Very Reverend BROTHER FRANK P. CUCINOTTA, O.S.A. 1922 - 2008

December 15, 2008 – Richland, New Jersey
Father Paul Galetto, O.S.A., along with the entire Prep community bids farewell to Brother Frank Cucinotta, O.S.A. Brother Frank died peacefully On December 11, 2008 at 7:10pm surrounded by family, friends and his Augustinian brothers. The Saint Augustine Prep founder was the first Augustinian to step on the school property in Richland and the first to reside on site when construction was underway.

Contributions can be made in his memory to the Saint Augustine Prep Scholarship Fund

BROTHER FRANK CUCINOTTA, O.S.A., was born on August 31, 1922, in Philadelphia, PA, the son of Ambrose and Josephine (Martorano) Cucinotta. He had one brother, Sam, and one sister, Theresa. He was baptized on October 1, 1922, at Saint Maria Magdalena de’ Pazzi Catholic Church, Philadelphia, PA. He attended elementary school and Bok Vocational High School in South Philadelphia, and in 1942 he joined the US Army Air Corps and fought in World War II as a tail-gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He flew numerous missions (at least 34) over Europe, far exceeding the number of flights flown by average bomber crews. Brother Frank served until October 1945 as a Technical Sergeant, being awarded 5 Bronze Service Stars. After training in Texas, he was qualified as a B-17 bomber Aerial Engineer (combination Flight Engineer/Upper Turret Gunner), and was assigned to the 334th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group (H) of the Eighth Air Force, located in Horham, England. After flying his full tour of duty of 35 bombing missions over Europe (his 18th mission was on D-Day), Brother Frank then volunteered for service with the 5th Rescue Group, 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron of the Fifth Air Force located in the Philippines. There he served as a crew member for one of its three specially-equipped B-17H "Jumbo" aircraft, which parachuted Higgins rescue lifeboats to the crew of B-29 and fighter aircraft which ditched in the Pacific Ocean. While serving in Europe, Brother Frank was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his heroism and extraordinary achievement, and was also a four-time recipient of the Air Medal for meritorious achievement.

> After the war, Frank joined the Merchant Marine and held odd jobs in Philadelphia, and then got a job as a mechanic at the Millville, NJ, airport. From childhood, he came to know of the Augustinians through St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish in South Philadelphia, PA, and St. Mary Parish, East Vineland, NJ, near where his relatives had a farm in Rosenhayn, NJ. In 1950 he came to serve at St. Mary Parish as the sacristan as well as the maintenance man for the friars’ community. He entered as a postulant in 1956 in the Italian Vice Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel and became a member of the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova in 1994 when the Italian Vice Province was suppressed by the Prior General.

In 1958, Frank discovered the property, Red Oaks Estate, which was to become St. Augustine College Preparatory School in Richland, NJ. The Vice Province at the time, wanted to build a school and seminary to foster Christian values and to educate young men. Frank told the friars about the property that was for sale and the rest is history. The doors opened in 1959.

Frank was received into the Order as a novice on April 25, 1962 and after a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, NY, he professed first vows on April 26, 1963, the Feast of Our Mother of Good Counsel, the patron of the Vice Province. He professed solemn vows on April 26, 1966. Frank spent all of his years as a professed brother at Saint Augustine Prep School. He served the school and the local Augustinian community in a variety of capacities. In the early days of the school he supervised the renovations to the original house on the property, now used as the friary, and later oversaw the construction of other school buildings. He also served the school as secretary and as bookkeeper. In the history of the school he is regarded as the school’s founder and his long presence there has added to that reputation. His daily presence around the campus, greeting the students, faculty and staff has helped to create the family and the community that the school truly is for so many now and throughout its fifty years of history.

> Brother Frank exhibited a quiet strength that served him well in his battle against cancer. His sharp wit and sense of humor were gifts to everyone who knew him. Brother Frank spent his last days at the Health Care Center at St. Thomas Monastery in Villanova, PA. He died on the evening of December 11, 2008 at the age of 86. Rest in Peace, Br. Frank.

Contributions can be made in his memory to the Saint Augustine Prep Scholarship Fund.