Via Facebook, the Napoleon Room at Club Café has announced with “profound sadness,” the passing of founder and Vice President, Frank A. Ribaudo. The back story of the club, according to the post states: “He was strong, determined, and courageous to the very end as he battled
brain cancer. He passed away peacefully at home, with his longtime husband, Joe Posa, who took exceptional care of him.
In 1983, Frank and his friends belonged to a gym just down the street from Club Café, where they were being harassed and discriminated against. Refusing to accept this treatment, they left and found a space to open an LGBTQ+ gym—a place where the community could work out safely and with dignity. Soon after, they opened Club Café as a gathering space to grab a bite to eat and relax after workouts. From those early days to today, Frank became a true champion for the LGBTQ+ community.
In the mid-1980s, when a new disease—later known as HIV/AIDS—ravaged our 
community, Frank opened our doors for community dinners, fundraisers, and meetings to mobilize and change public policy. He never wavered in his commitment to supporting those living with HIV/AIDS. In 2003, alongside his good friend Michael Tye, Frank helped create the Harbor to the Bay AIDS Benefit Bike Ride, serving for 22 years as its treasurer, crew member, and organizer. The community dinners he began continue at Club Café to this day, bringing together those living with HIV/AIDS and providing information about programs and new therapies.”
Frank Alfred Ribaudo was born on December 30, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York. After studying Hospitality Management at New York City Community College, he joined the United States Navy. His eight years 
of service, included the Vietnam War, an experience that reflected his deep sense of duty and commitment. Following his military service, Frank worked in information technology while living in Southern California and later in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. It was during this period that he discovered his love for Boston. Combining his entrepreneurial vision with his passion for hospitality, Frank helped restore brownstones in Boston’s Back Bay, leading to his entrepreneurship with Club Café, which, over four decades, became a welcoming second home to many, and a place of true community for straight and gay people alike.
