Frank Covucci Jr.

Frank Covucci, Jr. finally went home and was welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus Christ his Savior on Wednesday, December 4 th , 2024, which was the day before his 91 st birthday. He was also greeted in Heaven by his beautiful, loving wife of 68 years, Gilda, who had been waiting patiently there for him for the past six years.

Frank was born in Brooklyn, NY, to Frank, Sr. and Mary Covucci, who, along with his older siblings Joe and Flora, have since passed on before him. Frank grew up in an all-Italian neighborhood, where his favorite pastimes were playing stickball in the street with his buddies, and helping his Dad with household maintenance. His chosen vocation, since he couldn’t earn a living playing neighborhood stickball, was in the field of electronics, and specializing as a television and radio technician.

One day, fate smiled upon young Frank when a new family moved into the upstairs apartment in his house. A member of that family happened to be a young, attractive gal named Gilda, who was irresistible to Frank. Eventually, they were married and began to plan their future life together. However, that life would have to wait for a couple of years, because Frank’s technical skills proved to be in high demand by Uncle Sam, who invited him to join the U.S. Army right after his marriage to Gilda. Frank was very proud of his service to his country, and spent the majority of his Army time stationed in Germany. He completed his military duties having achieved the rank of Corporal. And yes, he was in the Army at the same time as Elvis – but never met him.

Upon his return to the USA, Frank and Gilda relocated from Brooklyn to Toledo, OH, where they raised three children: Frank, III, Greg, and Debbie. During his family years, Frank had three different careers, first starting off with his own electronics business, Delta ‘Lectronics, and then transitioning into a management position with Venetian Marble, and eventually assuming the role of a maintenance technician with Fresh Products. After retiring from Fresh Products, Frank chose to continue to utilize his hands-on skills and expertise as a volunteer maintenance staffer at Central Park West / N.O.M.S, which is a physical therapy center. He worked there until he was 86 years young.

As enthusiastic as Frank was about all of his various career experiences, nothing was more important than his family, which soon grew from his own three kids to include four grandchildren. Ryan, Ethan and Grace were brought into his world via Debbie and her husband, Mark. And last but not least, Frank, IV arrived on the scene from Frank, III and Amy. So far, Frank doesn’t have any great grandchildren, but maybe someday... Absolutely nothing meant more to Frank than his four grandchildren, and he and Gilda spent the vast majority of their later years involved with and extremely proud of each of those kids. Over the years, he proudly amassed a large collection of photos and videos of the exploits of his family, which he loved to share with everyone. Frank’s grandchildren all call him “Papa”.

Now, when Frank wasn’t focused on his extended family, or career, there was another important subject that certainly occupied his mind: Baseball; specifically, the New York Yankees. Although Frank was born and grew up in Brooklyn, home of the original Dodgers, he was always a die-hard Yankee. In fact, during much of his adult life, most folks wouldn’t recognize Frank without his favorite Yankee hat. He not only watched every Yankee game he could on TV, he also attended numerous games in person, even traveling back to Yankee Stadium for many games after he had moved to Toledo. Fittingly, the Yanks made it to the 2024 World Series for Frank’s final year, but ironically lost to the (now L.A.) Dodgers.

In between chasing his kids and grandkids around, and watching the Yankees, Frank was also a “car-guy”. He loved maintaining his own cars, and pretty much anyone else’s car he could get his hands on. He never left home without a car trunk full of tools and car care products. Tire Shine was one of Frank’s all-time favorite products. Family and friends’ car tires always glistened like new whenever Frank was around.

Speaking of his family and friends, they are really going to miss Frank beyond words. Very few people are more outgoing, warm and friendly than Frank, and nobody was a stranger to him for more than a minute. Left behind and forever loving him in this world are Frank’s younger brother George; his sons, Frank, III, Greg, and (son-in-law) Mark; daughter, Debbie; and grandchildren, Ethan, Ryan, Grace and Frank, IV.

Frank is now in Heaven and he is enjoying everlasting life. He is more alive than ever before, and he has complete and indescribable love and joy, with no more pain, worry or tears. If given the chance to return to this world, he would say: “no thank you!” And if there was a way for Frank to speak to us right now from his eternal home, he would tell us that each of needs to repent of our sins and ask Jesus Christ to come into our hearts and into our lives, and to accept His free gift of salvation and eternal life -- today. He would go on to say that as good of a life as he tried to live during his 91 years in this world, it was never going to be good enough. God’s word says the only way any of us can reach Heaven is by calling on the name of Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, who lived a perfect, sinless life, and paid the price for our sins so we can live in Heaven with Him forever.

The family will receive friends for a visitation and funeral service on Friday, December 20, 2024 at the Tidd Family Funeral Home, 5265 Norwich St., Hilliard, Ohio, 43026.  The visitation will begin at 3:00pm and end at 4:00pm for the funeral service to begin at 4:00