Albert Faccinto

Albert Faccinto was born on May 3, 1925 in Steubenville, Ohio and passed away quietly in his sleep on September 17, 2016 at the age of 91. When he died, he was surrounded by family. He was the second child of Italian immigrants, Mary and Nicholas Faccinto. Albert’s work ethics were partly formed by the Great Depression. As a child he was very industrious. He began selling newspapers at the age of five. He became a shoe shiner and shoe repairer at the age of ten. He did whatever was necessary to help put food on the table. Albert was soon known to everyone as “Moky”…a nick-name that stuck with him for the rest of his life.

As a teenager, Moky began rolling dice and shuffling cards. He learned the numbers and the odds. He started his first dealing job at 17, in the back room of the Venetian in Steubenville, Ohio and worked his way up to the Rex Cigar Store. He soon found himself working at gambling joints around the United States; hopping from the Mounds Club in Cleveland to The Washington Hotel in Indianapolis, to West Palm Beach Florida and even a cruise ship off the coast of Long Beach, California.

In 1943, Al, met the love of his life; Helen Ann Hirkala; known as “Herky”. They instantly fell in love. In 1948, Herky left her home town of Weirton, West Virginia. She caught a train to West Palm Beach, Florida taking all of her belongings in two boxes. There she met Moky. They eloped and were married at St. Ann Catholic Church. In 1949, they made a quick trip to Las Vegas to check out the opportunity to “go legal” in the casino business. Then back to Steubenville they went with a tingling of excitement and the possibility of a Las Vegas future.

In 1955, Moky returned to Las Vegas with his family and helped to open the Dunes Hotel as a Floorperson. From there he had several casino jobs including the “eye in the sky” at the Fremont Hotel. Then he partnered up with Jackie Gaughan and became an Executive at the Las Vegas Club, then an Executive at the El Cortez.

In 1965, during the construction of Caesar’s Palace, Moky was offered the position of Graveyard Dice Pit Shift Boss. Soon after the opening, Moky was promoted to Casino Manager. In 1972, President, William Weinberger, offered him a contract; the first ever in the casino industry. He carried on until he retired in 1985 from Caesar’s Palace as the Senior Vice-President of Casino Operations.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Helen, his mother Mary, his father Nick, and his sister Violet Parise.

He is survived by his four children; Albert Jr., (Kathie), Barbara Bowman, (John), John, (Rachel), and Mary Ann Mikulich; fourteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He will be loved and missed by everyone who knew him.

Please join his family in celebrating the life of Al “Moky” Faccinto. His Celebration of Life service is Monday, September 26, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Community; located at 130 N. Pecos Road, Henderson, NV 89074.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Keep Memory Alive benefiting the Cleveland Clinic- Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and/or Catholic Charities Adoption Agency.