Frank Ferrante Jr. of New York City and Sag Harbor Dies April 17 - 27 East

Sag Harbor Express

Frank Ferrante Jr. of New York City and Sag Harbor Dies April 17

icon 1 Photo
Frank Ferrante Jr.

Frank Ferrante Jr.

authorStaff Writer on Apr 22, 2024

Frank Ferrante Jr. of New York City and Sag Harbor, died on April 17 at his home in Manhattan. He was 80.

He was born in New York City on October 1, 1943, the first son of Frank Ferrante Sr. and Anne (Lauro) Ferrante. Predeceased by his sister Barbara Anne Ferrante, they grew up in Borough Park and Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

He graduated from New Utrecht High School in 1961. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he served from 1964-1968 during the Vietnam War, and was stationed in Southeast Asia and Japan. The Japanese culture remained an important influence in his life.

After his service, he attended Rutgers University, graduating with a degree in business in 1972. He had a long career in New York City as a film and television producer. His first job was at WNET Channel 13, where he went from mailroom boy to film producer in a matter of months, followed by various advertising agencies, and most recently, Broadway video.

Later in life, he became an animal rights advocate, and had his own radio program on Blog Talk Radio: “Frank’s Radio Pets.”

He loved speed and excitement, had his pilot’s license, several motorcycles, and he became an avid skier and windsurfer.

At Killington, Vermont, he was a ski instructor, ski patrol and became an expert witness for skiing accident trials.

He loved living in Manhattan, and enthusiastically took advantage of all the city had to offer.

Residing part-time in Sag Harbor since 1996, he loved the water and became actively involved in the boating community, working as first mate on The American Beauty, and the race committee boat of Breakwater Yacht Club.

Ever the optimist, he was a warm, gregarious person and was full of stories of his exploits, and will be remembered for his great big hearty laugh, which he shared generously, his family said.

He is survived by his brother, Gary Ferrante and his wife Jennifer and nephew Bobby Ferrante; as well as his longtime partner of 28 years, Barbara Maslen of Sag Harbor.

Services will be held at Torregrossa Funeral Home in Brooklyn, followed by burial at the Veterans Cemetery in Calverton.

In lieu of flowers, donations made to the Hamptons Jazz Fest (hamptonsjazzfest.org) will honor his zest for life.

You May Also Like:

Mistakes Pile Up in Pierson Boys Soccer’s Defeat to Port Jeff

There’s work to be done. That was the takeaway after the Pierson boys soccer team ... 16 Sep 2025 by Drew Budd

Pickleball Lingo Decoded

Many pickleball players ask me: Where did the name “pickleball” for the game we love ... by Vinny Mangano

Thiele Appointed to OLA Board

The Board of Directors of Organización Latino Americana (OLA) of Eastern Long Island appointed former ... by Staff Writer

An Awful Noise

People who don’t know, ask: What is that awful noise? And then it stops. A different tree now gradually comes alive; the leaves nearly vibrate as the buzzing builds. The sound of an individual cicada is, of course, not an awful noise — it’s just loud, and the pitch is not designed to attract the human ear. The loud things we generally live with are human sounds: parties, lawnmowers, farm equipment. Yesterday, while harvesting tomatoes in the middle of a 50-acre field, I could hear, in the distance, the distinctive crunch of a house being demolished. But, other times, what ... by Marilee Foster

Diversity and Inclusion Committee To Combine With Shared Decision Making Committee at Pierson

At the first Sag Harbor Board of Education meeting since the start of the new school year, board members shared some of the work they’ve been doing to try and organize and make better use of the various committees that exist to focus on a wide range of needs and initiatives. School Board President Sandi Kruel and Vice President Jordana Sobey, along with Veronika Rodriguez-Moya, the district’s director of pupil personnel services and English as a New Language coordinator, recommended putting the district’s diversity and inclusion committee together with the shared decision-making committee. It was a recommendation that was well ... by Cailin Riley

Finding Balance — A Lifelong Journey to Wellness

When I was invited to write a monthly wellness column for this paper, “thrilled” doesn’t ... by Jessie Kenny

Team Whalers Makes History With 20th Championship at Sag Harbor HarborFest

Perfect weather and large crowds combined to make Sag Harbor’s annual HarborFest a huge success ... by Stephen J. Kotz

From Fatherhood to Finances, Bridgehampton Brotherhood BBQ Supports Local Men

During the many years she’s served as executive director of the Bridgehampton Child Care & ... by Cailin Riley

Doris Ola Mae Riddick Madison of Water Mill Dies August 31

Doris Ola Mae Riddick Madison of Water Mill died on August 31. She was 87. ... by Staff Writer

Saving the Waterfront

A little over 50 years ago, the Suffolk County Farmland Preservation Program was launched, based on a first-in-the nation concept of sale of “development rights.” Then-Suffolk County Executive John V.N. Klein was pivotal, in 1974, to the inception of that program. This month, the Suffolk County Legislature unanimously passed the Conservation of Working Waterfronts bill, with the current county executive, Ed Romaine, playing a critical role, too. It also involves future development. For centuries, farming and fishing have been at the economic foundation of Suffolk County. Great strides have been made in preserving farming in Suffolk — and keeping Suffolk ... by Karl Grossman