OBITUARY: Francesco William Santucci Sr.

“Frank, Nanu, Cisco Kid, Pepperoni Frank”

May 28, 1935 - June 27, 2024

Frank passed away peacefully at his home on June 27, 2024 at the age of 89.

Frank was the beloved husband to Mollie Joyce for 65 years.

He is survived by Mollie, his children, Frank (Donna) Santucci Jr., Lisa Santucci and, Bill Santucci, his adoring grandgirls, Angela (Serafino IV) Santucci Mazza, Genevieve Santucci Roberts, Malina Lee Santucci and brother Ralph Santucci.

He is preceded in death by his parents Guglielmo and Elizebetta (Vescio) Santucci and his sister Gilda Santucci Sozynski.

He served in the US Army and was stationed in Korea (1958-1960). Upon returning home, he began his long career with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Highland Drive Division after graduating from the St. Francis School of Nursing, working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner for 49.5 years.

During his time with VA, Frank devoted much time outside of work assisting veterans to reacclimate to society.

Many summers were spent camping across the country with his family. He drove a brown Volare station wagon with no air conditioning, packed with three children, a Coleman stove, and a five-person tent on the roof all the way to California and back. He never took the same road twice and he strived to visit all the National Parks with his family whether they liked it or not.

Frank loved competitive youth sports. He was a Catholic Youth Organization

(CYO) basketball coach at St. Joseph. He loved softball and baseball and especially attending many Little League World Series games in Williamsport, PA dragging Mollie along.

He played for the Verona Cafe softball team for many years and with the 1963 state championship team playing third base. His baseball abilities got him an invitation to try out as a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1952.

During his later years, he enjoyed playing tennis with Mollie winning the Pittsburgh City Park doubles championships multiple times. Once his knees would no longer allow for him to play tennis, he began his golf career. Frank loved chipping and taking his friends to new restaurants after a fun round.

Once in his retirement years, Frank was interested in storytelling, so he enrolled for a creative writing course at the Heinz History Center.

His love of his hometown of Verona and his Italian heritage afforded him the opportunity to write many stories for publications such as the Verona Community Newsletter, Primo Magazine, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA). Many of his stories can be found via the Verona Historical society’s website Frank Sauntucci.

Frank volunteered as a docent at the Verona Historical Society and enjoyed helping people learn about Verona’s long history. Frank took it upon himself to paint the cannon war memorial on the boulevard in Verona, paying for all the paint himself.

Frank loved making and sharing homemade wine, peppers, and potatoes, writing, watermelon, his garden, watching the weather, black and white war movies, eccentric PBS performers, corn on the cob, and watching his favorite movie, Last of the Mochicans. He also considered himself a potato chip connoisseur. He enjoyed taking all the extra garbage that his family created during the holidays to any dumpster he could find. He never missed a grandgirl event whether it be in Edinboro, PA or Tipp City, OH. He was a master at writing creative charades for his family and he loved watching the Bersaglieri Italian marching band.

He was a member of the Roccacinquemiglia Society and a lifetime member of Saint Joseph's Church in Verona where he celebrated many milestones.

Donations can be made in his name to the Veterans Breakfast Club and/or the Verona Historical Society.

Family and friends will be received on Sunday June 30, 2024 from 5-7 p.m. and on Monday July 1, 2024 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME CREMATION AND ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, INC., at 421 Allegheny Ave. Oakmont, PA 15139.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday July 2, 2024 at Holy Family Parish - St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Verona. Interment and full military honors to follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery.