Obituary of Frank OSA

Brother Frank Cucinotta, OSA was born on August 31, 1922, in Philadelphia, PA, the son of Ambrose and Josephine (Martorano) Cucinotta. He had one brother, Sam and one sister, Theresa. He was baptized on October, 1922, at Saint Maria Magdalena de'Pazzi Catholic Church, Philadelphia, PA. He attended elementary school and Bok Vocational High School in South Philadelphia, and in 1942 he joined the US Army Air Corps and fought in World War II as a Tail-gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. After the war. Frank joined the Merchant Marine and held odd jobs in Philadelphia, and then got a job as a mechanic at the Millvill, NJ airport. From childhood on, he came to know of the Augustinians through St. Nicholas of Tolentine Pariah in South Philadelphia, PA. and St. Mary Parish East Vineland, NJ, near where his relatives had a farm in Rosenhayn, NJ. In 1950 he came to serve at St. Mary Parish as the sacristan as well as the maintenance man for the friars' community. He entered as a postulant in 1956 in the Italian Vice Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel and became a Member of the Province of Saint Thomas of Villonova in 1994 when the Italian Vice Province was suppressed by the Prior General. In 1958, Frank was the one who "discovered" the property, Red Oaks Estate, which was to become Saint Augustine College Preparatory School in Richland, NJ. The Vice Province at the time was looking for a place for a school and for seminary for the formation of young men, and Frank told the friars about the property that was up for sale. The Vice Province bought the property and opened the school in 1959. Frank was received into the Order as a novice on April 25, 1962 and after a year at Good Counsel Novitate, New Hamburg. NY, he professed first vows on April 26, 1963, the Feast of Our Mother of Good Counsel, the patron of the Vice Province. He professed solemn vows on April 26,1966. Frank spent all of his years as professed brother of Saint Augustine Prep School. He served the school and the local Augustinian community in a variety of capacities. In early days of the school he supervised the renovations to the school he supervised the renovations to the original house on the property, now used as the friary, and later oversaw the construction of other school buildings. He also served the school as secretary and as bookkeeper. In the history of the school he is regarded as the school's founder and his long presence there has added to that reputation. His daily presence around the campus, greeting the students, faculty and staff has helped to create the family and the community that the school truly is for so many now and throughout its fifty years of history. Brother Frank was always affable, gracious, dedicated and quiet. He had cancer for a while but never complained. In December 2008 he came to spend his last days at the Health care Center at Saint Thomas Monastery, Villanova, PA. only when the cancer overwhelmed his health and mobility. He died on the evening of December 11, 2008 at the age of 86. Funeral Arrangements: Thursday, December 18, 2008, at St. Thomas Monastery Chapel at Villanova University chapel for the Augustinian Friars, Visitation at 4:30 pm and evening prayer at 5:15 pm. Friday December 19, 2008, St. Augustine Preparatory School in Richland NJ. Visitation at 10 am then Funeral Liturgy at 11:00 am. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, East Vineland, NJ. Donations: In Brother Frank's Memory to: St. Augustine Preparatory School Scholarship Fund, 611 Cedar Avenue, Richland NJ 08350-0279 To send online condolences please visit our web site at www. ronefuneralservice.com. Arrangements are under the supervision of Stretch Funeral Service and Rone Funeral Service.