Frank Vecchiarello
Lt. Colonel Frank Anthony Vecchiarello (Ret), age 78 of Marlton, NJ passed away peacefully on January 16, 2022.
Frank grew up In New York, a member of a large Italian family, was a hardworking man with an adventurous spirit. Frank was a soldier, pilot, entrepreneur and a man grounded in active faith life serving as a Eucharistic minister. He was a strong courageous man, yet held a quiet gentle nature who selflessly served his country and family. Frank was a true hero to all who knew him.
He joined the army in 1963, serving two tours in Vietnam, Desert Storm and countless missions as a special operations officer. He was extremely proud of graduating from US Army Command and General Staff College. He worked for many years in the field of sales, loved to travel with his wife Theresa and eventually opened his own travel agency, Cousin Frank’s Travel. He treated everyone as family. Frank was an avid golfer, loved to play cards with his friends at Legacy Oaks, and was an active member of the Sons of Italy, Special Operations Association, and Officer Candidate School Alumni Association. Most importantly, he was the best husband, father and ‘Poppy’. He never missed a soccer game, recital or important life event. His physical presence will be greatly missed.
Frank saw his life as a mission in that no matter what you faced you could see it through to completion. He fought the good fight in his physical battle, but he and his family are assured of his final victory in heaven as he rests in the arms of Jesus.
Frank is survived by his devoted wife Theresa, loving daughters, Gena and Lara, son-in-law Todd, and adoring grandchildren Mikayla and Carl, Josephine, Serena, Nicholas, Alycia, Amelia, Micah, and Nigel. When asked how he wanted to be remembered, Frank responded “I loved my family and my wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family. I’m a soldier for life.”
Due to the recent spike of the Covid Pandemic, funeral services will be private. A zoom memorial will be planned for a later date. Details to follow.
At this time, in lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted in Frank’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project or Tunnels to Towers.
