To Ruiz Family,

Frank Jr and Senior are more than co-workers they are like family. Frankie has a sense of humor that simply put as “awesome”. Within the first 2 minutes of meeting Frankie for the first time, I knew he was a cool and down to earth person. Frankie and I played pranks in the office every day and especially Fridays when he came to the hangar. We had a nick name on Fridays called “ F it Friday”. Jack when you get older I’m sure Senior will explain what that meant. Your dad and I would prank every and anybody no matter title. First by making spit balls, paper airplanes flying over ones head while working, prank calls to different JetBlue cities and much more interesting activities depending on the day and attendance. We laugh so hard every day we work together, and we always enjoyed on looking forward to the next day to meeting up to catch up whether it was in break room, lunch or outside. Frankie and I were big into cars as Senior can tell you. I remember him always thinking and talking about what to modify next. When he placed the roof rack on the VW it was awesome because he placed stickers all over and each stickers painted a story about him and his family. Not sure how many people knew that. After Frankie had Jack his world changed, the car conversation quickly came to yield as he spoke highly of Jack and Llana. He used to tell me how you Jack were all that matter, and he could not wait for my wife Sally and I to have a kid to create play dates. Junior was big into reenactment. He had stories for days and was always an enthusiast. He spoke about sleeping on the cold floor, riding horses and the intense loud battles. When Frankie came in on Mondays with no voice we knew what he did the weekend. I always told Frankie he should be a College Historian. My wife Sally, brother Khris knew Frankie, and within the short time they got to know each other they clicked right away. Frankie has a loveable sense of humor that everyone just falls for.

Jack your dad loved you and on November 13, 2013 he text me with a picture of you holding the Kangaroo that Sally and I got you. We spoke for about 30 minutes via text, he was saying how much he enjoyed being home with you and your mom. It pains me knowing we will never hear his voice again but Frankie my brother you will be missed and I know you are looking down on us all. I miss him very much and love the man he grew into.

God Bless,

Ryan Persaud

                                                  This one picture says it all.
                                                         This is our Frankie.....

Jack Aiden Ruiz
He will always know you and remember you through our stories and love.
I know you will be at his side wherever he goes.....

This is a song....and its beautifully succinct in how we feel. Life will never be the same after losing you Frankie. We are not whole anymore, and never will be. I will mourn for you until I see you in the Cosmos. Only you know the loss and darkness we walk through every minute of everyday. I hope you are happy and whole up there with the stars. I love you sonny boy.....eternally....
MamaDukes

How We Survive

© Mark Rickerby

If we are fortunate,
we are given a warning.

If not,
there is only the sudden horror,
the wrench of being torn apart;
of being reminded
that nothing is permanent,
not even the ones we love,
the ones our lives revolve around.

Life is a fragile affair.
We are all dancing
on the edge of a precipice,
a dizzying cliff so high
we can't see the bottom.

One by one,
we lose those we love most
into the dark ravine.

So we must cherish them
without reservation.
Now.
Today.
This minute.
We will lose them
or they will lose us
someday.
This is certain.
There is no time for bickering.
And their loss
will leave a great pit in our hearts;
a pit we struggle to avoid
during the day
and fall into at night.

Some,
unable to accept this loss,
unable to determine
the worth of life without them,
jump into that black pit
spiritually or physically,
hoping to find them there.

And some survive
the shock,
the denial,
the horror,
the bargaining,
the barren, empty aching,
the unanswered prayers,
the sleepless nights
when their breath is crushed
under the weight of silence
and all that it means.

Somehow, some survive all that and,
like a flower opening after a storm,
they slowly begin to remember
the one they lost
in a different way...

The laughter,
the irrepressible spirit,
the generous heart,
the way their smile made them feel,

And in time, they fill the pit
with other memories
the only memories that really matter.

We will still cry.
We will always cry.
But with loving reflection
more than hopeless longing.

And that is how we survive.
That is how the story should end.
That is how they would want it to be.

Hawks and signs

I love hawks. For some reason I have always felt a connection with them. When they made their comeback on Long Island I was very happy. Many times on our way home from work I would spot a hawk either soaring or perched atop a light pole. I would always point them out to Frankie…even interrupt our conversations to bring attention to it.

Frankie was patient but didn’t miss the opportunity to break my chops. Looking at me with that look he had, half smiling and saying “Okay Hawk Man!”

Since the day after his passing, hawks have made appearances in our family and friends yards, perched on decks, etc. in places that you would not expect to see them.

Tonight was the ultimate sighting for me. On my way home from work, driving east on the Northern State Parkway, I spotted a hawk flying out of the woods to my left. It flew across the westbound lanes towards my car on the eastbound side. When it reached my vehicle it veered to its left and flew parallel to my car.   Not a strange thing normally, however this hawk was flying low. Just barely above my car. And it kept turning its head and looking at me. I smiled and thanked brother hawk for the insight that a message was coming and it flew upwards out of sight. Just up ahead the traffic came to a complete stop. I sat there in my car waiting to move and lo and behold, the hawk landed on my hood. We sat there for a few seconds, staring at each other. It seemed like an eternity. I moved, and it flew away into the woods.

I cannot explain this at all. It is by far the strangest and most heartwarming thing that has ever happened to me. Definitely a sign!

Thanks Frankie!!

Hey Ruiz!!

Hey Pal

Been a while since I posted. Things have been kinda rough lately...been thinking of you a lot! Mom is struggling terribly and I, well I feel that my feeling of the loss of you is increasing.

I was remembering things the other day. I guess reminiscing is a better word.
Don't know how you started, but one day you started calling Ruiz instead of Dad. Of course you also called me Dad, Daddy when you were concerned about something, but Ruiz was what you called me when you wanted my attention. And yes you got it! LOL

You also called me Pops...and you know, it seems like all if not most of your friends call me that now. Well close friends anyway :) I have to tell you that I like it. It so reminds me of you.

I speak to you all the time Frankie and I would like to think that you hear me. Most of the time I speak to you with my mind and others I speak to you out loud,....verbally.
And you sometimes I hear you reply. I see you in my minds eye...bigger than life and I smile. And other times there is nothing but silence. And I understand that too.

When I get replies from you there is a specific feeling when I believe it's genuine. There is also a feeling when I feel like it's just me creating a response. I am really getting good at discerning between the two.

Please continue to reach out to us if you are or can.,,,,,Please!

Love you Frankie

Pops A.K.A. Ruiz

xxooxxoo