Frank Anthony [Francesco Antonio] Alioto Jr.

RACINE, WISCONSIN - Frank Anthony [Francesco Antonio] Alioto Jr., age 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on 22 June 2010 at his family's home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Frank Anthony (Francesco Antonio) Alioto, Jr. was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (in Milwaukee's Third Ward, affectionately known as, Milwaukee's 'Little Italy' on the Lower East Side of the city), on 12 August 1917, the son of Francesco (Frank), Sr. and Caterina (Catherine) (nee: Bussalchi) Alioto. Frank lived most of his youth in the Third Ward of Milwaukee, attending the famous Our Lady of Pompeii Roman Catholic Church (known as the 'little pink church' by Milwaukee's Italians, due to its pink exterior color) and enjoying the many Roman Catholic feast days and religious processions associated with the church and Milwaukee's Italian Community. Later, he resided at the family home on fashionable Oakland Ave. in Milwaukee's Upper East Side. Frank attended Lincoln High School in Milwaukee, completing the 10th grade. He left school during the great depression to help support the Alioto family, which consisted of his two parents, five other brothers and a sister. Frank was employed at George Seelman and Sons in downtown Milwaukee for over 40 years. The firm produced fine business books and other professional paper products, including: leather diaries, dictionaries, ledgers, and a host of other business products and high quality books. Frank was a master binder and performed a number of key jobs at the company throughout his career. He retired from the company in 1984 and moved to Racine where he resided with his wife Jane [Demetra] (a native of Racine) for over 26 years. Frank served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II; he was a member of the army's famous 4th Infantry (Ivy) Division, 12th Regiment. He took part in the Normandy invasion of France on 06 June 1944, landing at Utah Beach with the second wave of invaders, accompanied by Teddy Roosevelt Jr. who famously stated: 'we start the war from here' when he discovered that the troops had landed at the wrong end of the beach. Frank obtained the rank of staff sergeant, was wounded twice in battle, and received the purple heart with an oak leaf cluster, the bronze star, two battle stars, a battle arrow, the presidential unit citation, as well as many other decorations and honors for his military service. Frank took part in two individual battle campaigns in France, Belgium, Luxemburg, and Germany from June through early December 1944. After recovering from a temporary paralysis associated with his second wound, he served in the Military Police in Brussels, Belgium supervising POWs and policing the city. He was honorably discharged in November of 1945, having served in the army since March 1940. Frank met his wife Jane in Milwaukee after the war. They were married in Holy Matrimony in Racine at the original Grand Avenue Kimissis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church on 21 September 1957. They continued to live in Milwaukee after their marriage. Frank returned to Seelman and Sons and continued to be employed there until his retirement. He enjoyed frequent visits and holidays with his family, attending Italian religious and social events in the Third Ward, and later at the newly created Italian Community Center (ICC) of Milwaukee. Frank was an ardent admirer of Italian opera which turned into a passion throughout his life. He had an extensive collection of opera records and was quite content to listen to one complete opera after another. Frank was exceptionally found of the works by Rossini and Puccini, but also enjoyed operas by Verdi, Bellini, and Donizetti. In his later years, he frequently attended opera performances by Milwaukee's Florentine Opera Company, accompanied by his son and other relatives. Frank also enjoyed attending, with his family, the Wednesday evening opera series at the Milwaukee Italian Community Center's (ICC) piazza; he often engaged his friend and host of the series Dominic Frinzi in conversation about opera, the history of Italy, and the 'good old days' living in the Italian Third Ward. Frank also loved the movie, Moonstruck , which reminded him of his early years growing up in the Italian Third Ward neighborhood; he viewed the movie, surrounded by his family, for the 20th time just before his death. Frank was an avid reader of European history, Italian culture/society, and WWII. He spent many hours during the long hot summers and cold hard winters reading and rereading his precious books from his personal library. There were times when he would read several 500+ page books within a single week. Frank and Jane moved to Racine after their retirement and enjoyed many years of continental travel within the United States, family visits, and holiday celebrations. Frank's favorite trips were to see his grandchildren in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and various historical sights within the United States. He valued classical music, opera, fine European dinning, education, and Italian art/culture. Frank would continuously encourage family and friends to enjoy all that Italy offered to the world. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to converse with family and friends about the war, history, and classical music, all over cup of fine coffee. Frank was active in both the Racine and Milwaukee (Annunciation Church which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) Greek Orthodox Churches. This tradition began with his wife's family in Racine, where they were one of the original families of the Kimissis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church. He was dedicated to his beloved wife, son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. Frank had great pride in his native city of Milwaukee as well as the Italian Renaissance traditions associated with the Italian community. He was a faithful Orthodox Christian who will long be remembered for his intelligence, kindness, compassion, and a 'true love of life'. Surviving are his loving son and daughter-in-law, Michael Francesco and Katherine Anne Alioto; granddaughters, Anna Paraskevi and Alexandra Katherine Vicenza; and grandson, Antonio Francesco Giorgio all of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; brother-in-law, John Baldukas; and sisters-in-law, Leona Baldukas and Sandra Alioto. Frank is further survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends in both Racine and Milwaukee. Frank was preceded in death by his wife Jane (Demetra) of 52 years; an infant son; brothers, Joseph (Rose) Alioto, John Alioto, James (Vicenzo) Alioto, Charles [Vito] (Elmira/Norma) Alioto, Anthony (Mildred) Alioto, and sister, Mary Patelski; brothers-in-law, Peter (Gladys) Baldukas, Plato Baldukas, Theodore (Penelopi) Baldukas, Bill (Aryliss) Baldukas and Chris Baldukas; and sisters-in-law, Mary Baldukas; and Luella Baldukas. The family will receive friends and associates on Thursday, 08 July 2010 from 5:00-8:00 P.M. at Sturino Funeral Home, 3014 Northwestern Ave., Racine with the traditional Greek Orthodox Trisagion Service for the Dead at 8:00 P.M. conducted by the Rev. John Pilasas of Chicago, Illinois. Funeral services will be held at Kimissis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, 1335 S. Green Bay Road, Racine on Friday, 09 July 2010 at 10:00 AM with the Rev. John Ketchum officiating. The committal, with full military honors, will take place at Southern Wisconsin Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Union Grove, Wisconsin immediately following the funeral. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorials in Frank's memory to the Kimissis tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church Library Fund. The family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staffs at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, and the staff of William Beaumont Hospice for all of their kind and loving care in his final weeks on this earth.

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Frank Anthony [Francesco Antonio] Alioto Jr.

January 1, 1753