Frank James Basile

Frank James Basile, 97, of Falls Church, Virginia died peacefully on February 19, 2024. A warm and friendly man who had a smile for everyone, Frank enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He loved to tease and be teased and always had a witty comeback that caught you off guard and left you laughing. Frank was funny, loving and kind, and everyone who met him could not help but love him. Frank was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Bishop Laughlin Memorial High School. At the tender age of 18, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a signalman on the USS Lenoir in the Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged in June of 1946 after earning the American Theater Medal, Victory Medal and Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal. Although he helped guide landing crafts during the assault on Iwo Jima and witnessed the devastation at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, like many in his generation, he rarely spoke about his experience. After his service, the Brooklyn Dodgers honored the tryout they offered him during high school, and he earned a spot on their Cambridge Dodgers farm team in Maryland’s Eastern Shore League. An injury ended his professional career, but he shared his deep knowledge of and love for the game with the many players he coached in later years. He graduated from New York University in 1950 with a B.S. in accounting and worked in sales and product management until he retired at the age of 65. From his days as a young altar server through his last years, he possessed a deep but quiet faith. If you were a family member or friend who faced a challenge in life, you were likely included in his daily prayers. Frank’s beloved wife Emma, to whom he was married for nearly 60 years, passed away in 2016. He is survived by his son Michael (Kathryn) and his grandchildren Adam and Jennie Basile and two nephews and two nieces. A funeral mass will be held on March 15, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 830 23rd Street South, Arlington, VA 22202. A reception will follow at Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington. There will be an inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Contributions in Frank’s memory may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Avenue Suite 1100N, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.