By Kevin Moore
News-Chronicle
The word extraordinary was used by every friend and co-worker who was asked to describe Leo Frigo on Wednesday.
The founder of Paul's Pantry, who friends said loved to put on his overalls and work at the food center for the needy, died Tuesday from injuries he suffered in a car accident on Feb. 7 on County J at Harbor Lights Road in Suamico.
Craig Robbins, director of Paul's Pantry, said Frigo was on his way to visit a disabled man he had befriended, to bring him candy and soda.
"His zeal for caring for the poor was always an inspiration," Robbins said.
Frigo, 69, retired as president of his family's business, Frigo Cheese, in 1983 to pursue philanthropic work. According to a biography released Wednesday by Paul's Pantry, he "wished to devote the remainder of his life to apostolic work and had been preparing for that mission before retirement by joining the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
"His first few months of retirement were spent in assisting parolees, taking them to job interviews and assisting in their rehabilitation."
Arlene Conant, director of a halfway house in Appleton, told Frigo the biggest obstacle faced by ex-convicts was finding a job to support themselves. She took him to St. Joseph Food Pantry in Appleton, and Frigo decided to start a private food pantry for the needy in Green Bay.
He began holding meetings in a corner of the St. Vincent de Paul store, organizing volunteers at churches and visiting grocery stores for unsalable food items. The pantry opened on Feb. 14, 1984.
Robbins said Paul's Pantry distributed 5 million pounds of food last year. Volunteers spent 91,000 hours working at the pantry, 1520 Webster Court. People in need provided 68,000 of those volunteer hours.
SANTA CLAUS IN OVERALLS
Karina O'Malley, retired St. Norbert College sociology professor who founded Crossroads Justice Center and Shelter with her husband, Lou, said Frigo had a great gift of putting people who needed help at ease.
"He symbolized open-handed generosity," she said. "He had a gift when giving of making you feel like it was honoring him by giving him the opportunity to give to you."
O'Malley said when the shelter needed food, Frigo always came to the rescue in a big way.
"Sometimes we needed food," she said, "and if Leo was there working in his overalls, I would say, 'Leo, we need a little food,' and you couldn't walk away with a little food, he wanted to give you the world.
"He looked like Santa Claus in overalls. He created a supermarket by using his business skills where poor people could shop with dignity even though they didn't have money. It's a service people here can be proud of."
O'Malley remembers seeing Leo and his wife, Fran, taking walks in their De Pere neighborhood saying the rosary together.
Lou O'Malley, reached in Milwaukee where he is attending law school, let out a cry when told of Frigo's death.
"I'm sorry," he said. "He was a personal hero of mine. If you say the word hunger in Northeast Wisconsin, the next thing you hear is Paul's Pantry, and Paul's Pantry was, and is, Leo Frigo. His whole purpose was to make sure no one was hungry, and he succeeded in an extraordinary way.
"He made people aware they had an obligation in justice to make sure children weren't hungry. He told Karina and I, 'Don't ever be without food at the shelter. Call me.' He fulfilled a societal function that isn't met as extensively as it should be by food stamps and the Women, Infants and Children program, and he treated them with great dignity and gave them an opportunity to pay back.
"He treated everyone equally and extended the notion that we were all in this together, that some need more help than others, but everyone has something to give."
HE LIVED THE GOSPEL
Robbins called Frigo a "father figure to everyone" at the pantry and the needy in town.
"Leo started the pantry with hard work, prayer and trust," he said. "He never turned anybody in need away. We were all very blessed to know Leo and see how he lived the Gospel. He fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and prisoners."
Paul's Pantry is the largest free food pantry in the U.S., Robbins said. "Leo always talked about the beautiful people who donated their time, money and food," he said.
Rabbi Sidney Vineburg of Cnesses Israel Congregation said the community will very much miss Frigo.
"He succeeded in business, then entirely devoted his time to the welfare of the poor," said Vineburg, who is also a News-Chronicle columnist. "He was quite a remarkable individual, and the community will miss him, and I will miss him at the events we attended together."
AS CLOSE TO A SAINT AS WE'VE SEEN
Don Salmon, vice president of institutional advancement at St. Norbert College, said Frigo set an example for others. The college awarded Frigo its President's Medal in 1987 for community service.
"I don't think anyone lived out the Christian message more than Leo Frigo," Salmon said. "He was the personification of the Gospel message, served as an example for many people, and influenced many people into service for others. The people in the community and those he served will sorely miss him."
Frank Wood, publisher of the News-Chronicle, called Frigo "as close to a saint as we've seen" in Northeast Wisconsin. "Leo has done more for more people than anybody in this part of the country," Wood said.
Paul's Pantry will be closed on Saturday in observance of Frigo's funeral. Visitation is planned from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ryan Funeral Home, 305 N. 10th St., De Pere. A Mass of Resurrection is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 1307 Lourdes Ave., De Pere. For more information about Frigo's life and the funeral arrangements, see Page 8 of today's News-Chronicle.
Robbins said Frigo's presence will always be felt at Paul's Pantry. "His heart will be here forever," he said. "He's everywhere you look."
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