The world lost a courageous man on April 25th, 2008, when Chariots' star Frank Marmol died from a long fight with an undisclosed illness. The organization announced that a fund has been created in his name to assist special needs athletes on the Chariots or Strikers indoor wheelchair soccer teams, called the "Friends of Frankie.
Francisco Marmol, 43, a Port Jefferson resident and Hofstra University grad, was active in disabled sports since the early '80's, when he and a group of disabled athletes and volunteers formed the Suffolk Seagulls disabled sports team.
"Frankie was an inspiration to everyone he ever touched," stated Chariots Head Coach and President, Tony Nussbacher.
Nussbacher met Frankie Marmol as a Special Ed teacher in the Smithtown School District when he was eight years-old, and knew he was a special child with an uplifting attitude who ignored the limits caused by a severe neurological disability, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or brittle bone disease.
Marmol participated in disability sports for 25 years and amassed more than 100 medals in his career in track & field events, wheelchair racing and 12 national championships with the Suffolk Seagulls and NY Chariots.
"Frankie has affected every person he has ever known and earned the respect and admiration of hundreds of teammates and opponents around the nation as a trailblazer in indoor wheelchair soccer," stated 16 season teammate, Brian Cruise. "His small stature was in total opposition to his heart, which was larger than life itself; I never met anyone who did not like Frankie Marmol," exclaimed Cruise.
Ralph Trentadue, Head Coach of the Houston Toros, echoed the sentiments of the entire IWS league upon the announcement of his passing. "I meet Frankie in 1994 and saw that he was a warrior. On the court you worried about what he was going to do or how he would do it, " praised Trentadue. "Off the court, you could not have found a better person to talk to about anything. We lost a great one today, but now he's working with the Lord and everyone will be better for it."
"Frankie was the heart and soul of our team," said Coach Nussbacher.
"He was a coach on the court and a counselor off it," offered Cruise. "He will be remembered for many different things, but he will never be forgotten by anyone who called him friend."
Frankie in action
