A romantic Upper West Sider popped the question to the love of his life Tuesday — in a cab with the same medallion number that once belonged to her late grandfather.
Banking consultant John Tracy, 29, told The Post that he noticed that shortly after he started to date Lesley Frankel, 28, she was always scanning taxis for the medallion 8D99.
Her grandfather Berek Kempinski drove a cab with that medallion for 40 years, from 1955 to 1995.
“Losing him was tough to her,” Tracy said. “Whenever we were walking around, she’d see anything near that, and she’d let out an, ‘Oh, shucks! That was so close — 8C99!’ ”
After four years of dating, he made it his mission to track down the medallion so he could ask for her hand inside its cab.
John Tracy and fiancee Lesley Frankel show off the engagement ring under her grandfather’s medallion.Brian Zak/ NY Post“I tried calling 311. I took cabs around the city and would ask them if they knew any database to get in touch with other cabdrivers,” he said. “It didn’t seem too promising.”
He began sending out tweets asking for help — and the Taxi & Limousine Commission connected him with the medallion owner, Sergio Cabrera.
“Romantics have used taxis many over times over the years to make love connections, and we were only too happy to help this couple achieve their happily-ever- after,” said Conan Freud, the TLC’s chief operating officer.
Cabrera said he was pleased to help. “It’s a little mischievous, and it’s definitely part of my character,’’ he said.
Tracy took the cab to where his sweetheart works at Montefiore Children’s Hospital. On 210th Street, he hailed the “next” yellow cab coming up Steuben Avenue. It was Cabrera’s taxi, as arranged.
Frankel recognized the medallion instantly.
NY Post: Anne Wermiel“I was in complete shock when I saw my grandfather’s cab pull up to us,” she said. “I was shaking, I was in total shock. I’ve been looking for this medallion ever since my grandfather passed away.”
Once inside, Tracy told her he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
He then gave her a 1.6-carat emerald-cut diamond ring, using a small doll as the ring bearer.
“Of course I will! Yes!” she said.
Tracy said he was relieved.
“She’s my best friend,” he said. “Now, we can look forward to the rest of our lives together.”
