Tribute to Frank Lieberman

Frank Lieberman, founder of “Fun With Chalk,” passed away on Sat., Mar. 22. Following is a tribute by Norm Rosenkrantz, delivered during Frank’s memorial service on Mar. 25.

(949) 922 1122…that is Frank Lieberman’s cell phone number, of which many of you here in this room are familiar with. This is the phone that has been attached to Frank’s ear for the last six months since he became ill with bronchitis and pneumonia. This was Frank’s lifeline to the outside world.

Since I met Frank approximately 16 years ago, I have known him to be an organizer, an activist, interested in politics, a problem solver, and never to accept the word NO. Frank was a charmer with the women, a charmer with the men, and he knew how to get his way. He was so involved in life. When he met someone new in his life and liked them, he then found out all about the history of the person. Frank was very inquisitive and made you feel that you could trust him

When he started a new season with Fun With Chalk, he strived for excellence. Frank kept changing the FWC board because he wanted to improve and reach his pinnacle of success. Frank was a stickler for details, and you better do it his way. I learned long ago to listen to him and not challenge him too much but just enough to get in my three cents. Frank would always ask you, “What do you think we ought to do?” He would always listen to all the “ought to do’s” and then come to a solution of the problem. Frank was a thinker and wanted to do the right thing. Frank, even though he was ill, was still planning another chalk festival. Frank was so infatuated with ART, Children, Family and Community.

Elaine and Frank were in Santa Barbara in 1998, and they saw the granddaddy of all chalk festivals being displayed there. From then on, they decided to have a chalk festival in Mission Viejo. It took about 1 ½ years for the first Fun with Chalk in Mission Viejo. Frank always wanted a legacy for his FUN With Chalk. If Frank and I had taken one step back, we would have realized that it is living here in Mission Viejo. Although we stopped presenting it here, the Chalk Festival has continued to exist. Street painters are still displaying their beautiful chalk paintings as evidenced by the upcoming festival on May 3 of this year.

Frank, you don’t have to hang your head in shame. You and Elaine started this in 1999 and it still exists in 2014. This, my friend, is a tribute to all your hard work and successes. Frank, give us one of your many smiles, and may you be in peace. We all love ya Frankie.

Publisher Dale Tyler adds: I worked with Frank on Fun With Chalk by helping maintain and expand their website for the past two years. I have rarely met anyone who was so passionate about helping get art into a setting that was so accessible to the citizens. It was a lot of fun to watch the children as they looked at the various drawings made by the artists and then see them realize that this was something they could do on their own driveways and sidewalks.