Posted on June 15 at 10:48 p.m.

Thanks to David for the beautiful piece on my father's life! As I alternate between surges of grief and awe at the many dimensions of his life, I am inspired by the diversity of those who loved this man. Caregivers such as Salomon and Jose, and the house keeper Ygnacia dissolve into tears mentioning his little kid smile, his welcoming hugs, and his perceptive counsel with life's dilemmas. For me, he was unconditional love, and someone ready and able to understand my most far-fetched philosophies.
His awareness of music was deep, ranging from the wild jazz clubs of Kansas City and Harlem, to his passionate response to a Schubert quintet. When I played Liszt for him, he commented "lots of fireworks!"; in response to Bach he asked "Is Bach the most glorious music, or is Beethoven?"
He loved to sing, and somewhere around the age of seventy he moved from a monotone to some semblance of melody. But he never held back from any expression of joy or enthusiasm out of concern for any critic's evaluation.
And so he infected others with freedom: freedom to exult, freedom to cry, freedom to debate how to shape a more glorious world for the glorious beings he greeted in all of us.
Viva Frankie! Viva Pioneer Pop!

On Frank Kelly in Memoriam