Francisco Javier Mendez Feijoo

Francisco “Frank” Javier Feijoo Mendez, 61, of Wethersfield, beloved husband of 35 years to Kristina Feijoo, peacefully passed away at his home with his family by his side, Thursday, April 24, 2025, after a courageous 6-year battle with brain cancer. Frank, also affectionately known as “Fran” by friends and “Javier” to family, was born October 21, 1963 in Madrid, Spain. He is one of four children to José Feijoo Rodriguez and Maria de los Angeles Purificación Feijoo Mendez.

In addition to being a devoted husband to his wife Kristina, Frank adored his two daughters, Teresa Feijoo in Lowell, MA and Marisa Feijoo in Windsor, CT. In addition to his wife and kids, he is survived by his three siblings Maria A. Dieguez (José R.), Wethersfield; José “Pepe” A. Feijoo (Marta), Wethersfield and Emilio Feijoo in Hollywood, FL as well as his many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Frank emigrated from Spain to the United States with his family in 1967, first coming briefly to New Jersey before settling and growing up in the South End of Hartford. He attended Saint Augustine School in Hartford, class of 1978, followed by Saint Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, class of 1982, and later Central Connecticut State University. Frank’s adolescence was earmarked by the close friendships he made at school, his devotion to Boy Scouts, altar-serving at St. Augustine Church, and summer trips back to his family’s village in Galicia, Spain. In 1984, Frank met his wife Kristina while both were working at the Sage-Allen department store in downtown Hartford; they would marry in 1990. In 1986, his family founded Costa Del Sol Restaurante in Hartford where Frank was Executive Chef until the restaurant’s closing in 2019 following his cancer diagnosis.

Whoever met Frank called him a “sweet soul” who was compassionate, warm, and had a sense of humor as big as his heart. Frank valued his relationships with others significantly; he foremost was a family-man and will always be remembered as a loving husband and father. He enjoyed his friendships and the communities he was part of; perhaps you even shared a drink and a laugh with him at the Nutshell or Maple in the South End, or at the Old Town in Wethersfield. In his spare time, Frank was a hobbyist who enjoyed building model cars and airplanes as well as being an avid photographer. He knew a lot about cars and passed that knowledge onto his nephews and daughters. At his core, Frank was a creative soul who found joy and meaning through working with his hands—a conduit through which his imagination and inner world came vividly to life.

Regarding his culinary career, Frank was Executive Chef for the last 25 years of Costa Del Sol, creating Spanish dishes that would cement the restaurant's 36-year legacy in the city such as paella and parrillada de mariscos. Prior to becoming chef, Frank started his tenure at the restaurant when he was 18 years old washing dishes, later becoming a waiter before being trained by former chef and older brother Emilio. With heartfelt pride, Frank enjoyed sharing the time-honored flavors of his Spanish heritage to the community at large. Whether it was at the restaurant, events, family gatherings or on local television, each dish was a warm invitation to his family’s culture. He was even invited to be on Food Network’s Chopped, which he humbly declined, characteristic of Frank who never relished under the spotlight.

Frank courageously fought until the end, taking chemotherapy until his final days. Initially given 6-9 months to live, he made it into the 5th percentile of survivors beyond 5-years after having 3 brain surgeries and years of continuous chemotherapy. Despite living with cancer and facing moments of uncertainty, Frank led tenaciously with optimism and an ardent will to live; during this time, he received the Courage Award from the CT Brain Tumor Alliance, became a U.S. citizen, and had the opportunity to travel to Europe with his family. Frank’s boundless zest for life and unwavering kindness he so freely offered to others imprinted a legacy onto all who knew him that will never be forgotten.

The Feijoo family will receive relatives and friends Wednesday, April 30, from 4-7 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in Church of the Incarnation of Christ the King Parish, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, 453 Fairfield Ave., Hartford. The family requests in lieu of flowers, and that memorial donations in Frank’s name, may be made to the Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance, Inc., PO Box 370514 West Hartford, CT 06137 (https://www.ctbta.org/).