Frank Colonna, long-standing ACRA board member and industry supporter passed away on March 30. Frank was the founder and owner of Triangle Rent A Car based in Raleigh, N.C. He grew his business to include 29 locations across four states; North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. Frank was a recipient of the Russell Bruno award for Outstanding Service to the Rental Car Industry. Although a southerner by choice, he was born in Brooklyn and was raised in Kingston, N.Y, and retained quite a bit of the New Yorker in him all of his life. Frank was always ready to fight ACRA’s legislative issues with intensity and integrity.
Frank was someone you could always count on to write a letter or an email proclaiming support of a bill or non-support of poor legislation. No matter how busy he was, he found the time to devote himself to the concerns of the car rental industry. Frank also made every effort to be kind to so many of his employees, friends, and fellow car rental associates. I, personally, have numerous emails from Frank that encouraged me in my work as the executive director of ACRA. I saved them because, at the time they were sent to me, they gave me what I needed to hear. Now, they give me something to remember Frank by; and they make me smile to think of him. He was a fine man with many friends and admirers; a true success story in business and in life.
Donations in Frank’s memory can be made to the Melanoma Research at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Memoriam written by:
Sharon Faulkner
Executive Director