Well I had the honor in knowing a man who did that for me.
We live our lives with our heads in the clouds always looking out for #1 and we forget about the reason why we are all here. I believe that people were put on this earth to help each other. And this is the life that he led, a life where he was always helping never asking.
His name was Frank Silveira. Most people refer to him as Franky.
He was the most kind, generous, helpful, caring and nice person, especially for his age. He was a 2003 graduate from Hilmar High School, I was in elementary school when he graduated but my dad was the football coach and I helped him out on the field being the ball girl. I knew Franky, but didn't really know Franky until he came back to help coach. As the years kept passing our friendship kept growing and our bond kept building. We both shared a passion for Hilmar Football and loved being out under the lights on the sidelines, him coaching, me being the water girl, student trainer and coach's daughter on those Friday Nights.
He also was my track coach in high school, I did shot put and discus, and man was Franky patient. I was the farthest thing from competive in Track and Field, but I was out there to have fun, and he just wanted me to do my best while I was out there. He pushed me and I actually ended up not doing too poorly. I graduated from Hilmar High in 2008 and then my sideline career was done next to him and my dad and it was up in the stands for me. Although we weren't side by side during the game I always got to see him afterwards and always get a big big bear hug, win or lose. Franky had a way with people, and his hugs just made everyone feel safe and important. Franky grew into a big brother figure to me and my parents started calling him their "adopted son" because of the closeness they shared with Franky too.
Franky was my protector, and many other people's protector. One night, a night I'll never forget, it was earlier this year and I was with all my dad's coaching staff, Franky obviously included...and my ex boyfriend was tryng to mess with me, he called me from his friends number and was acting like he was somebody else and wouldn't stop calling me. I was getting really upset because I was just trying to move on and it seemed like he wasn't letting up. I turned to Franky because I was not 100% sure it was my ex boyfriend but I was 99.9% sure and I asked him if he knew what number was dialing me, he put it in his phone and said that he didn't have any contact matches.I sat on Franky's lap and asked him why he thought the guy wouldn't leave me alone and I told him I just wanted to move on with my life. Franky put his arms around me and comforted me and he said that it would get better. But I was getting upset so I went in the other room to call my best friend, we were talking about it and the number wouldn't stop calling me. I went back into the living room and Franky asked me if that guy left me alone and I said no he won't stop calling me, he proceed to call me again so I took the phone in the other room answered and said, listen I don't know who you are stop calling me. Then I went into the living room again and had someone help me turn off my phone. Franky again calmed me down and told me it would be alright. I went over to see my parents and they were telling me bout how Franky was being such a big brother and I was lucky. It wasn't until I got home that I found out that Franky called the number when I was in the other room and told my ex boyfriend to leave me alone. But that was just the kind of guy Franky was. He was always looking out for people and making sure people were happy. We also had two other memories right before he passed away. Franky and my dad put on a bootcamp for members of the community to work out and proceeds went to the football program, Franky always helped with the weights, well one day both of my parents weren't there it was just me, my sisters and a few others and Franky was there watching us and helping us. Christy Casey had her phone and we'd always play pandora on the speakers so we'd have some music to work out to...I asked Franky if I could pick the music and he said sure, I said boy bands it is! He said ANYTHING but the Backstreet Boys and I agreed...so what did I put on? "Hit Me Baby One More Time" Britney Spears station. He laughed and said well I guess I didn't say not to play her. I was never really serious about working out either I just wanted to have fun, so I took a pair of weights and I started dancing with them, and my sister joined in and Franky sat there laughing at us and even filmed us on his phone...he also one time at boot camp could not stop laughing when he watched me attempt to cart wheel and round off, gymnastics wasn't my strong suit either. :)
The last memory I have with Franky is on July 5, 2011 it was my dad's birthday and my sisters, brother in laws, nephews, mom and me were all there to celebrate with pizza and ice cream cake with my dad, we had a special addition join our family that night, Franky, we laughed and him and my dad talked about the upcoming football season and the guys he had for his line and he was so proud. We talked about how Franky was going to be my nephew's coach one day. And then two days later, Franky passed away.
When I found out I couldn't believe it. Why Franky? Why Now? Why does he have to leave us so soon?
My whole family was really tore up about it because we were all so close to Franky, especially my dad, they spent all summer together talking football an planning for the upcoming season. It still doesn't feel real.
The one neat part about that week he passed away is everyone got to see how many lives Franky touched, how many people's worlds he made better. How his kindness, bear hugs and infectious smile and laugh will be missed. A memorial was done on the football field in his honor, and lets just say Franky packed the house. The bleachers were filled, and the crowd was wearing green and gold. There was story after story about how Franky had touched lives, lives of teachers, principals, students, friends and family. All the stories that were told all led back to the same types of traits that everyone admired in Franky.
Franky was slow to anger he was big guy, but he was one of the nicest guys you could have ever met. He was caring, he always listened, after Franky passed away the stories came out on Facebook, and in person about how Franky helped them get through a time, how he was like a big brother, how he was a mentor, a best friend.
My dad said it perfectly, its like the Garth Brooks song "Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain but I'd have to miss the dance"
Although we are all hurting and aching and the pain hasn't gone away I wouldn't trade it for the world the time I spent with Franky.
Hilmar community suffered a great loss in Franky. He gave all his time to the town he loved so much. I want to live a life like Franky did. One that was full of love and laughter, one that had no enemies and many friends. I can not tell you one person who didn't like Franky, because even when Franky was being protective of the people that he cared about people understood why. Franky was liked by all and LOVED by SO MANY. I'm not even trying to go over the top with this, I have never met someone who didn't like him.
I can tell you about at least a few people who don't like me, and who knows how many more people there are out there who don't. Franky didn't do anything to make anyone not like him. He was a friend to all. He never met a stranger and if you met Franky once, you'd remember him forever because when he talked to you he made you feel important and like you were the only person that mattered in the world at that very second.
Franky was a follower of Christ. He was a Catholic who also helped out at church with the students helping them grow in their faith.
He was true inspiration. He still is an inspiration. I want to live my life better because of the example he left behind.
I know he is watching down on all of us in the little town of Hilmar, and wherever we've branched off to and he is always here with us. I still can't believe he is gone.
My dad's team this season is dedicating it to Coach Franky and the Modesto Bee wrote an article about it and if you click on the link you can read more about Franky.
Franky ALWAYS was smiling and he'd laugh with his whole body. He was a positive example and a dear friend.
I miss him SO much, I have him on my wall paper on my phone to this picture
This always was one of my favorite pictures, and it means even more now then ever because I keep him with me at all times, where I go my phone goes and right there on my wallpaper is Franky. And I have the same picture up in my room up in college.
Remember, you can make the world a better place just by being in it. Just being there for someone can make all the difference, and its not what we take when we leave this world behind us its what we leave behind us when we are gone.
And here is the article about him, I recomend reading it, its beautifuly written and tells you more about him
Franky's Article
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