Frank Joseph Ferrari

He had been lovingly cared for in his home by his son Frankie and Frankie’s partner, Elaine for the last eight months of his life since returning to Bridgeport from Louisiana where his grandson Casey Ferrari had cared for him after he fell ill in January of 2024.

Frank was the son of Francesco Aurelio Ferrari and Stefanina Ferrari (née Costanza). Frank and his twin brother, Angelo were the youngest of a large family and the only of their siblings born in the United States after the family immigrated from the village of Patrica, Italy, to Bridgeport, CT. They attended Harding High School in Bridgeport, CT.

Frank was employed for many years at the United States Postal Service and was a Union Shop Steward in Bridgeport. He also had worked as a silk screener and printmaker and later owned a postal-themed bar and cafe called The Post Office where his sister Nancy’s husband, Ernie Persichilli was the cook.

Frank is survived by his loving children Lucia, Rosemary, Frank, Deni, Danyel, and step-son Dennis; his children's spouses, (Elaine, Peter, and Brian); his many grandchildren Casey, Dillon, Megan (and her fiance, Mike), Garrett, Francesca (and her partner, Taylor), Eric and Alexa, and his new great-grandson Rory (son to Francesca) as well as his nieces and nephews Mary, Robert, Angela, Chris, Christopher, Richard, Robbie, and Laurie and their spouses and children, his great nieces and nephews, as well as great-great nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his daughters Monica and Stephanie, his siblings Nancy, Johnny, and Leonilde, Wilma, and Tilde, and his twin brother Angelo who he cared for most of his life. He was also predeceased by his nephew Johnny, and great-nephew Jason, and by ex-wives, Karen Karl, married in 1961 and Adrienne (Toni) Hamel, married in 1971.

Frank took great joy in his large family, and he proudly cared for his children, nieces, nephews as well as many friends, and animals he welcomed into his homes over the years. He was a proud member of the Sons of Italy and liked to visit his house in Patrica, Italy, beside his sister, Nancy’s. He lived for a time in South Carolina, Virginia, and Louisiana to be close to his daughter, Lucia, and her children, but loved his home state of Connecticut and especially enjoyed sharing his extensive knowledge of the history of his much beloved city, Bridgeport. He was a lover of the Beardsley Zoo (especially to see the tigers!) and was always rescuing stray animals. He was passionate about classic cars, especially his first 1957 Oldsmobile convertible, and a 1939 Buick.

He loved to joke and dance and sing to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin and would call and sing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President,” in the style of Marilyn Monroe to loved ones on their birthdays.

Frank was a family man who enjoyed taking care of others, hosting and cooking for big gatherings of family and friends. He relished in diner breakfasts with his kids, grandkids, in-laws, cousins, nephews, and nieces and especially in weekly Testos’ Saturday tripe lunches with family and often his nephew Robert and cousin Joey where they would reminisce about growing up in Bridgeport. “Breaking bread” with family on long luncheons and talking about anything and everything, “putting the world back to right” with those he loved were his favorite pastimes.

Frank Ferrari loved life and maintained a positive attitude; whenever asked how he was feeling even when he had been ill for some time he always answered, “strong like bull!” And he was until the very end.

Friends of Frank are invited to celebrate his life on Friday February 7, at Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home (315 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, CT 06468). Calling hours will be held from 10-11am followed by a service at the funeral home at 11:30 and then the interment in his family crypt at St. Michaels Cemetery at 1pm.

The family welcomes flowers sent to Spadaccino’s but if you prefer to make a donation the family suggest Homes for the Brave, a local Bridgeport charity that helps with mental health support, job training, and housing for veterans in crisis, in honor of Frank’s commitment to his twin brother Angelo’s care https://homesforthebrave.org/support-us/donate-hftb/ , the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at https://alzfdn.org/donate/ , or Blessed Sacrament Church at https://osvhub.com/blessedsacramentbpt/giving/funds