[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 135 (Friday, October 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF FRANCESCO VITUCCI

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 12, 2012

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Francesco ``Frank'' Vitucci, who passed away on September 26, 2012 at 
the age of 74. Frank will be remembered in the hearts of many as a 
generous and ambitious man whose drive gave him unprecedented 
achievement in business. His memory will live on through his family 
whom he loved deeply.
  Frank was born on September 29, 1937 in Pacentro, Italy and his 
family lived there until the German invasion during World War II. When 
Frank was only five years old his father, Paolo passed away, so his 
mother, Maria was left with two young children, Frank and his younger 
brother Roberto. When the war ended, Maria met Pasquale DiCicco. He was 
a widower with four young children: Nick, Alberto, Giuseppina, and 
Lucia. Shortly after meeting, Maria and Pasquale married and conjoined 
their families.
  In 1952, Frank and his younger brother Roberto made the journey to 
America to join the rest of their loved ones as well as three new 
additions to the family: Giulia, Paul, and Rosaria. After living in 
Detroit for a few years, the DiCicco's uprooted their lives again and 
moved to Fresno, California.
  Frank and Alberto washed dishes at Maselli's Italian Restaurant. 
Money was tight, but with hard work and dedication, Frank, Roberto, 
Alberto, and Nick seized the opportunity to buy Maselli's Restaurant 
when the owner, Sam Maselli was looking to sell.
  Subsequently, the four brothers became widely known as the Four Sons 
of Italy. Frank was in charge of the pizzas while his other brothers 
handled the other functions of the business. DiCicco's Italian 
Restaurant quickly became a family business requiring long hours of 
hard work. Successfully, Frank and his brothers were able to open 
various locations across California for a total of 15, twelve of which 
are in the San Joaquin Valley.
  In 1972, Frank married Lindain, which resulted in a 40-year marriage 
with four children: Greg, Ron, Mario, and Joanna.
  In his final years, Frank spent time most of his time with family, 
playing with his grandchildren, and catching up with close friends. One 
of Frank's greatest joys was traveling, and he did it very often. Going 
back to his hometown, Pacentro, Italy, was something Frank loved to do. 
His roots were there and even though he was a part of a successful 
restaurant business in America, he never forgot where he came from.
  Frank exemplified the American Dream through his hard work, 
dedication and compassion. A lasting legacy has been built not only by 
his business achievements but because of the generosity and endearment 
created by all those who were blessed to enjoy his companionship. As 
the last of the DiCicco's founders passes on, we shall not forget the 
legacy and impact Frank has had on the community. A model to follow, 
Frank will be remembered for his kind gestures and enthusiasm for 
creating a better life for his family.

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