06/15/2026
Happy Birthday to my grandmother, Ellie Frazetta!
My grandparents first met at Nathan's Hot Dog stand in Coney Island. The story was that my grandfather (Frank Frazetta) was looking at her quite a bit, which then prompted her to introduce herself rather than the other way around. And I think that's what made her so different to him compared to anyone else: she took initiative. She wasn't afraid to speak up or speak out; she was strong and independent, just like the women he would draw in his comics at the time and later paint in his paintings.
She was also interested in art, but decided to take over the business side of things for my grandfather when she saw how horribly his employers were treating him. She fought for her husband so that he could keep the original artwork he created along with the licensing rights, which allowed them to have a steady stream of income from works that had already been created (something very rare in the art world at the time). Ellie eventually opened up a print business, starting with just a handful of images, which evolved into what is now the museum's storefront. She also made sure to keep as many original paintings as possible, rather than sell them, because her philosophy was that "art should not be for just the rich" (as she would often tell me). She knew the fans were the reason my grandfather achieved his dreams, and the museum was her way of giving back to everyone.
She adopted my grandfather's Sicilian culture and would cook massive feasts for holidays. She'd put on some Italian-American music from the 40s and 50s and start her day preparing meals for all of us to enjoy. Over the years I've tried figuring out what those songs were, and I've had some success with that; they certainly are nostalgic for me to listen to, especially in her house while I cook.
On a personal level, my grandmother and I got along very well. Though she aged just as everyone else eventually does, her mind stayed young, and that made it easy for me to be close with her even as a kid. I was never afraid of her yelling at me or punishing me for minor things, which allowed me to view her as a friend. She was always the type of person who could make anything fun or exciting, and for things that were SUPPOSED to be fun and exciting, she'd put in the extra effort to make them even more special. Halloween parties were my favorite, as she'd set up so many games and activities for us to do that we'd spend the entire afternoon and evening at her house. What was interesting, in hindsight, is how much she enjoyed watching us have fun: if we splashed water on the floor bobbing for apples, she wouldn't tell us to slow down-- she'd cheer us on! She was a very fun-loving person, and that translated well into being a good grandmother.
We miss and love you very much, grandma! Thank you for helping to create such a wonderful legacy for people to enjoy; and thank you for being a wonderful grandmother to me!
-William Frazetta
