West Yarmouth – Frank A. Fiorillo, of West Yarmouth, died peacefully June 15, 2019. Born in Worcester, he was the son of Italian immigrant Nicholas and Rose (Lautieri) Fiorillo.
He enlisted, at the age of 16 in the United States Merchant Marines, where he served in World War II aboard the Liberty Ship SS George N. Seger in the North Atlantic. After the war, Frank was a pioneer in the food industry where he invented Appian Way, the country’s first mass-produced pizza mix. He then transitioned to the auto industry, where he served as VP and General Manager of Harr, Royce and Natick Ford, Crown Chevrolet and Glick Motors.
Frank raised his family in Shrewsbury, before retiring to West Yarmouth in 1998. Frank’s life centered around his family.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Paulyne Fiorillo (Denesha), and his children, Rose Morrisette of Petersburg, Va., Susan Beland of S. Chesterfield, Va., Francyne Lefemine and her husband Stephen of Rochdale, Nancy Farmer and her husband Michael of Shrewsbury, Diane Bedard and her husband Philip of Brewster, and Nicholas Fiorillo and his wife Tracy of Swampscott. Frank is also survived by two sisters, Louise Fiorillo Stewart of Jamaica Plain and Madalyn Dion of Fiskdale, and was predeceased by his brother, Domenic Fiorillo. His nine grandchildren are Lucy Hartman, Dr. Cason Quinn, Jessica Farmer, Michael and Anthony Lefemine, Patrick and 2 LT Matthew Bedard, and Sophia and Frank Fiorillo. He was also especially close to his loving niece, Deborah Davis.
Frank enjoyed hosting his extended family for many years in Shrewsbury and Cape Cod. He was an expert chef known for his world class pizza, meatballs, sauce, ricotta pie, and his Feast of the Seven Fishes each Christmas Eve.
His family extends gratitude for the kindness and care given to Frank, in his final months by Barbara Bauer and hospice volunteer Judy as well as Kita Gouveia and Tracy Krowel, whom he so adored.
Frank’s funeral was held June 20 at the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, with a funeral Mass celebrated at Saint Anne’s Church and burial at Mountain View Cemetery of Shrewsbury.
Memorial contributions may be made in Frank’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association at http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pxfid=557253&fr_id=1060&pg=fund.
