Cow Palace’s top man is honored by FRA

Restaurateur and longtime owner of Santa Cruz Valley’s landmark Cow Palace Restaurant, Frank Bertolino, was recently named an honorary member in the Fleet Reserve Association by members of the local FRA, Branch 77.

Bertolino was presented with a plaque highlighting his new title by Branch 77 members Joel Greenberg, president; Tom Heaney, a past national FRA president, and Harry Lyons, junior past president of FRA’s Southwest Region, at a recent regular monthly meeting at the Cow Palace, Bertolino’s landmark Southern Arizona eatery.

For more than 10 years, FRA Branch 77 has met the first Tuesday of each month at Bertolino’s establishment, taking over a special dining area set aside in the restaurant for special groups.

“He’s allowed us to not only meet there, but to also hang up some of our plaques and articles on his walls,” Lyons said. “He has given us a good wait staff and always goes the extra mile for us.”

Lyons said Bertolino’s FRA honorary membership was approved this past September at the FRA’s 81st National Convention in Branson, Mo.

“A few of us attended the convention where Frank’s membership, considered our highest award for non-military people, was unanimously approved,” Lyons added.

Bertolino said he was very honored for his new honorary membership status, adding that he was “happy to help out such an important organization.”

Lawrence J. Boudreaux, FRA national president, congratulated Bertolino in a letter stating: “This award is in recognition of the distinguished service you have rendered to the FRA in the true spirit of our three cardinal principles of loyalty, protection and service, set forth in the preamble to the constitution of the FRA.”

Bertolino, who never served in any branch of the service, was presented with an honorary membership plaque, a gold lapel button and an FRA honorary membership card, the insignia of his lifetime membership and giving him the honorary title of “shipmate.”

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740