Frank Reynolds’ story is one of resiliency. He is a testament to the how much strength one can possess, even when all hope is lost. Circumstances outside of Frank’s control created a life that was unbearable for him to live. He turned to Crystal Meth, which destroyed his family and ultimately led to Frank’s homelessness and despair. This is the story of how one man fought through an addiction and decades of horrible luck to rebuild his family and emerge as a top chauffeur at Pure Luxury, one of the county’s most prominent limousine firms. This is a tale of what it looks like to hit rock bottom and what it takes to survive and then thrive.
After spending six years in the military between 1977 and 1983, Frank got married for the second time and quickly made plans for starting a family. When his first son was six months old, Frank and his wife found out he had a heart condition which required him to undergo lifesaving open heart surgery. His son did survive the surgery, but unfortunately the problems did not end there. By the time Frank’s daughter was born, three years later, his son had received many heart surgeries and their medical bills were skyrocketing.
“Some people turn to alcohol when something terrible happens in their life, others find their crutches. I turned to Crystal Meth. I was a functional addict, able to work as a generator installer because drug tests weren’t necessary at that company. This is how I hid my pain.”
Frank’s marriage eventually dissolved and they divorced soon after the birth of his son. His wife gained custody of the kids and Frank moved down to Redondo Beach in California in 1997, picking up odd jobs and crashing on couches or in his car. He drifted through this part of his life with no fixed address and an addiction that was quickly taking over.
“I was homeless in Petaluma when my sister came and found me in Kenilworth Park, which was where all of the homeless people hung out since it was next to a soup kitchen. She had come to let me know that my mom had a brain tumour. I went with her to Boston where my mom lived to help take care of her through her rehab. While she was in the hospital, mentally deteriorating to the point at which she didn’t recognize me or my sisters.”
Once Frank’s mom learned how to walk and talk well enough to travel safely, him and his sister loaded up their van and brought her back to California where she lived with Frank’s eldest sister in Cloverdale. Franks’ mom was not interested in undergoing chemotherapy for her brain tumour, and eventually passed away in 2009. Throughout all of this, Frank remained homeless and maintained his addiction with the help of his ex-brother in law who was a dealer. He lived this life for the next couple of years until realizing that he needed to make a change.
“When you’re a homeless drug addict, it’s all about finding something to eat, somewhere to sleep, and a way to stay high. I found myself searching for food out of a garbage can and that’s when I knew I hit rock bottom.”
In 2010, a representative from the Santa Rosa VA visited the soup kitchen Frank frequented, and shared details about their drug rehabilitation program. Frank knew this was his shot at a new life, so he went the next day and enrolled in the two-month rehab program offered by the VA and located in San Francisco. He was accepted into the program and began detoxing.
“I used meth for over 20 years and coming off of it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Unlike heroine, there is no methadone or similar rehab drug for meth addicts so I had to go cold turkey. It took me 55 days to detox and get to the point where I was well enough to function. My birthday was coming up and I decided to call my kids and tell them where I was. For my 51st birthday, they came to San Francisco to visit me and we had lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf. I told them everything. I told them the whole story.”
Frank stayed in the program for another eight months in a housing facility on Treasure Island with a bunch of other veterans who were rehabilitating from various addictions. Once he finished the program, the VA arranged for Frank to attend truck driving school and obtain his Class A license, and eventually helped him get a job as a truck driver for US Express. Through this experience, Frank determined that he loved driving but didn’t want to drive trucks, because he didn’t want to be on his own for long periods for fear of relapse. His sister invited him to stay with her while he looked for a job. During the day, he would drive around applying for jobs and would always see Pure Luxury busses driving around. He applied for the job successfully and has been there ever since. He speaks highly of Pure Luxury’s owners, Jennifer and Gary Buffo, and commends them for being a constant source of support in spite of them knowing about his dark past.
“When you’re a former addict, there is always the worry that people will hold your past against you. While I didn’t share the details about my past with the bosses, I definitely told a few other drivers during a casual conversation. People talk, and word about my past as a homeless drug addict quickly spread. I was worried that I could lose my job, but when Jennifer spoke to me about it, it was more about offering support and showing appreciation for how I’ve come. I’ve been with them for 5 years now, driving luxury vehicles around to fantastic locations, and I am so grateful for this company and how it has played a part in my recovery and success.”
The feeling is mutual. The Buffos consider Frank one of their top performing drivers, and Jennifer credits him for being someone who is respected and loved by everyone he encounters, from colleagues to coworkers:
Frank it a true professional at heart. He has grown with us over the years, and become a true leader to our chauffeur team. He uses the many things he’s learned in life, every day on his job. Serving his clients come natural to him. In the chauffeur car industry, you meet many people. When you find a gem like Frank, you know he belongs on your team.
Frank’s inspiring fight for a new life will culminate this coming spring with the trip to Disneyworld with his kids and grandkids that he has planned and paid for. His story is one of success, resiliency, and living the American Dream in spite of how heavily the deck can be stacked against you.
Safe travels, Frank!
