Frank Girolamo

Frank was born in East Boston on January 1, 1954 a son of the late Carmen and Elena (Petrola). He grew up in the city surrounded by his large, extended Italian family. His siblings and cousins played stick ball in the streets, took the train everywhere, and gathered on the stoop of the tenement building they grew up in. The only time they were inside was Sunday afternoons, when he said 'you could hear a pin drop on the streets of East Boston', as every family gathered for macaroni dinner. Frank spent his life doing the two things he enjoyed most, making people laugh and making people food. His friends, co-workers and family will tell you that his brilliant humor, wit, and ability to make everyone around him feel both special and unique were simply unmatched. His talent for cooking was not limited to Italian food, though that was certainly his specialty. He could grill better than anyone, roast a lamb better than anyone, and make a 'sang-wich' better than anyone. He loved all his people deeply, but especially his family. His grandchildren were his pride and joy and it was a rare occasion that a conversation began and ended without him mentioning one or all of them. He loved to travel with his wife, Kathy, especially to Italy. He would send his children 'before' and 'after' pictures of his plate so they knew how beautiful and how delicious the food was in every town they visited. Besides Italy, his favorite places on Earth were Pagliuca's, in Boston's North End, the Market Basket, the Home Depot and his living room recliner. He leaves behind his wife Kathy of 37 years, his daughter Lisa, his daughter Nicole and son-in-law Matthew, who he claimed was his favorite child, and his son Jeffrey. He leaves behind seven adoring grandchildren: Jack, Isabel, Tommy, Emma, Cole, William and James, who lovingly referred to him as their Nunu. He leaves behind five siblings: Mark and his wife Eva, Joyce and her husband Francis, Joe and his wife Rene, Jayne and her husband Jim, Kim and her husband Glenn and a brother-in-law, Dave, brother–in-law Harold and a sister-in-law Karen. He leaves behind cousins, nieces and nephews and many, many wonderful friends.

Tributes

Frank Girolamo

May 18, 2017