Obituary
Peter J. Frano Jr, First Sergeant USMC (retired) received his final set of orders on 3 March 2017. He will report to Saint Peter immediately and is looking forward to his next operational assignment.
Pete was born in Queens, New York, 4 November 1934 to the late Peter J. Frano and Nora Steitz Frano. He married his high school sweetheart, Sonja H. also of Huntington NY in 1955 and together they raised three wonderful children.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sonja and their three children, CAPT Peter S Frano, USN (ret), his wife Cindy Reuter and their two sons Peter and Matthew, Laurie Grella, her husband Steven of Torrance, CA and their two sons Steven and Christopher, Tracie Bordieri of Fultonville, NY and her son Nicholas. He is also survived by his two sisters: Patricia Johnson and her husband Jay, Col USAF (ret) of Huntington, NY, Mary Anne Jones and her husband Michael of Greenwich, NY and his brother Steven Frano and his wife Karen of Westhampton Beach, NY. His five grandchildren are Peter R. Frano of Melbourne, FL, Matthew C. Frano of Virginia Beach, VA; Steven Grella and his wife Mendy and their two adorable great-granddaughters of Fayetteville, NC; Christopher Grella of Torrance, CA, Nicholas Bordieri of Fultonville, NY and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pete proudly and honorable served this nation and the United States Marine Corps for 22 adventure filled years. He entered Marine Corp Recruit Depot at Parris Island, SC in 1952, after graduation he received his initial training as a Tanker (1812) and deployed with the 1st Marine Division, B CO to Korea and Japan (South Camp) until April 1954. From May 1955 to May 1961 Pete was stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC with both the 2nd and 8th Tank Battalions. He received orders and traveled south to Beaufort, SC in June 1961 reporting to the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD, Parris Island SC as a Drill Instructor, greeting raw recruits on the “yellow foot steps” and proudly turning them in to United States Marines. In February 1965, Pete reported to 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton CA and deployed with the 1st Tank battalion, Bravo CO, 3rd PLT to Chu Lai, Vietnam. returning in September 1966. After his tour in Vietnam was complete he reported to 1st Marine Corps District, Garden City, NY in October 1966 for recruiting duty, various special assignments and follow-on orders to stand up the initial Junior NROTC Unit at Centereach High School, NY. One final deployment in 1971 with the 1st Tank Battalion to FMF Okinawa and 1stSgt Frano was ready to retire in 1973 after 22 years serving his beloved Marine Corps.
The family happily settled down in Huntington, NY. Pete’s initial job upon his retirement from the Marine Corps was with H. Ross Perot’s EDS as a corporate recruiter. Following his time with EDS, Pete started as one of the first employees’ for Suffolk County (NY) Off Track Betting (OTB) where he worked for many years, eventually rising to be the President of Suffolk County OTB, he finally retired in November 1993. Pete and Sonja moved from Huntington in 1994 to Virginia Beach, VA to be closer to a military community and their grandchildren, they were residents there until 2006 when they moved to The Villages.
Pete and Sonja always found time to serve the church wherever they lived. They were long standing members at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Huntington, NY, Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Virginia Beach, VA and most recently at Hope Lutheran Church in The Villages, FL where Pete proudly served as Church Council President until February 2016.
There will be a celebration Pete’s life at Hope Lutheran Church on Friday, March 10, 2017 at 2:00 PM. Online condolences may be left online at Baldwin Brothers Funeral & Cremation Society. www.baldwincremation.com/category/obituaries/
Service
250 Avenida Los Angelos, The Villages, FL 32162
250 Avenida Los Angelos, The Villages, FL 32162
Thomas A. 'Doc' Gillespie Platoon 349
Saw Pete' obit. in the Long Islander. Barbara and I extend our sympathy and prayers..
Ken Graf
I first met Sgt. Frano on March 1, 1962 as a young recruit in Parris Island 55 years ago. I will always remember him as all Marines do
with their Drill Instructors. March On Sgt. Frano. Godspeed. Semper Fidelis. John Kelly Platoon 319 OOORAHH!
Our thoughts & prayers are with you and your family during this most difficult time.
Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss. It was my privilege to serve with one of the finest Marines I have ever known. Rest In Peace Pete, your friend always Carl Lemon. Semper Fi!