In Memoriam

Remembering Frank Mezzancello, Jr.

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TAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiesta lost one of its great friends and true characters, longtime Board member and balloonist Frank Mezzancello, Jr.

While Balloon Fiesta was taking root in the sunny climes of Albuquerque, Frank was living in his hometown of Cranston, RI and running an HVAC business. But after a very bad snowstorm in 1978, Frank had had enough of cold weather and headed west, fi rst to New Orleans (he loved the parties, but not the “mosquitoes the size of pickup trucks”) and fi nally to Albuquerque, taking his family and his air conditioning business with him.

In Albuquerque, Frank soon discovered what he called “bocce balls in the sky,” better known as hot air balloons. Before long, he asked his beloved wife Pat if she wanted a vacation or a hot air balloon? Well, Frank did not listen to his wife, and his love for wingless fl ight began. Soon after he purchased his fi rst balloon, Fantasia, honoring his love of Mickey Mouse and all things that came with him. In the balloon community, he felt at home with his family and lifelong friends made along the way. Ironically, a man whose mission it was to keep things as chilly as possible learned to use heat to give him wings. (By the way, Pat became a balloon pilot too!)

Frank began his journey with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® in 1987, on the fi eld crew of Jim “Badtoe” Benson. He joined the Balloon Fiesta Board in 1990, and straight out of the gate became the head of the Field Committee where he had served as a volunteer. Being the life of the party, entertainment was always part of Frank’s agenda, and he became head of entertainment, helping to bring in bands such as Paul Revere and the Raiders, Three Dog Night, and Daruis Rucker along with many more. In 1994, Frank was elected President, and – among many other things – focused on the “pilot tent” (now Pilot Hospitality in the Sid Cutter Pavilion) where you could get something such as a cup of coff ee to start your day, and the big fi reworks displays after Balloon Glows we all look forward to today. Frank was voted into the AIBF Hall of Fame in 2004 and served on the Balloon Fiesta Board for 32 years. He also served as Vice President and special events liaison for the AAAA (the local Albuquerque balloon club) and fl ew in events from Colorado to Santiago Nuevo Leon, Mexico. With his passion for ballooning but a family man to the core, he built a legacy for his family and his community to enjoy.

People could always count on Frank; many called him “The Fixer.” If you had a problem, Frank had a solution. And if he could not fi x the problem himself, he would fi nd someone who could. He was always good for a laugh, but an even better friend and a Balloon Fiesta hero to many.

Above: Frank Mezzancello, Jr.