Franco Ercolano

Franco Ercolano April 9, 1928 – June 1, 2020 Franco Ercolano passed away surrounded by the love of his family on June 1. Franco was born in Sorrento Italy on April 9, 1928. As a young teenager during World War II, he and his family experienced the hardships of war in southern Italy and as the oldest of 8 children he was often his family’s sole support. After the war and enlistment in the Italian navy in the early 1950s he remained in Rome and worked as a driver for the American diplomatic staff eventually moving to Luxembourg with the American Ambassador, Wiley T. Buchanan, Jr. This assignment changed the course of his life as he eventually accompanied the diplomatic staff back to the United States, thus setting in motion a true immigrant success story. He arrived in the US in 1956 and continued working on the personal staff of Buchanan, then chief of protocol under President Eisenhower. He became an electrician’s apprentice, and eventually met his future bride, Ingeborg Naegele in Washington, DC at a German society dance. They married at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Washington, DC in August 1958 and made Arlington, VA their home for the rest of his life. “Mr. Franco” as he was known in Washington, DC owned an antique and lighting restoration business known under the trade names Franco Antiques and Gonzalez Antiques. His shop occupied the corners of Connecticut and Calvert Streets, NW and was well known among the areas’ decorators and antique aficionados. His lighting restoration and original chandelier work could be found in the State Department, Blair House, the Willard Hotel, Meridian House, Georgetown Mall, and in countless homes across the DC area. He was an avid gardener and loved soccer. He and his wife were among the founders of the Arlington Soccer Association. Above all however, he loved his family and worked tirelessly his whole life to support his wife and children here in the US and his family back in Italy. He remained rooted in his Italian heritage and dedication to family, which he proudly passed on to his children. He will forever be remembered as a man who selflessly served others, never hesitating to help wherever needed. He is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years Inge, his daughter Adriana (James Helm), his son Roberto, his grandson Marcus, and his siblings Bianca Starace, of Vienna Virginia; Anunziata Castaldo; Maria Ercolano; and Luigi Ercolano of Sorrento, Italy. Catholic funeral Mass will be held Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 11:00 AM at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1910 N. Randolph St, Arlington, VA. Burial will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/ or the Arlington Soccer Association Rec Soccer Scholarship Fund http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/get-involved.