Friends, Loved Ones Come Together To Help Family Of Frank Trentacoste

The Riverhead community has come together to help to help the family of Frank Trentacoste, 22, who died on Saturday.

As his heartbroken loved ones mourn his loss to suicide, friends have come together to raise funds for his family on a Go Fund Me page, "Frank Trentacoste & Trentacoste Family."

"On February 15th, 2014 Frank Trentacoste left this earth. Frankie was only 22 years old. Frankie was a son, a brother, a nephew, a grandchild, a friend and an irreplaceable individual," wrote Amanda Goodale, who started the fundraising effort. "He had a personality that lit up any room and put smiles on every face. Frank will forever be missed and shall remain as a reminder to all of how beautiful life is and how we should cherish every moment of everyday."
 
As most parents never plan for such a tragedy, Goodale said, the page was set up to garner donations or assistance for his family.

"This is an unimaginably painful experience for them and any contribution to aide with the costs would be forever appreciated," she wrote.

Goodale said her mom and Frank's mother have worked together for over 20 years, and she's known Frank and his brothers almost her entire life.

"When I found out about the tragic event that took place, I wanted to help.  I realize that arrangements are normally quite costly and I so I asked Michael Trentacoste, Frank's oldest brother, if I could start a fund for his parents," she said.

"Other than that, the rest is due to the amazing community of generous and loving people. It is sad that is takes a tragedy to realize what a wonderful place we live in, and how each of our neighbors can have such a huge impact on our lives. I believe the Trentacoste family is the type of family that deserves this outpouring of support and I know they are extremely thankful. Though, this is a very difficult time for them and I also think we should respect them and allow them a bit of privacy. "

Friends, Goodale added, created a "Remembering Frank Trentacoste" page on Facebook, and are planning events and fundraising initiatives in his honor.

Goodale also thanked the community, and the support of local media including Riverhead LOCAL, for helping to spread the word.

After his death, friends shared their loss, memories and heavy sadness on his Facebook page, speaking with love of the "piano man" who made them laugh, and who participated in community organizations such as ROTC and worked locally at TJ Maxx and Oakley. He studied criminal justice at Suffolk County Community College, according to his Facebook page.

"He was a good man," said his friend Patrick O'Brien; both worked at the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center. "Always putting a smile on your face when you didn't think anyone could."

Others sent messages of love and support on the Go Fund Me page. 

It was the second time Trentacoste's young circle of friends were hit hard by tragic loss in recent years; Trentacoste and many of those mourning him were also devastated by the accident that took the life of Cameron Nicholls in East Quogue in 2011; Trentacoste spoke movingly of his memories of Nicholls at a vigil held in 2012.

Services for Frank Trentacoste will be held on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home, located at 336 Marcy Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901.

A service will be held during the evening visitation.