In Memoriam: Frank Lucchesi

Driving down Cottage street in Easthampton, Ma, Sunday night, all was quiet. Mt Tom, Ice Cream was busy, down the street a bunch of people were gathered outside the Unitarian Church. A short walk away in the doorway of the Luthier's Co-op was a small memorial.

Bouquets of flowers decorated the cement entry way and the window sill. Bouquets of roses, black-eyed susans and miniature sunflowers were placed among the glowing candles which illuminated the door to 108 Cottage Street. The next morning, the flowers and notes of love were still there. So were the candles which had burned out symbolizing the finality of the reason they were placed there, Frank Lucchesi is gone.

Lucchesi Vintage Instruments was where many a guitar player in the Pioneer Valley would take their instruments for set-up and repair. Frank was fair in his pricing, possessed a wealth of knowledge regarding his craft and was willing to share this knowledge with anyone who cared to listen.

Steve Sanderson of the Drunk Stuntmen said, "He was the best luthier I've ever known and he could talk a blue streak. He knew his business as good as anybody and the whole Pioneer Valley will feel the loss of this man. The acoustic guitar I play now was bought from him

and my last acoustic was completely restored by Frank. Sanderson went on, "He also did extensive work for Freddy and Terry over the years. I brought their business to him when he was still working out of his basement in Holyoke. It's a tough blow to us. He will be missed." Sanderson was referring to F. Alex Johnson, the lead guitar player for the Drunk Stuntmen and former Stuntman Terry Flood.

Johnson was shocked to hear of Lucchesi's passing. " I recently bought an acoustic guitar which he gave me a great deal on, and considered one of the best sounding guitars in the shop. I had called the store to thank him for giving me a case that was perfect for my 1965 Gibson LG-1, a guitar that I will cherish forever. The new, "Made in China", 70 dollar case that I had ordered had come in. But, he let me have a vintage one with a $125 price tag on it that was much more durable and had more "mojo" as he called it."

"Frank was a phenomenal man, simple, smart, earnest, honest, and kind." There is a picture of Lucchesi taped to the window of the shop. He has a guitar on the work bench and is peering into the lens. The note attached simply says "we love you and will miss you very much."

The guitars, mandolins, banjos, lutes are still in the shop, restored and brought back to life by the able hands of Lucchesi.

Johnson added, "He once told me (regarding my vintage

strat) that "we are simply caretakers of these instruments. They will be around a lot longer than we will and we have no choice but to pass them on to the next person in our world. Remember this people, the next time you pick up your favorite instrument. Think of it as a hostage, taken willingly, and with the utmost love. Treat it with care, passion, and sincerity. That's the way Frank lived. May we dare to come close to his example."

A memorial service will be held Saturday October 6 at the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home 2049 Northampton St, (Route 5) in Holyoke, MA. Calling hours are from 1 to 3 PM, with the memorial service beginning at 3 PM. A reception will follow the service.