CELEBRATING 50 YEARS Remembering Frank Mezzancello, Jr. his spring, the of Jim “Badtoe” Benson. He Albuquerque joined the Balloon Fiesta Board International Balloon in 1990, and straight out of Fiesta lost one of its the gate became the head of great friends and true the Field Committee where Tcharacters, longtime he had served as a volunteer. Board member and balloonist Frank Being the life of the party, Mezzancello, Jr. entertainment was always While Balloon Fiesta was part of Frank’s agenda, and he taking root in the sunny climes of became head of entertainment, Albuquerque, Frank was living in helping to bring in bands such his hometown of Cranston, RI and as Paul Revere and the Raiders, running an HVAC business. But Three Dog Night, and Daruis after a very bad snowstorm in Rucker along with many more. 1978, Frank had had enough of cold In 1994, Frank was elected weather and headed west, fi rst to President, and – among New Orleans (he loved the parties, many other things – focused but not the “mosquitoes the size on the “pilot tent” (now Pilot of pickup trucks”) and fi nally to Hospitality in the Sid Cutter Albuquerque, taking his family and Pavilion) where you could get his air conditioning business with something such as a cup of him. coff ee to start your day, and In Albuquerque, Frank soon the big fi reworks displays discovered what he called “bocce Above: Frank Mezzancello, Jr. after Balloon Glows we all look balls in the sky,” better known as hot forward to today. Frank was air balloons. Before long, he asked voted into the AIBF Hall of his beloved wife Pat if she wanted a vacation or a hot Fame in 2004 and served on the Balloon Fiesta Board for air balloon? Well, Frank did not listen to his wife, and his 32 years. He also served as Vice President and special love for wingless fl ight began. Soon after he purchased events liaison for the AAAA (the local Albuquerque his fi rst balloon, Fantasia, honoring his love of Mickey balloon club) and fl ew in events from Colorado to Mouse and all things that came with him. In the balloon Santiago Nuevo Leon, Mexico. With his passion for community, he felt at home with his family and lifelong ballooning but a family man to the core, he built a legacy friends made along the way. Ironically, a man whose for his family and his community to enjoy. mission it was to keep things as chilly as possible learned People could always count on Frank; many called him to use heat to give him wings. (By the way, Pat became a “The Fixer.” If you had a problem, Frank had a solution. balloon pilot too!) And if he could not fi x the problem himself, he would fi nd Frank began his journey with the Albuquerque someone who could. He was always good for a laugh, but International Balloon Fiesta® in 1987, on the fi eld crew an even better friend and a Balloon Fiesta hero to many. ® 272 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta