Frank Abissi

Grand Rapids, MI

Birthday: July 20

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Frank Abissi commented on John and Janet Ruiz's blog post Woodstock, Aug. 15-18th, 1969...Were you there?

"Oops. I already posted in this thread, sorry?"

Frank Abissi commented on John and Janet Ruiz's blog post Woodstock, Aug. 15-18th, 1969...Were you there?

"I was there, 12 years old. I told my parents I was going camping with some friends in Kent Connecticut and instead we went to Woodstock. I drank my first quart of beer there, tossed my cookies for what seemed like an eternity. Saw my first naked…"

Frank Abissi commented on John Richeson's blog post The Sky is Falling! Or "Mal-Pak" Remnants for Sale?

"Very well said Ric Cox."

Frank Abissi commented on John Richeson's blog post The Sky is Falling! Or "Mal-Pak" Remnants for Sale?

"I remember it seemed like every week we got a new and improved MAL oak list. I had everything on the list once and was so proud of myself then we got another list that had some weird stuff on it that I had never heard of. I remember also the grief…"

Frank Abissi commented on W. Scott Higdon's blog post To All

"Lena and I are sad to hear this, I am really glad we have the return to look forward to when we will all be back together. I would run into him from time to time here in GR and it was always like a breath of fresh air to see him. Would you keep me…"

Frank Abissi left a comment for david r. bedard

"Hi Dave:
God's great love and blessings to you. Lena and I live under the bridge in Grand Rapids. We have been here since 1985 and will probably be here for quite a few more. God is doing great things for us here If you ever come out to visit the…"

Frank Abissi replied to John Richeson's discussion In Memory of Kas Mancini Anderson

"I cried the day I heard she fell asleep. I am so thankful for the return of Christ, I just wish I didn't have to wait so darn long for it to occur. Kas and I were WOWs together in 1981/82. We changed the world by shouting out God's Word. She was one…"

Frank Abissi left a comment for Jeff Stanley

"Hey Jeff, I just looked at your pictures were we all that young once? WOW!!! I can't wait till we are all tougher again when the Lord returns
Lena and I send our love to you."

Frank Abissi left a comment for Anne C. Richards

"Hi Anne,
God bless you, It's been too many years. I've been to Maine a couple times in the past years (Katahdin). Next time I'm up there I'll call you. Hey, My Niece, Katie Gassman, is a med school student in Maine. I'm not sure exactly where, maybe…"

Frank Abissi left a comment for David Bailey

"God bless you my Brother. Have a wonderful day on your Birthday. Remember the chats we had back in Emporia so many years ago? I do and they were some great times."

Frank Abissi replied to Ric Cox's discussion What to bring

"You have to realize that I work in a "recreational" setting as a mountain guide. My clients as far as I am concerned are my only priority. If i wasn't a hard ass every peak I've gone to would see me forfeiting my ascents with my clients to help…"

Frank Abissi replied to Ric Cox's discussion What to bring

"I've been in the mountains have seen people unprepared so many times it's frightening. A few years back I was climbing a 20,000 foot peak and at base camp one morning There was an idiot on the rope team ahead of us that was wearing jeans and a…"

Frank Abissi replied to Ric Cox's discussion What to bring

"I still have my MAL pack. I would never use what I have in it or the pack itself for that matter but It's still packed in the attic and ready to go. I think that I could put it into a museum."

Frank Abissi left a comment for Mike and Lisa Tracy

"Hi Mike and Lisa,
Hey I would love to get your song of the week. My Email is Frank@higround.com if you need it.
Glad to hear your still in Iowa."

Frank Abissi left a comment for Nancy Louise Kegley Moran

"Happy Birthday to you Nancy. You are the apple of God's eye!"

Frank Abissi left a comment for marshall cheek

"Hi Marshall, God's blessings to you. It's great to hear your still out there. Love to you from Lena and Me"

More…

Location

Grand Rapids, MI

Birthday:

July 20

Way Corp group(s) I was in

11th

Where I live

Grand Rapids, MI

Married or Single

Married

About Me

Lena Nardone and I were married right after Graduation in the Corps Weddings.Lena and I are blessed with two wonderfilled boys (Andrew 30 and Paul 27), Dog - Pearl and are still hanging out in Grand Rapids. I work a whole lot but really love what I do and Lena comes with me quite often on my trips. I just can't get enough of the deep things of Gods Word. Life is Good. I was ordained to the ministry of God's people on January 10th 2010. My latest project is consulting new climbing wall setups, Helping to write a book for climbing wall instructors and I am also working as an expert witness on court cases involving climbing. I am having a blast. December 12th, 2009 I completed the world record for the most number of feet climbed on artificial climbing walls in a 12 month period, 251,040 feet or 47.348 miles of vertical. The previous record was 110,000 feet in one year. In June of 2014 I graduated from North Western with a M.Th in Biblical studies and Roman culture. I then completed my Th.D in Biblical Philology in December of 2014.The following year I began a very intense program and received my Ph.D in Biblical Philology with a minor in Biblical Studies. I graduated for what i am hoping to be the last time in December of 2015.

My Interests

Still reading the Bible (It's my favorite book). I retook up Banjo playing. In my spare time I'll watch a movie or mess around in the garden with my black thumb. Lena and I bought some land on Owls Head Mountain in the Adirondacks (Keene NY) We hope to put a cabin on it sometime soon and later retire there. In July I attempted to climb the Eiger in Switzerland. We reached a height of 1300 feet above the Eiger windows (about 12,000 feet) I am going back in the Summer of 2016 I am returning to give it another try. If you look on line you will see the Eiger is the most dangerous mountain in the world to climb.

Employment or Career

Mountain Guide, Rock Climbing Gym Owner, Professional Rock Climber, I also am the owner of a company called Emergency Care Training Services LLC. which teaches CPR and First Aid to groups. I am trained as a high rope access technician and do such things as fix clocks on sky scrapers, Light bulbs on cranes. and removing parts of buildings that can only be reached from the outside of the building. The name of my main business though is Higher Ground Rock Climbing Centre Ltd.

Music I Like

James Brown is some of my favorite. I also like classic rock, bluegrass (But I hate country music). My son Paul is an extremely fine concert violinist so I have gotten to enjoy classical. Right now Bob Dylan is playing on my iphone. Lena and I got to JAM with Rusted Root the beginning of August 08. It was really great, lots of fun and the absolute height of my musical career. I have been taking Guitar lessons for the past 5 years, playing mostly Bluegrass.

Books I Like

Just too many too recount here.

Television I like

The BIG knob has always gotten my attention. I especially like to watch anything with a lot of action, like Criminal Minds or Bear Grylls (I am sure he and survivor man make this stuff up as they go). So if anyone wants to stop by sometime I am home (which isn't too often) We can both grab a root beer and watch something with our feet up. Don't forget to bring the chips and dip.

Movies I like

On my days off, which are very rare I like to go to the movie store and find a couple new releases, Eat Potato Chips and Onion Dip and generally make myself into a real slob. My favorite movie of all time is Ishtar with Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman. It got the worst ratings I think of all time but it's stupid enough to make sense.

Sports Teams I like

I used to work in Professional Baseball as a Human Resource Director. I saw 170 games of baseball one summer. I don't watch or go near baseball at all any more. DETROIT PISTONS My favorite team though is the "Higher Ground Youth Climbing Team".

Website 1

https://www.higround.com

Website 2

https://www.RockandIceClimber.com

My Email Address:

Frank@higround.com

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Comments

Janis Lang Johnson July 25, 2008 at 6:04am

When I read his original blog, it "occurred" to me that he was a lot like me and needed a remedial teacher to put it into English that us regular folks can understand. Even though he says he no longer believes, he still has Christ in him, and THAT is gonna keep pleading with him for the rest of his life. Once you are God's, you are God's and you can try to sit on it a lifetime, all you will get from running is tired, frustrated, confused and sad. Look on this site, many people who went many different ways but what ties us together is still God's Word and that we wanted to serve God, someway somehow. You can't just drop it off at the cleaners and forget to pick it up. Well, anywho, I hope he finds what he is searching for, and I still want his hat.

Welcome to my strange but peaceful little corner of this site. have fun, read everything, you never know what you might find...

Janis
LewEllyn Hallett July 18, 2008 at 11:35am

Frank,
It's taken me forever to answer you, but about my daughter's climbing -- oh,yes, she is. She goes up to Rumney near Plymouth NH (Do you know of it? It's quite thick with climbers from all over) to climb a couple of times a week. She sent a 5.12 last week that she was pretty excited about. A reporter was up there and a really cool photo of Lily climbing ended up on the front page of our newspaper, but they didn't post it online so I can't send you a link. She also works birthday parties and day camps for her gym, and enters waivers. I'm sure you're very familiar with those tasks. She's making a little money this summer and enoy being outdoors. Loved your photos. The twister game on the wall is a great idea!
Kris Weeks July 18, 2008 at 1:27am

Frank,

Glad I made it to your page! Great pics. Transitioning to different "lives" seems to happen frequently for me. It takes a lot of room to run the Universe (evident by all that "space" that is out there...) so I guess if we are the masterpiece of His creation, we ought to give each other enough "space" to move through this wonder place called life.

Say hi to Lena for me, would you?
Peter Jay July 17, 2008 at 4:07am

Yeah buddy, I still enjoy pickin' quite a bit. It's a great way to relax and sometimes I play for the folks at fellowship. So you got a banjo, huh? Are you familiar with the clawhammer style? I like that a lot, and I like playing fiddle tunes on banjo too. Love to you and Lena. Happy Anniversary!!
Lynn Olson July 14, 2008 at 3:49pm

Frank,
Hi, I would love to have your job! Randy's idea of an outdoor adventure is going to a Dodgers game. gotta love 'im! LEAD was probably my favorite Corps experience. Afterward I told Randy I would love to be on LEAD staff some day and he said, "no way in hell!" Oh well. Here we are in the suburbs of LA.
Lynn
Stacia (Harman) Fine July 14, 2008 at 2:26pm

I'm happy for you, Frank!
Holly Kennedy July 14, 2008 at 4:15am

By the way it was great to hear from you again.
Holly Kennedy July 14, 2008 at 4:14am

Frank you know I will be keeping you in my prayers. Back surgery is serious. Glad you were able to do what was necessary to rid you of the pain you must have been feeling.

Hang in there and know that at least one person is praying for you.
Samuel (Sandy) Sanders July 11, 2008 at 8:11am

Hi Frank! Just arrived on the site. Good to see you here.
Stacia (Harman) Fine July 9, 2008 at 3:56pm

Frank, it's true, the photo does not look like me, but only a shadow of my former self.
What classes are you taking @ ABC? Are you going for a degree or personal enrichment? I know you have a PhD in something or other already.