Frank Griseto

A noble cause of raising money for children in foster care seems to be in the middle of a paranormal investigation.

After the husband of Gloria Griseto passed away in a tragic accident while driving down a ‘Toys for Tots’ parade, she was inspired by her husband’s passion for helping children. Gloria started a non-profit and did a few fundraisers all for the benefit of children.

Here comes the shady part.

The A&E producers of ‘Paranormal Cops’ got wind of this charity work and the fact that a union hall was reportedly haunted. How the connection between the ghost of Frank and the union hall became, I have no clue. Supposedly now, the ‘Paranormal Cops’ team investigated the place and their medium came out with the conclusion that it was being haunted by Frank. Read this snippet from the report:

…Gloria got a call from the producer of “Paranormal Cops.”

This A&E reality-based show follows a group of real-life Chicago-area police officers who apply their forensic and investigative expertise to paranormal casework. Rob Fabiani, the Chicago police sergeant who created this team, had gotten a call from the security officer at the union hall in Countryside because too many people were complaining about all the weird things — voices in the lobby; shadows in the restrooms — going on there.

Fabiani said he and the crew brought in their equipment, along with a medium, who, after doing her research, told them the vision she saw was of a law enforcement officer, along with row after row of motorcycles. And when the investigators drew a sketch of the spirit that seemed to be haunting the place, it was a near-replica of Gloria’s husband.

“after doing her research, told them the vision she saw was of a law enforcement officer, along with row after row of motorcycles.”

I have no problem with people helping one another in bringing awareness to charities, but somehow I feel that A&E’s involvement in this is just the producers taking advantage of the tragic story to bring attention to their less than popular show.

Full source: Suburban Chicago News

‘Using his spirit’

By DENISE CROSBY [email protected]

Frank Griseto, with his massive biceps and gregarious personality, was always a larger than life presence.

But after this DuPage County sheriff’s deputy was killed in an accident six years ago while riding in a Toys for Tots motorcycle run, his wife Gloria certainly didn’t expect Frank’s spirit to hang around haunting buildings.

Yet that’s exactly what a group of “Paranormal Cops” from Chicago say has happened. And tonight at 9:30 p.m. on A&E TV, these investigators will explore why this gentle and benevolent man decided to haunt a building, disturbing folks with strange noises and dark shadows.

As it turns out, it’s all for a very good cause.

For most of their 30-year marriage, Gloria Griseto heard her husband talk daily about his destiny — about something big he was supposed to do that would benefit others, particularly children. The couple would be sitting in their Downers Grove home watching TV, and he’d start up again.

“So what do you want me to do about it, Frank?” she would ask, figuring he was just being a “typical Italian man” in need of lots of attention.

“I don’t know,” he’d reply. “But I know I’ll need your help to do it.”

On Dec. 5, 2004, Frank was riding with 40,000 other bikers in the annual Toys for Tots run in Chicago, when an automobile driver crossed the motorcade and rammed into Frank’s motorcycle. He was killed instantly and never got the chance to figure out his destiny, much less fulfill it.

Or did he?

On the night he died, his widow said she continued to hear Frank’s voice in her head, still pushing his need to help disadvantaged kids. And so, the following year, Gloria, a clinical counselor, created the not-for-profit “Destiny Through Character” — with proceeds going toward helping foster children transition out of the welfare system.

Gloria put in the first $20,000 herself with insurance money from Frank’s crushed bike. Then she held two dinner/dance fundraisers at Park Place, the Pipefitters Union hall in Countryside — one in 2007, another in 2009 — that raised a total of $40,000.

But the same day she met with Aunt Martha’s Youth Services in Aurora about funding programs with the money she had raised, Gloria got a call from the producer of “Paranormal Cops.”

This A&E reality-based show follows a group of real-life Chicago-area police officers who apply their forensic and investigative expertise to paranormal casework. Rob Fabiani, the Chicago police sergeant who created this team, had gotten a call from the security officer at the union hall in Countryside because too many people were complaining about all the weird things — voices in the lobby; shadows in the restrooms — going on there.

Fabiani said he and the crew brought in their equipment, along with a medium, who, after doing her research, told them the vision she saw was of a law enforcement officer, along with row after row of motorcycles. And when the investigators drew a sketch of the spirit that seemed to be haunting the place, it was a near-replica of Gloria’s husband.

Gloria says she and her husband shared a special closeness, so it’s no surprise she still feels his presence in her life. Why Frank decided to show up in Countryside is a different story — but still typical of this generous man who had spent so much of his down-time volunteering with seniors and kids.

“He knew he had to do something big to fulfill his destiny. And Frank’s persistent,” said his wife. “So he’s using his spirit to draw national attention to an issue he cared about deeply.”