MARBLE CLIFF

It has taken many people to help Marble Cliff become the wonderful village it is today. One of those people is Frank Monaco, who gave 32 years of service to the Village as councilman, treasurer, council president and mayor. Upon his retirement from his own career in the early 1970s and with available free time, Frank was asked by then-Mayor Paul Falco to serve as Village treasurer.

“I told Paul I had a lot to learn but would give it a shot,” Frank says.

“By the time I retired from the Village, I think I had held every job. The jobs took time to do them right, and I enjoyed every moment. Back then, there was no Village Hall like there is today on Fernwood Avenue. Our records were stored at Gus’ Restaurant on Dublin Road. Council would meet for dinner there and adjourn upstairs for meetings. We had great camaraderie and served out of pride for community, certainly not for the $5-10 pay! Things were simpler then; a time when Mayor Falco and I would walk the Village to find repairs needing attention.

“For 28 years, our one-man ‘service department,’ W. A. ‘Dutch’ Biemesderfer, dependably did anything to keep the Village neat and orderly, such as snow removal, leaf pickup and trash collection. There were some tough times, but we did what we had to do. Of course, the cooperation we received from the City of Grandview Heights and the Grandview school district certainly helped!”

Frank fondly remembers the Village picnics held in August, the Village Christmas trees and holiday parties, and the annual Music in the Park summer music series. Not only did Frank start the music series, he presided over the Village’s Mayor’s Court. He is particularly proud of the fountain installed on Cambridge Island. “I felt our nice Village should have a fountain just like all the villages in the old country (Italy),” Frank says.

Born in Columbus to Italian immigrant parents, Frank was raised near Cleveland Avenue and East Fifth Avenue, graduating from Aquinas High School. While his wife, Mary, and daughter Carol stayed in Columbus, Frank served in the Navy and Marine Corps for three and a half years as a Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class during WWII. Upon discharge, he returned to Columbus and worked in the State Auditor’s Office.

He then joined the Prudential Life Insurance Company and worked in sales for 30 years before retiring and taking on the role of Village treasurer.

During that span, he and Mary moved to their home on Cambridge Boulevard in Marble Cliff and raised Carol, Frank Jr. (who was a Marble Cliff Councilman), Cathy and Mary Lynn “DeeDee” Monaco. He and Mary welcomed 28 grandchildren and more than 15 great-grandchildren during their 63 years together, mostly spent on Cambridge Boulevard, until Mary passed away in 2005. At age 92, Frank now comfortably resides at First Community Village.

“I wish I was 15-20 years younger and could serve the Village again. I encourage residents to take pride in their community and serve when called upon. If they do, they should put service over personal ambition or desires in order to move their community forward,” he says.