Birth date: May 2, 1935 Death date: Jun 25, 2020
Frank LaGaccia age 85 passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2020. He was born on May 2, 1935 in Framingham, MA to Frank LaGaccia and Marguerite Renzi LaGaccia. Frank is survived by his beloved wife Cathy Brown LaGaccia; his step- chi Read Obituary
It’s almost a year since Frank left and there hasn’t been a day that I would remember one of our good times. At my grandson’s wedding last month I kept thinking about how I wanted to dance with him. I love you Frank with all my heart and I miss you so much!
Everyone should have a "cool uncle" - an elder who enjoys sharing their life knowledge and experience with you and someone who you can talk to about anything. Uncle Frank was that person for me. His visits were always a breath of fresh air. He had an endless supply of stories and comments and always spoke his mind without mincing words. I'll always remember his big smile and bigger laugh. My favorite memories of Uncle Frank were when I flew to NOLA for the Jazz Fest for the first time in 1987 and stayed with him. Not only did he let my friends and I stay with him but he accompanied us to the festival and later took us out to the bars where he flirted with more girls than we did. The next morning, he showed me how to make gumbo. I miss him terribly.
Frank was my husband for 18 years from 1958. We were married in France where he was stationed at the time. We had two sons, Frederick Frank and Eric David, both died in 2009 and I want to believe they are all together now.
Frank and I had gotten married way too young, but in the 50s that's what you did if you dated for a little while.In time it became apparent we were not really meant for each other, different backgrounds, education, etc., nevertheless I have to specify there was nothing wrong with Frank the man, a wonderful, decent man, great father and later grandfather.
He was very lucky to have met Cathy, the right woman for him and he finally was happy for the last 27 years of his life.
God bless you Frank.
Helene
This is on the Agent Orange Broke my Heart FB page:
In memory of CMSgt. (Ret) Frank LaGaccia lost to Agent Orange in 2020.
CMSgt. (Ret) Frank LaGaccia proudly served in the United States Air Force. His tour in Vietnam was in 1966. After his tour in Vietnam he left active duty and went into the Reserves. He retired from the Air Force after 30 years of service.
He passed away June 25, 2020 at age 85 from Agent Orange related Dementia from Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, diabetes and heart disease.
Frank loved being in the Air Force. When his Dementia got worse he was always telling me he had to go to the base. He joined the Air Froce in 1953 when he was 18.
His loving wife, Cathy Brown LaGarccia
My step-father, Frank LaGaccia passed away last week.
His funeral is postponed until this Coronavirus calms down and this is preventing us from sharing stories and saying a proper goodbye in person. So I feel compelled to share a bit more about him if only for myself.
This Yankee from Yonkers, NY was a Character with a big personality and heart. He loved, and I mean loved, this hot weather down south. When everyone else was sweltering in the heat and running inside to the air conditioning, he would take his shirt off, go outside and proclaim he loved it!
Frank loved to dance and in fact, he met my mom at a dance. I have this great picture of them cutting a rug at my wedding. He came from the "Sinatra" era and his Fedora hat was his go-to accessory!
He loved to travel, especially to Italy & France, but really went all over the world. He went searching and found some distant LaGaccia relatives in the south of Italy, whom he kept in touch with. I remember him encouraging my husband and me to travel internationally. His favorite US travel destination was hands down, Disney World, as he adored Mickey Mouse. He also wanted to see every National Park, and I am pretty sure he made it to most of them!
Frank was an excellent home chef. He taught me to cook pasta "al dente" and to appreciate his home-made tomato sauce (way more different-tasting then the jar sauce I had grown up with so I admit it had to grow on me)! I have many happy memories of him in the kitchen and around the table, as he loved presenting a great meal to his family. He also loved dressing up in a coat and tie and going out to dinner at a fine restaurant.
Frank enjoyed working puzzles every day and taught me how to solve the Cryptogram in the newspaper. He loved watching his Western's and Star Trek on TV. His absolute favorite movie was "The Music Man" with a close second "Cinema Paradiso". He was also an avid tennis player in his middle-age years.
Frank became close friends with my husband Houston, and I am grateful for their friendship. Houston was able to help me to understand Frank's ways because let's be real, he had NO FILTER! Frank taught Houston how to tile floors, build a brick walkway, and build a complete workshop from the ground up. He regaled Houston with funny and sometimes sad stories of his life as a young boy in Yonkers and his early years in the Air Force.
He joined the Air Force at the age of 18 and worked hard to achieve the rank of Chief Master Sargent. He was a Vietnam Veteran and worked on the flight deck. Being around all that loud engine noise caused him to have extreme hearing loss. (hence the TV would always be on full blast!) Like many in the Vietnam War he was exposed to Agent Orange which caused all kinds of health ailments and contributed to his death.
Frank suffered a tragedy no father should, he buried his two sons in the space of 9 months several years ago. He never got over their loss, but he sure was proud of his grandchildren. He adored his mother and his sisters.
We had an Italian-themed 80th Birthday party for him. He was so happy that day with his family all around him!
These are just a few of the memories I have of him. We will forever be grateful for having you in our lives Frank, we miss you!
