My Friend, my Best Friend, Frankie Rivas!

By David Martinez

I have many friends in life, but Frankie Rivas was the one that stood out because of his genuine love and care for people. Each time I would see him, I didn’t get a hand shake, a pat on the back, or a high five – I got a hug!

A lot of people think that I met Frankie through boxing, which is a good guess, but I actually first met Frankie when I was a young boy in 1962. He was a waiter at a local Santa Barbara downtown restaurant called Leon’s. My parents would go there and Frankie was usually our waiter, with a happy face to greet you. I will always remember one of the early times going there for dinner; after he took our food order he asked me “What can I bring you, David?” Before I could say “A soda pop would be great,” he said “A ‘Shirley Temple’ is what I will bring you.” At that stage of my life I had no idea what a ‘Shirley Temple’ was and I thought this man was going to bring me a little toy doll. So, he introduced me to what was actually 7-Up and grenadine with a cherry! There are so many little stories that I have of Frankie, and I will treasure them all forever.

But it was boxing that bonded Frankie and me through my almost fifty years of knowing him, and Frankie was truly a mentor to me with his wisdom of the sport.

Frankie boxed as a successful amateur in his youth and throughout his life he and I attended many boxing shows and events. He also made the time to offer his expertise to everyone, and was involved helping kids as an advisor, referee, and judge in many youth programs throughout the community.

In this tribute to a man that peacefully passed away on April 7, 2009, I would like you to please join me in prayer for my friend, my best friend, Frankie Rivas!

Below, I have included a few boxing photos in memory of Frankie:

Johnny Ortiz and Frankie Rivas

Billy Connell, David Martinez, Frankie Rivas

a friend, Fernando Vargas, Frankie Rivas

Frankie Rivas and David Martinez

Homer Balboa, Frankie Rivas, David Martinez, Bob Quackenbush