On Sunday, May 26th, 2019, Francesco (Frank) Piccolo passed away peacefully with family by his side at his daughter’s home in Double Oak, TX. Frank accepted the love of God through His gift of Jesus Christ. As he took his last breath on earth, he took his next breath in the presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ.
Frank Piccolo was born May 1, 1933 in Reggio Calabria, Italy to Elizabetta Furfaro Piccolo and Domenico Piccolo. Frank was the third of eight siblings. At age 11 and at the end of WWII in 1944, Frank moved from south Italy to northern Italy and settled in Genova, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.
During his teenage years, while attending school, he received technical training in clothing manufacturing for men and women. At the age of 19, he was recruited into the Italian Air Force. He was discharged with honors in 1954 and returned to civilian life.
In 1955, Frank opened his own apparel business. During the industrial revolution he decided to sell his business and move to the United States at the age of 29. On April 11, 1964, Frank married Maria Concetta Calabrese in Easton, PA where one year later their twins, Laura Elizabeth and David Domenick, were born on March 9, 1965.
Knowing that America offered more opportunity, he worked hard to advance in his career and give a better life to his children, thus creating a better generation of Italian Americans. Frank’s career spanned 30 years in the clothing industry, working as Plant Manager, General Manager, Director, and International Division Manager for Genesco, Liz Claiborne, and HartMarx. He traveled all over the world which gave him an international fame in the clothing industry.
As a result of his travels, Frank came to the conclusion that he has been blessed many times over to be adopted by a country such as the USA which afforded him the opportunity to achieve his goals…He provided his children, Laura and David, with a college education and he has two beautiful grandchildren, Parker David and Evan Jacob. He believed America is the #1 country in the world because if you get a good education and work hard you can be anything you want. Frank was the life of the party and a hero to his family in Italy.
He was a leader who paved the way to the American Dream. Frank was an outstanding ballroom dancer. He enjoyed golf, soccer, bocce, travel, and walking.
Frank was dearly loved by his children, siblings, nieces, and nephews. He is survived by Maria Piccolo, twins Laura Piccolo Smith and David Domenick Piccolo, grandchildren Parker David Smith (wife Brady) and Evan Jacob Smith, sister Nunzia Muia, brother Salvatore Piccolo, brother Nicodemo Piccolo, sister Elena Piccolo, sister Franca Piccolo, and many cherished nieces and nephews. Frank will be greatly missed but he will live in our hearts forever.
Because of Frank’s love for the USA, education, and the pursuit of the American dream, a memorial has been set up in his honor at the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) which provides scholarships to Italian American college students. Donations can be made at www. niaf.org/forms/donate-v2/ or a check written to NIAF with ‘Francesco Piccolo Memorial’ in memo, sent to: National Italian American Foundation Amb.
Peter F. Secchia Building 1860 19th St NW, Washington DC 20009 To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Francesco Piccolo please visit our Sympathy Store.
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