Frank "Cricket" Molina

Frank “Cricket” Molina was born in Miami, Florida, to Albert and Mary Molina on April 8, 1950 and he passed away on April 10, 2021 at age 71. He was the younger of two children, and he and his sister, Penny, grew up in Dade and Broward Counties in South Florida. Cricket met the love of his life, Debbie, in 1969, they were married in 1971, and their son, Christopher, was born in 1980. Cricket graduated from Miami Norland Senior High School. After high school, he worked at Schwebke-Shiskin & Associates as a Land Surveyor for 10 years. Cricket served in the Air Force Reserves from 1969 to 1972.

Cricket always wanted to be a firefighter. In 1979, he applied for a position at the Dania Beach Fire Department. The day before his physical test, he cut the inside of his hand, which required stitches, but he went to his test anyway. Chief Eugene Jewel of the Dania Beach Fire Department hired Cricket. Chief Jewell “was impressed with Molina’s efforts to climb a rope during a physical test for a job because Molina’s hand was covered with stitches at the time.” “The stitches came undone during that climb and there was blood all down my shirt,” recalled Molina. There were so many other people up for that job. But [Jewell] said, “anybody who wants something that bad should have it.” His career as a firefighter began at the Dania Beach Fire Department in 1979 and he retired in 2006. Cricket received a number of Commendations for his service during his career including the Firefighter of the Year Award. He was a Firefighter, Fire Inspector, EMT, Lieutenant, and Driver Engineer.

Cricket played baseball when he was young and when his son began playing little league baseball, he coached his son’s team for many years. Cricket’s dream car was a Porsche and he was surprised and very happy when his wife and son gave him one for Father’s Day. Cricket was a surfer and his proudest accomplishment was when he competed in the Eastern Surfing Association championship in Cape Hatteras, NC, in 1978, where he placed 3rd in the Masters division. He worked at the Little Hawaii Beach & Surf Shop in sales, and also repaired surfboards for the shop. He was proud of, and supported, his wife’s running and they traveled around the country for her marathons. He enjoyed camping on the Peace River with friends, shooting pool, fishing, golfing, building boats, and he built his home in South Florida. He loved animals and his pets were adopted from rescues, or he rescued them himself. Cricket was very passionate about playing his guitar; he played every day, and was in a couple of bands when he was young.

Cricket is survived by his wife of 50 years, Debbie; his son, Christopher; his grandson, Trent; his sister, Penny; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Cricket was such a blessing to his family. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, son and friend. He will be remembered by all who knew him for his loving, caring, compassionate heart.

The family will have a private memorial, but if you would like to make a donation in Cricket’s honor, please make it in the name of Frank F. Molina to https://www.feedingamerica.org/ to help people still struggling without food because of the pandemic.

Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/merritt-island-fl/frank-molina-10147730

for the Molina family.