Frank P Bellantoni

On Friday, July 24, 2020, we lost our cherished family patriarch. Frank Philip Bellantoni, 97, of East Hartford, CT, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving and caring family, leaving this world to join his wife Carmella in the arms of their Beloved Jesus. His birth certificate reads “Francesco”, his friends and customers referred to him as “Frank”, but his family always called him “Cheech,” a southern Italian derivative of his proper name. He was “Uncle Cheech” to a sizeable extended Bellantoni and Mazzarella clan, who enjoyed his humor, love and good cheer, and “Pop” to two generations of grandchildren. He was truly everyone’s favorite and we were all so truly blessed to have him with us for so long.

Frank was born to Nicola and Francesca Bellantoni in Port Chester, New York on January 22, 1923, one of six brothers, who came of age during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The four older brothers served their country during the Second World War, including Frank who enlisted in the U.S. Marines and was stationed on the Island of Guam in the Pacific. He grew up in a closely-knit Italian family and his love for all things “Italia” would be an attribute of his entire life and well taught to his children.

Across the street from the Bellantoni household in Port Chester resided the Mazzarella family, and it was there during their early teens that Frank noticed (and immediately fell in love with) Carmella Mazzarella, predicting to his brothers that he would someday marry her. And, he did. They remained together for 58 years until she sadly passed due to complications of a stroke, which Carmella suffered shortly after their 50th wedding anniversary. Together they raised two children, Nicholas and Susan, and were the most loving and protective parents anyone could wish for.

After the war, Frank made use of the G.I. Bill to attend a men’s barbering school in Manhattan, receiving his license in 1947. He owned and operated Kingswood Barber Shop on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford for over half a century and continued to cut hair until last year when it grew too difficult for him to keep his arms up or stand for long periods of time. Overall, Frank barbered for 72 years and for some families, he cut four generations of their men’s hair and many of his customers became lifelong friends, some coming to his house to get haircuts long after he officially retired. For over 40 years, on Mondays, his day off, he barbered at the State Armory in Hartford, cutting hair for Connecticut National Guard personnel. In 1990, he was appointed “Honorary Connecticut Yankee Aide-de-Camp (Colonel)” by the Connecticut General Assembly with the award presented to him by Gov. William O’Neill for his long service to the state militia.

Frank was extremely proud of his Italian heritage making numerous trips to the homeland touring and reuniting with family in Sicily and Campo Calabro. The sound of Italian operatic music permeated throughout the house and his knowledge of the life and operas of Giuseppe Verdi exceeded that of a university scholar and historian. In 2015, he was given a distinction he most sincerely appreciated when the Italian-American War Veterans designated him “Honoree” of the Hartford Columbus Day Parade in recognition of his preserving Italian-American heritage and culture.

Our Cheech loved to laugh. He purchased joke books and memorized his favorites to tell at family gatherings or during phone conversations. Most of the time his delivery (which usually botched the punch line) was funnier than the joke and many times he told the same joke over and over, but you still had to laugh along with him. He endeared himself to everyone. He always saw the good in every person. He was passionate about his politics, an avid lover of baseball, especially his idol Joe DiMaggio, and a student of history. He defied the odds by playing softball into his 50s, golf until the age of 93 and shooting a great game of billiards up to last year when he was 96. His mind was sharp to the very end, reading the newspaper every morning and a pile of books during the afternoon.

Frank was predeceased by his wife, Carmella; his parents, Frances and Nicholas Bellantoni; and three brothers, John, Alfio and Alfred. He is survived by his son, Nicholas and his wife Angela of Newington; his daughter Susan and her husband Neil McKechnie of Manchester; two grandchildren, Charles Willard and his wife Robyn of Manchester and David Willard and his wife Alicia of South Windsor; two step-grandchildren, Nicol and her husband Adam Sheppard of Colvis, CA, and Ryan Hart and his wife Kelly Grubb of Omaha, NE. He was blessed with five great-grandchildren: Carmella, Benjamin, Alexander, Hannah, and Jacob; and nine step-great grandchildren: AJ, Annalouise, Jude, Paul, Julia, Joel, Ben, Leon and George. He also leaves two brothers, Louis Bellantoni of Clearwater, FL and Joseph Bellantoni of Port Chester, NY. Frank was very close to an extraordinary extended family of sisters-in-laws, brothers-in-laws, nephews, nieces and their children - all of them loved “Uncle Cheech” dearly.

The family would like to extend special appreciations to Connecticut Hospice and the Newington VA for the wonderful care given Frank at the end of his life, especially by his compassionate nurse, Amy; to Chris and Missy, his neighbors of 27 years who always looked out for him, especially when he lived alone; to his sister-in-law Angie, who, as his best friend, shared daily phone conversations for over 15 years; and, to his live-in aide Maria, an angel sent (well, not from heaven), but from Jamaica, who lovingly and tenderly looked after for him over the last five months of his life. We can’t thank you all enough for your love and devotion to him.

Papà, amore da tutti noi! Riposare in pace!

All funeral arrangements are in the care of Newkirk and Whitney, East Hartford, CT where online sympathies will be made available. A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday July 24, 2021 at 10:00am at St. Rose's Church 33 Church St. East Hartford, CT. 06108, the family asks that in lieu flowers contributions can be made in the memory of Frank Bellantoni to: The Italian American War Vets, Post #1, 53 Henderson Drive, East Hartford, CT 06108.