatra was the way he lived his life.  Sinatra had
style. He had class. Sinatra had an almost unprecedented  zest for life.

The style is well documented.  The pressed suits. The creased slacks.
The impeccably tailored tuxedos. The cocked fidora.  Even if you could
spend more on an outfit than Sinatra, he always looked better.

Sinatra was also class personified.  Sure he was rough and tough at
times, but, as fierce a foe as he could be, he was reported to be as
soft as a marshmellow with his friends and the so-called "little
people".   The stories of his generosity are numerous.  He was quoted as
saying that " friends are never an imposition".  Frank's friends were
repeatedly told to "call me at any hour of the day if I can do something
for you".  He never forgot the little people either. When Frank tipped,
however, it was never done in a flashy manner.  It was always folded
Franklins in the palm of his hand delivered with a handshake.  Class!

To say that Sinatra lived every day as though it might be his last is
probably the understatement of the century.  He dined with presidents
and presidential wannabes. He drank vino with the "bosses".  He drank
Jack with "The Great One".  The Rat Pack owned "The Strip" and Sinatra
was "The Chairman".   Frank was the consummate guys guy. When he went
"steppin", he was gone for three or four days.  He bedded the likes of
Gardner, Bacall and Marilyn.  Anyone who wouldn't have given his left
nut to spend one evening with him is a bleeping liar.  As Joey Bishop was
quoted as saying, " when it came to swinging, Frank kicked ass!"  That
he did, and, he beat the odds, too.  Sinatra had 82 glorious years of
life.  He had it all!  He had a ball!  And, he did it his way!

Gabes