Costantino Dominic DiFranco

Born December 13, 1928 in a house on Sublette Avenue on the Hill in South Saint Louis. Tino said it was like growing up in a small village within a large city.

He attended Shaw School, CBC High School and St. Louis University School of Business. After graduation he was in the Furniture Business (sales and rental), followed by several years in Automobile Sales and Finance Business. Tino for a short time owned a bar in St. Charles called the Time Out. However, most of his career, 60 years, was spent in the Bowling industry. He retired on his 90th Birthday, still working 6 to 7 days a week.

At one time he owned or co-owned six bowling centers which included Lucky Strike Lanes, Hazelwood Bowl, Plaza Lanes, North Oaks Bowl, King Pin Lanes, and Tropicana Lanes. He also served as president of the Missouri and then St. Louis Bowling Proprietors Association. Because of his service to the Bowling Industry he was inducted the Bowling Hall of Fame. In the eighties, he gave the Bowling Report on

KMOX – “Sports on a Sunday Morning.” Tino served as a Management Trustee for Local 50 of the Building Service Employees Union for Ten years.

Tino served on the Board for Cystic Fibrosis for which he received the Jack Buck award in 2001. Other honors included induction in the CBC Hall of Fame and was named a “Remarkable Ageless Senior Citizen in 2006.”

However, Tino is best known for his humor. He was a sought after Master of Ceremonies, Roaster and did Humorous Routines, both in St. Louis and throughout the country. Most of his work entertaining was done for Charities at No Charge.

His parents were Carmen and Rose DiFranco; he is survived by his wife, Ann Jennings; a daughter Tina (Jack) Kimbell; two stepsons Greg Sternberg (Julie) and Russell (Sheri) Sternberg II; his brother Salvatore and sister, the late Carmeline (Jim) Newell; grandchildren, Kirsten, Russell, and Jake Sternberg, Dominic, Dalton and Daniel Hahn; stepchildren, Cynthia Pukatch, Nan Murch, and Dave Jennings; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tino loved to laugh, but better still, he loved to make others laugh. He treasured his life, his family and friends, and the thousands of people he met throughout his 94 years on earth.

Services: The family will meet friends from 9:00 am until the time of Mass at 10:00 am at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 5130 Wilson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.

If desired memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.