Frank A. Piccolo Jr.

Frank Anthony Piccolo Jr., 77, died Saturday, May 10, 2008. He was born Nov. 5, 1930, in New Haven, Conn., to Frank Anthony and Nicolette Piccolo.

He graduated from Hillhouse High School and the University of Connecticut. In 1955, he graduated from the University of Connecticut Law School. As a young child and teenager, he worked in his parents’ neighborhood grocery store. During school vacations, he worked at the Armstrong Rubber Co. and the U.S. Post Office.

In addition to his private law practice in New Haven, Conn., he was very active in the Democratic Party and was privileged to meet with and campaign for President John F. Kennedy and many notable U.S. senators and congressmen. In 1958 at the age of 28, he was elected as the youngest senator to serve in the Connecticut Legislature where he served the 11th district for five terms until 1968.

Subsequently, he became a lobbyist for many businesses and organizations. A memorable highlight of his lobbying career was The European Health Spas Convention where he was honored as their lobbyist along with their featured guest body builder, 21-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger, who had just arrived in the United States from Austria.

He married Rosemary Ciccarelli in 1951 and they had four children: Frank Albert Piccolo and his wife, Sarah, of Los Angeles, Calif.; Rosemary Olson and her husband, Robert, of Cape Coral; Mary Krell and her husband, Kim, of Cape Coral; and Joseph Gerard Piccolo and his wife, Bethany, of Annandale, Va.

His grandchildren are Nicoletta Rose (Krell) Park and her husband, Tommy, of Jacksonville, Fla.; Colleen and Joseph Piccolo Jr., who reside with their parents Joseph and Bethany in Virginia; Kevin Krell, who resides with Ande in Fort Myers; Kerry Krell and his wife, Joann, of New Port News, Va.; and Michele Krell of East Haven, Conn. His only great-granddaughter is Naphtili Park, who resides with her parents Nikki and Tommy in Florida.

The two younger grandchildren, Colleen and Joe Jr., brought special joy and love into his life, and Naphtili, who was born on Thanksgiving Day 2007 during his illness, added so much to his life as he was able to hold her and dote on her, calling her his “great” great-granddaughter.

He married Marilyn Roscoe Abresky in 1984 and was widowed in 1987. The couple lived life to the fullest and enjoyed their families, friends and traveling in the short time they had together.

He is survived by his beloved sister, Christine Moulter and her husband, Raymond, of Hamden, Conn.; nephews, great nephews and great nieces.

He was predeceased by two brothers and a sister, Mary Piccolo.

He lived in New Haven, Conn., moved to Rocky Hill, Conn., in the early 1990s and finally moved to Cape Coral in 2004 to be near his daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Kim Krell.

All who knew him benefited from his zest for life, particularly in faith, travel, music and sports. A faithful Catholic, he enjoyed being around the people of God. He especially loved to travel, seeing as much of the world as he could.

Always an avid sports fan, he later took up golf, a sport he especially enjoyed in Rocky Hill, Conn., and Florida, but his love for football trumped all other sports. He played the snare drums for his high school band and later played the drums for a local band. He lived a full life of 77 years.

Affectionately known as “Poppi,” he was a special soul, one who enjoyed life, his children, family and the world around him. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Donations can be made to Reformed University Fellowship at: www.unf.ruf.org.