Frank Di Donato, 83, of Wilmington, DE, passed away peacefully on June 22nd, surrounded by loved ones at the place he cherished most—his beach home.
Born in Philadelphia, PA, to the late Mary and Louis Di Donato, Frank was the eldest of six children. He is survived by his sisters, Mary Lou and Carmella, and was preceded in death by his siblings Tony, Maureen, and Louis. Frank graduated from South Philadelphia High School and he lived in Philly starting a family with his Wife Sally Di Donato who he was married to for 52 years. In 91 Frank and his family eventually moved to Delaware leaving their beloved Philadelphia, a short distance away. Despite the move, he never lost his lifelong love for South Philly pizza, Philadelphia sports teams, and the cherished memories of his hometown.
Frank’s lifelong passion for automobiles led him to a career in the automotive industry. A true sports car enthusiast, he owned several throughout his life and spent countless weekends attending car shows and taking Sunday drives with his wife. His favorite pastime, however, was watching IndyCar races on TV—always turned up loud enough so everyone in the house felt like they were sitting trackside.
Above all else, nothing brought Frank greater pride or joy than his family. He was a deeply devoted father and a cherished Pop-Pop to Sara, Rachel, Hannah, Tyler, Jordan, Francesca, Sophia, Isabella, and James and Missy Moo Moo, his beloved cat.
A gathering for family and friends will be held on September 15th from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE. Burial and service will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Faithful Friends Animal Society at 165 Airport Rd, New Castle, DE 19720; Faithful Friends Animal Society – For A Kinder Community
For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
