Frank A. Fiore

Frank A. Fiore, 90, of Benicia passed away Tuesday in a local hospital following a brief illness. The son of Michael and Antonetta Fiore, he was born and raised in Revere, Massachusetts and called Benicia his home since 1946. Frank was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army with the 3063 Ordinance Co. as a Staff Sargeant in the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign. Frank worked for the U.S. Government for almost 35 years following his military discharge. He begin his career as a Guided Missile Inspector at the Benicia Arsenal. When the Arsenal closed he worked at the San Francisco Procurement District in Oakland, CA as an Inspector of Ordinance on Government Contracts. Frank then went to work at the Concord Naval Weapons Station as Quality Assurance Specialist and Management Supervisor. He retired in 1978. Frank had a superb education in military technolgy. He thoroughly enjoyed his studies at Massachuchutts Institute of Technology, North Eastern University, Philco Electronic Radar School, and Sperry & Rand Radar School. Frank was a pioneer with his “top secret” work in the early days of radar and guided missle systems. He enjoyed woking with television sets in the 1940-1950s. Frank was very pround to serve his country, and following that service he committed much of his time to helping veterans. He was Past Commander and life member of both the American Legion Post #101 and VFW Post #3928 in Benicia. Frank was Past Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter #21, Past Commander of the Solano County Council of the American Legion, Past Quartermaster of VFW #3928; Past Commander of the Benicia Cooties Beni-Kia Pup Tent #77, member of La Societe Des 40/8, Solano Voiture #395 of the American Legion, and Past Veterans House Commission member for the Benicia Veterans Hall. In honor of Frank’s service to veterans, a room at the Benicia Veterans Memorial Building was dedicated in his name in 2002. Frank loved sports. In his youth he was a semi-professional boxer. Frank was a member of the "Old Benicia Toppers" AAA baseball team in the late 1940’s. He was Chairman of the Benicia Halloween Parade for many years in the 1960’s, and was an ardent supporter of Benicia Little League, Boy Scouts of America and American Legion Child Welfare Program. Frank was an extremely active member of St. Dominic's Church, serving as usher, Parish Festival Chairman, man-of-all-help for the parish, and he greatly supported the church’s youth athletic programs in the 1960’s. He was an excellent woodworker and took great pride in producing quality crafted furniture for his family. Frank was an expert stamp collector, having collected since his youth. He enjoyed frequenting flea markets. Frank loved history. He was the Benicia Pony Express Centenial Committee Chairman in 1960 and organized a wonderful parade and events. As a member of the Pony Express Trail Association, he helped fund monuments to its memory from St. Louis across the United States, ending in Benicia. Frank is survived by his daughters Joanne Wales of Vacaville, Frances (Donald) Wieber of Texas, Marian (Tim) Smock of Benicia, and Michelle (Loyd) DeWeber of Fairfield; brother Ernest (Pat) of Massachusetts, and his sister Dolly (Tony) Serino of Florida; grandchildren Jeanine (Terrance) Pai, Angela (J.D.) Oliver, Melanie Smock and Kyle DeWeber; great grandchildren Britty and Emily Oliver and Colter and Midori Pai. Frank was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 65 years, Jennie Fiore, in March of 2012, his brothers Michael, Dominic & John Fiore, and son-in-law Kenneth Wales. Visitation starts at 3:00 p.m. Tues. April 16 at Passalaqua Funeral Chapel, followed by Vigil Services, including Recitation of the Rosary and a Memorial Service by the Veterans of Foreign War, Benicia Post #3928 at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Wed. Apr. 17at St. Dominic's Church, followed by burial with Military Honors at St. Dominic's Cemetery. The family prefers donations be made to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, or a charity of your choice.

Frank A. Fiore

August 22, 1922 - April 9, 2013