Frank M. Massa

Frank Michael Massa, a star Jesuit High School athlete, University of Memphis Hall of Famer, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, award-winning sales executive and – most importantly – loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away on July 28, 2026 at the age of 89.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Veronica Pablovich Massa, and was the devoted father of Monica Massa McNeil. He was the proud grandfather of Payton McNeil (Aubrey), Brendan McNeil and Nathalie McNeil.

He is also survived by his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Marietta Puckett, Sister Sue Pablovich MSC, Janet Landry (Mickey), Julie Pablovich, Beth Attardo (Peter), Lloydell Gary (Paul), Billie Massa and Diane Massa; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Domenico Massa; his mother, Stella Dazzo Massa; his brothers, Emanuel Massa and Joseph Massa, and brother-in-law Robert Puckett Sr. He was the son-in-law of the late Lloyd Pablovich and Nathalie Buckley Pablovich.

Frank was born August 4, 1936 in New Orleans, grew up in Lakeview, and was a longtime resident of Metairie before moving to Covington.

A renowned local athlete, Frank first began earning football accolades at NORD where he was named Most Outstanding Player on the Pop Warner team that won the National Championship in 1949. This led legendary Jesuit High School coach Gernon Brown to recruit him on a full football scholarship.

A proud 1954 Jesuit graduate, Frank was a junior varsity football champion, leading the Blue Jays to an undefeated championship. He won letters in varsity football, baseball and basketball and was alternate captain on the Jays’ 1953 state championship football team.

Times-Picayune sports legend Peter Finney called him “for his size, one of the finest linebackers in the history of the league.” At 5’8” tall, what Frank lacked in size, he made up for in stature. “It has been said that it is not the size of the dog in the fight that counts; it’s the size of the fight in the dog. By that standard, former Jesuit standout Frank Massa was a smallish but particularly tenacious beast of a player,” wrote The Times-Picayune in 2014, when he was honored by Jesuit as a “Legend of the Game.”

Frank’s success would continue in his college career, as he was voted the most athletic student and won letters in football, track and baseball at Perkinston, Mississippi Junior College, before earning a scholarship to Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis, where he graduated in 1958.

At Memphis, he was named co-captain, Most Valuable Player and total yard gained leader, with a 5.3 yard per carry average, leading the team in solo tackles and interceptions. He also won the city light heavyweight Golden Gloves boxing championship while at Memphis. The school inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2002 and he was a member of its exclusive M Club for his achievements in football. He was also inducted into the Louisiana American Italian Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Frank proudly served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, attending Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and discharged as Captain in 1962.

He then began his professional career with Ross Laboratories Pediatric Division of Abbott Laboratories. He had an outstanding career as territory and district manager, winning 40 awards of excellence and training a sales force which would set unprecedented records during his 27-year career.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass in the chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on Friday, August 7, 2026. Visitation will be at the funeral home beginning at 1 p.m. followed by Mass at 2 p.m. Interment will be private.

Masses or donations to Jesuit High School, jesuitnola.org, 4133 Banks Street, New Orleans, LA 70119; the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org or alzheimers.gov, preferred.

To view and sign the Family online guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com