Elliot's Tribute to his Father

By now, most of you know that my Dad, Lenny Frome, passed away on March 15, 1998.

When he died, the family sat down to discuss what would happen to Compu-Flyers. We all agreed that it must continue. It was not about the money, it was about my Dad's legacy. Since then, the bulk of the responsibility has fallen on me. It was always a bittersweet experience. On the one hand, I loved doing it to honor my father. On the other hand, I wished I was doing it WITH him, rather than INSTEAD of him. That sense has only magnified over the past year as I've chosen to follow even more closely in his footsteps. My eventual success in this field is not only my success, but is my continuing tribute to my father, whom I shall continue to miss every day.

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Dan Fogelberg said it better than I ever could.

To Lenny Frome, beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather.

Leader of the Band
by Dan Fogelberg

An only child
Alone and wild
A cabinet maker's son
His hands were meant
For different work
And his heart was known To none --
He left his home
And went his lone
And solitary way
And he gave to me
A gift I know I never can repay

A quiet man of music
Denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once
But his music wouldn't wait
He earned his love Through discipline
A thundering, velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand.

The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through
My instrument
And his song is in my soul --
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band.

My brothers' lives were different
For they heard another call
One went to Chicago
And the other to St. Paul
And I'm in Colorado
When I'm not in some hotel
Living out this life I've chose
And come to know so well.

I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go --
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And, papa, I don't think I
Said 'I love you' near enough --

The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through My instrument
And his song is in my soul --
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band.

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