For most Ocean City residents and observers, the Mr. Mature America pageant amounts to one of the latest of public relations guru/genius Mark Soifer’s wacky “good clean fun” events designed to bring much-deserved attention on America’s Favorite Family Resort.
To Frank Faralli, the very first Mr. Mature America crowned in 2014, it was much more than that. It was literally a matter of life and death.
Faralli, now 64, was recovering from a life-threatening bout with cancer when he realized it was time to regain control of his life. Mr. Mature America gave him that opportunity.
“I was bed-ridden or on the couch for over a year and depression was setting in somewhat. My wife Maria realized this. When she saw an article calling for contestants she said ‘this might be something good for you to try. You’ve always liked to sing and it might give you something to look forward to.’ She was right. I needed to get back in the game and when I did, I really took it seriously.”
The attitude was certainly understandable. After being diagnosed with colon cancer which had spread to his liver, the initial prognosis was grim. “Ten years ago there would have been nothing they could do. The technology did not exist. But thankfully I found (Temple University’s) Fox Chase Cancer Center.” What followed were five surgeries and two rounds of chemotherapy. Finally, Farrali received some good news.
It was looking like I was going to survive the cancer, which, of course, I was thrilled about. I was thrilled to e alive. But then I began to think about ways that I could start paying back for the second chance I had received.”
That desire ultimately translated to a run for Congress as an independent in 2012 while he was still undergoing chemo. “I didn’t have much strength and I certainly knew I wasn’t going to win the election against Frank LoBiondo, who is a great man. But it gave me the opportunity to speak out against two issues that are very important to me: guns and drugs. As a registered nurse I have seen first-hand what guns can do to people and what drugs can do to people. I participated in the debates and wound up getting the most votes of any independent candidate.”
Faralli is also very active in the Special Olympics movement. His daughter Marissa, now 28, has Down Syndrome and is a world-class sprinter as a Special Olympian. During his run for Congress, he brought Marissa and a group of her friends to Washington D.C., where they walked through the halls of congress and wound up influencing the passage of a bill providing $30 million in funding for Special Olympics.
Then came Mr. Mature. “I really got into it,” Frank said. “I walked two miles every day and lifted weights. When I committed to entering I had three months to get ready and I worked hard at it every day. I also practiced my singing and tried to anticipate what questions might be asked during the interview segment.”
When pageant night rolled around, Farrlli was ready. “The bathing suits they asked us to wear were the old-style bloomers. I said I had been working out and asked if I could wear a different kind of suit.”
During the interview segment he was asked who was his favorite U.S. President. “I never hesitated and said that I was a Kennedy kid. I think that helped me win over the crowd. I also walked out on the runway and looked at the crowd to connect with the people. The other contestants didn’t do that.”
Faralli wound up winning three of the four categories, and was awarded the trophy, crown and sash emblematic of Mr. Mature America.
I was excited to have won and to be making appearances on behalf of the city of Ocean City. It is a great town with a lot of town spirit. You don’t always find that today in a lot of places and I was really great to be a part of it.”
As a result of his title, Frank was asked to be a pageant judge for Miss New Jersey, has appeared in the Doo Dah Parade and represented Ocean City at numerous events and activities. Last fall the Cape May Courthouse resident donned the sash and crown to wear to his 45th Collingswood High School reunion.
“The Doo Dah Parade was the best,” he said. The reception I received from all the people was amazing. And it was really fun to represent at my high school reunion. I wore the (sash and crown) kind of as a joke, but I also brought my picture book along to explain what it was all about. That was really a blast. In fact, everything about being Mr. Mature America has been a blast. I got a little sad when I finally had to relinquish my crown.”
But after all that Frank Faralli has been through, that seems like a minor disappointment.
“All in all, it was a fantastic experience.”
