Francesco "Frank" Cuffaro's Obituary
Francesco "Frank" Mario Enrico Cuffaro, age 87, of Seven Hills, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Born on December 13, 1938 in Siculianna, Sicily, Frank was the son of the late Vincenzo and Giuseppa (Marsala) Cuffaro. Older brother to Philip (married to Cettina), Anna (married to the late Joseph Marsala), and the late Joseph.
Frank grew up in the shadow of the ancient Greek temples in Agrigento. As a child, his parents (rural farmers) strongly believed in education, so they sent him by train every day to a specialized school 20 miles from home. He spent many summers assisting his father with planting and harvesting, and in his teens, he worked as a machinist's apprentice, helping repair merchant marine ships.
In 1957, he joined the Italian Navy and trained at Scuole C.E.M.M. (Military Maritime Crews Corps School) in Portoferraio on the Island of Elba. His non-commissioned officer training included a stint on the historic sailing ship Ebe, where he traveled around the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, and Adriatic Seas. He was assigned to the submarine rescue ship Proteo, and as one of the few crew members who spoke English, he was charged with communicating with international maritime traffic. He completed his service in Porto Empedocle, where he ran a naval administrative office.
In 1962, he emigrated to the United States, settling in Cleveland, Ohio. Shortly after, he met the love of his life, Joan (Duszynski), and they were married in 1964. Around the same time, he began a 38-year career at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, where he started as a laborer, continuously furthered his education, and retired as the superintendent of the Southerly treatment plant, the largest in the state. For years after his retirement in 2002, he tutored district employees who were seeking operator certification.
When not at work, Frank loved reading National Geographic, traveling, caring for the yard & garden, and growing/enjoying figs. He could fix or build anything and never hesitated to lend a hand to neighbors, family, and friends. He was also a technophile, buying cameras, music players, and computers before they were common things to own.
When Joan passed away in 2013, he learned to cook, joined a bowling league, and went to Mass at St. Columbkille every day. He was an active member of the church's Holy Name Society, Men of Mercy Group, and 50 Plus Club, in addition to the Seven Hills Golden Agers.
Frank and Joan had three kids: Vincent (Christine Gill-Cuffaro), Daniel (Corey Thrush), and Lisa (Frank Foley), and eight grandchildren: Sarah (Richard Jenkins), Clare, Benjamin, Harrison, Charles, Emily, Juliette, and Cecilia. He was an involved and ever-supportive parent & grandparent.
Family and friends may gather for visitation at Vodrazka Golubski Deliberato Funeral Care, 6505 Brecksville Rd., Independence, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 4-8 p.m. Morning prayers at the funeral home on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 9:15 a.m., followed by Mass of Christian Burial at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, Broadview Rd., Parma at 10 a.m. Entombment All Saints Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to Reserve Care Hospice or the Cleveland Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
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