Frankie Chamberlain loved Bernal Heights. It loved him back.

""He didn't like anything, Frankie loved everything," said Samantha Zuvella, the owner of the neighborhood grocery store. "He loved people. He loved the Good Life Grocery. He made us his family. He made a lot of the people in this neighborhood his family." Those who knew Chamberlain can reel off those loves by memory: the House of Prime Rib, the steak and mashed potatoes at Vega, the blue suede smoothie at Progressive Grounds, the soups at Moonlight Cafe, the drinks at Wild Side West, and the feeling of a long bike ride."

""He didn't like veggie soups," said Shayne Hill-Zeck, an employee at Moonlight Cafe. Whenever Chamberlain opened the door to the cafe, Hill-Zeck recalled, and a veggie soup was on the menu, staff would yell "Lentils!" as a warning, and Chamberlain would make a hasty retreat. Also: smartphones. "He had an iPhone for one day and he hated it," said Zuvella. "He returned it the next day and got his flip phone back.""

"Customers, fellow coworkers and employees at nearby businesses described Chamberlain as a force of kindness, friendship and compassion. He'd dress up on Halloween and Easter and hand out candies to kids. He'd buy a coffee, a sandwich, a smoothie, a drink, or a meal for coworkers. He would give customers samples like no one else could. "Everyone's very sad," said Jocelyn Navarrete, an employee of nine years at the Good Life Grocery, "A lot of customers have come up to us with teary eyes giving their condolences to the company. He was a big part of it.""

Frank Chamberlain worked 22 years at the Good Life Grocery at 448 Cortland St. He died on Oct. 27 at age 67. Chamberlain was beloved across Bernal Heights for his warmth, generosity and constant friendliness. He loved people, the store, local eateries and long bike rides, and had specific favorites like the House of Prime Rib and the blue suede smoothie at Progressive Grounds. He strongly disliked veggie soups and quickly abandoned an iPhone. He regularly dressed for holidays, handed out candy, bought food for coworkers and gave generous samples. Customers and coworkers mourned his absence.

Read at Mission Local