Just over a mile off the coast of Scituate, MA stands Minot’s Ledge Light, a stone lighthouse built on a rocky outcropping. Serving as a beacon to navigators entering Boston Harbor, it has withstood dangerous seas and countless storms for over 160 years. I was named after my father, Minot Frye, who was himself named after Minot’s Light. Since I was young, my father encouraged me to emulate its qualities—resilience, strength, and the ability to find comfort beyond the familiar. Every summer he would lead my three sisters and me on hikes up Mt. Washington (once when I was about 10, I packed two left shoes) and had us skiing from lift open to close at Sugarloaf in Maine, even on the coldest winter days. Minot Sr. instilled in us an appreciation for Type II fun—the kind of fun you only appreciate afterward—and it has been my favorite kind of fun ever since. My wife jokes that every “quick hike” we go on ends with us caught in the rain. She’s right—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In March 2017, my father was diagnosed with late-stage melanoma. He prepared to fight with the same resilience he taught us. Under the care of the doctors at Dana-Farber, he fought valiantly for six weeks before passing on May 2nd. Since his passing, I’ve embraced his spirit by challenging myself in new ways, including completing the 48 New Hampshire 4,000-footers and developing a deep passion for cycling.
When I face athletic adversity—like a rainy forecast for a planned solo century ride to Cape Cod or recovering from a tibia/fibula spiral fracture after a bike crash last May (30 days before my wedding!)—I think of my dad. His memory motivates me to push forward, whether it’s riding in soggy kit or getting back on the bike trainer three weeks after my second surgery.
In 2025, I want to continue honoring my dad by stepping out of my comfort zone: training for and running the 129th Boston Marathon while fundraising for Dana-Farber. For those who knew my father, and those who didn’t, I hope you’ll consider supporting Dana-Farber’s Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Basic Cancer Research. Every dollar raised directly supports their efforts to advance progress toward a world without cancer. During cold winter training runs and the toughest moments of the race, I’ll be motivated by my supporters, the mission of Dana-Farber, and my father’s enduring memory.
Thank you,
Minot “Max” Frye Jr.
