February 28, 2023
In Memoriam — Frank Pacitto
Frank Pacitto
Born April 11, 1947 in Cassino, Italy to Nicola and Alessandra, Frank spent a short time helping his father with the family farm before emigrating to Canada in 1956 through New York with his mother and older brother Tony to follow his Father.
As a new immigrant, Frank struggled his first year in school and was held back, but ever the positive optimist he worked hard to get ahead and ended up skipping the 8th grade to catch up with his peers.
Frank had a passion for creativity in all of its forms. Art and music were an integral part of his life, from an early love of comic books to graduating OCA and applying himself in the photographic arts to playing bass with the Casanovas, a band that he formed with his friends to play weddings and parties at places like the Heinztman House and Luna Ballroom.
Frank settled down with his wife Pat in 1973 and in 1974 brought his passion and unique quirkiness to the family business, joining the partnership at Best Way Stone. During his time with the company he was able to apply his creative eye to the growth of the burgeoning precast concrete field and with his partners has been able to carve out a prominent role in that industry. His love of tinkering and design helped him develop new patented products and interesting colour blends that helped drive the company and the industry forward. As a founding member of the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute and a proud member of Landscape Ontario, Frank was able to encourage the growth of the industry as a whole while fostering his true passion which was people. Frank always said without friends and family you were nowhere in life, and he made a point to make sure all his friends and business acquaintances knew they were also part of his family.
It was hard to attend a function in southern Ontario without running into Frank, as he made a point to be present at all of them. Fundraisers, stag parties, and industry events, you could be sure Frank would be there, if even only for a moment as he often hurried off to multiple events to make sure he got a chance to see everyone and let them know he was there to support them.
Frank will be sadly missed by his wife, two sons, four grandchildren, and numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews, as well as countless friends who’s lives he had touched in some small way with a kind word or gentle action throughout his career.
All we can do now Frank is follow what you always said, tira m’avanti.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to support prostate cancer research within the Odette Cancer Program.