Frank Messina – Grand Knight (1976-1977)
I was trying to get into the Knights for one and one-half to two years before I joined up. An usher at St. Mary’s asked me if I wanted to become a Knight and I said yes. But he never went ahead to take me in. When my son George first went to St. Joseph’s High School, I met a fellow parent (Lou Scalia, a Knight at St. John’s). I told him my story and he signed me up the next morning.
Soon after I joined, Ralph Funicelli asked me if I wanted to get involved. I said I’d give it a try. He asked me to try Outside Guard. I liked it and moved up the chairs to become Grand Knight during the Bicentennial year of our country. After a couple of months I wanted to get even more involved, so I went to Eddie Dimitio who was in charge of the kitchen to work there. I was active in the kitchen up until just a couple of years ago. The last time I worked in the kitchen was when George DiCostanzo was Grand Knight (Nov. 12, 2006). John Plescia and I cooked homemade egg omelets. They were a big hit. That was the last time in the kitchen for both of us. I can’t do it anymore, and my good friend, John, died shortly after that.
Challenges as grand knight? Getting and keeping everybody involved in all the things we did.Making sure things were run right. Making sure the Grand Knight was seen at all the affairs. I used to go around to all the tables and greet people. That was expected.
Greatest accomplishment? “. . . being instrumental in starting the blood drive not only in the Council but the whole state K of C. In January 1974, I became blood donor chairman when Jim McFadden was Grand Knight. Nobody in the State K of C was doing blood drives. So I went over to Paramus (the Bergen Community Blood Center) to see about getting a blood drive started at St. John’s Council. They said to me, if you can guarantee to get 100 for it, we will come to the council. We went to work signing up people to give blood, and by the time we had the first blood drive (John Dillon was grand knight) we had double that number signed up. We actually had 213 people signed up for the blood drive, and I believe most of them came out and gave blood. Our blood drives were so successful that if any of our members or their family needed blood, they could get it for free. We had the blood drives for years after that. I think the last one was when Joe Matarazzo was Grand Knight. When I was Grand Knight, Joe Luciano was State Deputy. He wanted me to be the blood donor chairman for the whole state. I had to refuse because I was working, and I had to raise my family. I still see Joe Luciano when I go to the State Convention.”
Editors Notes: Frank served in the Army during World War II, and made the first landing at Normandy – the 6:30 a.m. landing at Omaha Beach. He received the Bronze Star, the Battle Star and the Regimental Citation. After the war, he joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars, first in New York and then in Dumont and was recently the commander in Dumont. He is proud of the fact that a Third Degree on June 10, 1988, was named in his honor by the council. He worked on quite a few clam bakes and was in the kitchen in 1971 when everything was flooded. Among his memories are the Bicentennial Dance at the Cotillion restaurant and the Knights’ participation in the Bicentennial Parade in Bergenfield. When he was Grand Knight, the kitchen crew for the Beef and Brew were “the Rhinestone Cowboys.” The crew wore cowboy hats.
George Olszewski – Grand Knight (2003-2004)
For more than 25 years, Olszewski has been retreat captain at San Alfonso Retreat House at the Jersey
Shore . . . Looking out over the ocean is renewing, he says. “You have an open horizon. It broadens your
vision to the world.
It’s getting away from the busy schedule of the world, and total relaxation.
Olszewski, who considers the Redemptorist retreat masters excellent, hopes more of St. John’s knights will attend in the future. To get the most out of the retreat, he suggests leaving newspapers and radio behind and making “a total commitment” to the retreat.
In 2002, he started a movement to begin the Columbiettes. He takes pride in the fact that the Columbiettes became active with St. John’s Council after 97 years. Olszewski sees the local establishment of the Columbiettes as one of the best things he’s ever done.
A closing note about George Olszewski . . .
Until recently, George was chairman of the Sick & Wake report, helping keep Council members
updated on brothers and their family members in need of our prayers. George passed away on
June 7th at Englewood hospital. His wake was held at Riewerts in Bergenfield with a military tribute, a
Fourth Degree honor guard and the Council wake service.
A closing note about Frank Messina . . .
Recently, Frank was honored by the Members of the US Army Parachute Team. The eight team members drop
out of an airplane and pass a baton between them while they’re falling through the air. Frank's
name was on a baton recently used for a team performance, which was presented to his family. Frank passed
away at home on June 13th.
Visiting hours will be at the Frech Funeral Home on Thursday June 17th from 7-9PM, and Friday June 18th from 2-4PM and 7-9PM. The Council wake service will be at 8PM on Friday. The funeral Mass will be on Saturday June 19th at 9:30AM at St. Mary's Church.
Updated 6/14/2010