Frank Centrone

Frank Centrone was the kind of person who could walk into a room a stranger and leave with a flock of new friends.

Born August 15, 1958, in Rockville Centre, New York, to Anthony Centrone, Sr. and Leonarda Scalia, Frank grew up in East Meadow and spent much of his life on Long Island, also calling North Bellmore, Centereach, Mount Sinai, Rocky Point, and Ridge home over the years. He ultimately settled in Florida, where he and his wife, Jennifer, made their home in Vero Beach.

Frank passed on Sunday evening, August 23, 2026, in Vero Beach following a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 68 years old.

A lifelong educator, Frank dedicated his career to helping young people, particularly students with special needs. He was especially proud of his years working in special education with Eastern Suffolk BOCES, and later retired from the Rocky Point School District, where he served as a respected teacher, mentor, chess club advisor, and steady presence for countless students and fellow educators. Over the decades, many of his pupils remained in touch long after they left his classroom, a testament to his lasting impact and the lives he impacted.

Frank was also a musician in the truest sense of the word. Music wasn’t simply something he did, it was one of the many ways he connected with the world. He began his journey with the accordion, later mastering piano, learning guitar, and becoming a talented vocalist and songwriter. Over the years, he played with numerous bands, including Astril, Lisa and the Leftovers, and Body Heat, and performed at countless weddings, festivals, shows, charity events, and concerts. One of his greatest joys was touring with American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer Gary U.S. Bonds. Whether playing for a handful of people at a local gig or for thousands of music lovers in a packed auditorium, Frank was a true showman who loved an audience.

Among his proudest musical accomplishments was “After the Smoke Has Cleared,” a song Frank wrote, produced, and recorded with the help of his talented musician friends in New York following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He donated proceeds from the song to surviving families affected by the tragedy, and his efforts were recognized by the Mayor of New York City. A fitting reflection of the man Frank was, he was always happy to lend his talents and a helping hand to bring people together and make a difference.

But Frank’s greatest talent may have been his ability to make people feel like they had known him forever. He had an extraordinary sense of humor, a gift for storytelling, and an encyclopedic knowledge of music that could impress anyone. He loved the Beatles and the New York Yankees, and he never missed an opportunity to hear live music, spend time by the water, or gather around a table with the people he loved.

Frank loved to entertain, and he loved being entertained by life. Retirement gave him the freedom to visit Long Island, relax poolside in Florida, vacation with his family, play music around town, and most importantly, spend time with loved ones. He could strike up conversation with anyone and make new friends anywhere –  from standing in a grocery line to sitting next to someone at the bar. For Frank, there were very few strangers, and he loved his people fiercely.

Frank is survived by his beloved wife of 12 years, Jennifer Centrone; his children, Ian Centrone of Jensen Beach and Aja Centrone of Philadelphia; and his stepson, Randall Lucas, his wife, Jacquelyn, and their children, Nora and Grayson, who will forever miss their beloved “Bobo.” He was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony Centrone Sr. and Leonarda Scalia Centrone. He is also survived by brother, Anthony Centrone Jr., his in-laws, countless nieces, nephews, and cousins, and a remarkable number of lifelong friends who were, in every sense, his family.

Frank leaves behind far more than memories. He leaves songs that will continue to be played, tales that will continue to be told, students whose lives he touched, an amazing circle of friends, and a family who will always carry his laughter, humor, and larger-than-life spirit with them.

Frankie Keys was not the type to fade quietly into the background. He lived loudly, loved deeply, and will be missed forever.

And the music will go on.

Celebration of Life

A Celebration of Life for Frank will be held Friday, August 28th, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, 1655 27th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. A future ceremony will also be planned in New York – details to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Frank’s memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) via Ways to Give – Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or mail to PO Box 5041, Boone, IA 50950-0041. 

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.