Frank was born April 22, 1936, in Seattle, WA, to Dominic and Caterina (Naso) Asprea of Roccella Ionica, Italy, and baptized as Francesco Felice. He was the fourth of as many children, with three older—and wiser—sisters, Ann, Eleanor, and Frances.
Preceding him in passing were his parents, as well as his sisters Ann Fuda (Joe, deceased) and Frances Fitzgerald (John, deceased), whom he loved dearly. He’s survived by his wife of nearly 54 years, Robin, daughters Christine Smith (Seth) and Suzanne Asprea (Jared Pearce), and his sister Eleanor Macri (Joe, deceased).
Frank attended St. Mary’s and O’Dea High School (class of 1954) and completed two years at Seattle University. He served in the National Guard from 1960–’63.
In 1958, he began his jewelry career at Rivkin’s Jewelers on 4th and Pike in downtown Seattle, which is where he met Robin Espeseth. They were married on October 12, 1968, a date Frank selected because it was also an Italian holiday—Columbus Day. Frank and Robin lived in an apartment on Queen Anne Hill until they moved to Bothell in 1972, where they raised two daughters, Christine and Suzanne.
In 1972, Frank started working at Porter Jensen Jewelers on the corner of 45th and University Way. He eventually managed the store and remained in that role until he retired in 2001. He was truly proud of his craft, not just as a salesman, but for all the personal connections and beautiful memories he created with customers, family, and friends from Seattle and surrounding areas.
When Frank wasn’t at the store, he was in his yard, meticulously grooming his prized lawn and tending a majestic, park-like landscape featuring gigantic rhododendrons, second-growth firs, and countless native plants and shrubs. He’d take breaks to visit with Christine and Suzanne in their backyard playhouse, where they’d share imaginary snacks and chat with the “nice man” who’d stopped by.
In later years, he and Robin would play heated rounds of their favorite card game, King’s Corner, every night at dinnertime. Frank also loved watching (and yelling at) the Seattle Seahawks, Mariners, and Sonics, and golfing with friends from Bothell as well as lifelong buddies from his youth in the Rainier Valley, aka the “Garlic Gulch.”
And he had a story for everything, eagerly sharing and re-sharing tales of the history of Seattle’s old Italian neighborhoods and his family’s traditions. If you’re an Italian from Seattle, chances are he knew you, someone you’re related to, or would tell you a story about someone you should have known. We’ll miss him and his stories of “the good old days.”
A mass and memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on August 31, 2022, at St. Brendan Catholic Church in Bothell, followed by a reception. Afterward, Frank will be interred at Calvary Cemetery next to his parents. Instead of sending flowers, please consider donating in his name to the National MS Society Northwest Chapter or Mary’s Place.
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