Long Description

Frank was born in Pacentro, Italy in 1937 to Maria and Paolo Vitucci. During World War Two, Frank and his family were forced to flee their home and go into hiding in the surrounding mountains as the Germans invaded their town. In 1943, Paolo died due to an illness and lack of food and medicine leaving Maria a very young widow with Frank (6 years old) and little brother Roberto (4 years old).In 1945 at the end of the war, Pasquale Di Cicco returned home to Pacentro to find himself a widow with 4 young children of his own; Nick, Alberto, Giuseppina and Lucia. Maria and Pasquale married in 1947 joining the two families together. In 1951 Maria and Pasquale immigrated to Detroit, Michigan in search of a better life. In 1952, Frank and Roberto joined Mama and Papa and by this time, baby sister and brother, Giulia and Paul. Later that year, Mama and Papa made a trip west to Sanger, California to visit their Uncle Rocky. They immediately fell in love with the area that so much reminded them of home. They brought their children here to finally settle and make their new life. Baby sister Rosaria was soon born and the older boys all had to work to help support their large family.Nick worked at Roma Winery, Roberto worked at Borelli Marconi Factory and Alberto and Frank worked as dishwashers at Marselli’s Italian Restaurant. Money was very tight so when Mr. Marselli announced that he was going to sell, Frank and Alberto feared the loss of their jobs with their lives!