Obituary of Francis A. Marsico

COLUMBIA-Only after seeing his seven children and being surrounded by his loving family, Francis A ("Sheikie") Marsico was called to God on the morning of November 10, 2013 at the age of 91. Frank was born May 2, 1922, the fifth child of Vincent and Mary Bernardo Marsico in his beloved Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania. A four-letter star athlete at Sharpsburg High, he was captain of the 1941 Western Pennsylvania State Class B Basketball champs and sank the winning basket from almost half court in overtime to beat Bentleyville 41-39. A card- carrying member of the Greatest Generation, he volunteered for the Army Air Corp after Pearl Harbor, following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Peter and Joseph. He was part of the 379th Bombardment Group in the Eighth Air Force stationed in Kimbolton, Scotland supporting the air war over Germany. After V-E Day, he sailed to the Pacific to be part of the invasion of Japan and anchored alongside The USS Missouri while the peace treaty was being signed. He was slated for officers training corps when he was discharged after V-J Day as a staff sergeant. In 1948, Frank married the love of his life, Teresa Marie Costantini. Their storybook marriage of 65 years produced what he proudly dubbed, his "Magnificent Seven" children. They raised them in the time-honored traditions of faith, family, hard work and love of country. In 1966, while supporting his family, he received a BS in Business Administration from Duquesne University. A consummate businessman, he had several successful ventures before settling in as a prominent member of first the Pittsburgh, and later, the South Carolina securities industry. He was a keen business analyst and life-long student of the stock market. He managed the offices of several Pittsburgh brokerage firms and brought the firm of Thompson McKinnon and later, A. G. Edwards to the city in the 1970's. He also served on the Board of Directors of Mosler Valve Company in Pennsylvania. An avid and accomplished golfer, Frank was a member of Edgewood Country Club in Pittsburgh, and Dolphin Head, Woodside, Wildewood and Woodcreek Country Clubs in South Carolina. He and his family moved to Hilton Head Island, SC in 1982 where he continued in the brokerage business with Merrill Lynch, until his retirement in 1994 at age 72 after which he day-traded until just a few weeks ago. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his two brothers, as well as sisters Anna Marsico and Helen Marsico Cuneo. He is survived by his devoted wife, sister, Rita Marsico Rizzo, and his seven children, Vincent (Carole), Francis A. Jr. (Michelle), Mamie (Thomas) Rader, Leonard (Mildred), Gloriarose (Talley) Lattimore, Anthony (Jennifer), and Stephan (Lori). As with his children, he could not have been prouder of his twenty grandchildren and three great grandchildren, each of whom he loved to spend, "one-on-one" time. Frank lit up every room he entered. He had an insatiable love for life, boundless good humor and was a master of crafting a witty one-liner for every occasion. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends, never forgotten and eternally loved. Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 12, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Greenlawn Funeral Home, 845 Leesburg Rd, Columbia, SC 29209. Mass of Christian Burial, Wednesday, November 13 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 3600 Devine St, Columbia SC. A special thank you to Dr. Barnick, Dr. Postic, the doctors, nurses and staff of Wildewood Downs, and Regency Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph's Capital Campaign at the same address.