“ANGEL EYES”: Frank Sinatra Passes — May 14, 1998

(ABOVE: Jack Silbert photo)

When Sinatra died, Hoboken became the focal point of the world’s mourning. Nowhere else in the world was so intimately tied to Frank—Vegas, Palm Springs, even “New York, New York” seemed like brief stopovers for Frank compared to Hoboken.

Sinatra had a notoriously complicated relationship with his hometown. Yet when it came time to commemorate its native son, Hoboken rose to the occasion.

News cameras lined up outside the makeshift shrine at 415 Monroe, the spot where Frank entered the world. Crowds worked their way into Piccolo’s, Leo’s and Biggie’s—all collectively lamenting the loss of Sinatra at venues that were known to hold him dear.

The jukeboxes in the corner bars were belting out Frank favorites, as Hoboken old and new came together and paid their respects in a manner befitting Sinatra.

They drank to him.

“Hey drink up all you people
Order anything you see
And have fun you happy people
The laugh and the drinks on me…”

Francis Albert Sinatra
December 12, 1915-May 14, 1998