Francesco Vinci

Frank Vinci was born March 4, 1935, in Augusta, Sicily. Frank was the oldest of five children. His parents were Salvatore and Maria Vinci. Frank knew great hardship growing up, but always faced those battles with a triumphant spirit. During his life, Frank overcame the odds. Augusta was a Naval Port town in Sicily. As a child during WWII, Frank’s town was nearly blown out of existence, but Frank survived. His childhood memories were those of a child in the time of war.

As a young man, Frank learned how to work as a bricklayer and trained as a boxer. At the age of 18, he got on a boat and sailed to Canada. He came to the Americas with little education and no knowledge of the English language. But that did not stop Frank, because he knew he could face whatever life threw at him. During his years in Canada Frank worked as a professional boxer, truck driver, gold mine worker and factory worker. He met his first wife, Joan Hinton, at a dance in Montreal on a bet that he could get Joan to dance with him. Frank married Joan in 1957 with whom he had four children. The couple moved to Brooklyn, New York, where Frank worked making pizza. After a short time in New York, they moved to Massachusetts, where Frank lived until 1980.

During his years in Massachusetts Frank became a Masonry Contractor. He was the owner of the first professional soccer team in the United States, the Boston Tigers. Through hard work as a Contractor and a natural understanding of business, he became very successful.

In 1980, Frank moved to Orange County, California. He moved his business out to California and eventually moved up to the Contra Costa County. While traveling he met Maria Enriquez on an international flight from Manila to Japan. Frank and Maria got married December 17, 1988. Frank and Maria had two children.

Frank passed away peacefully on June 7, 2022. He was predeceased by his parents Salvatore Vinci, Maria Vinci, his brother in-law Augusto Prudenzi, and his oldest son Simon Vinci.

Frank is survived by his four sister, Giuseppa Prudenzi, Dina Branco, Rita Robinson, Suzanna Vinci, his children Marisa Freese, Christopher Vinci, Marco Aurelio Vinci, Marco Antonio Vinci and Pola Vinci, stepdaughter Mary Felyne Janeway, his former wives Joan Vinci and Maria Vinci. Frank was especially close with his nephew Simon Prudenzi and often spent summers with Simon in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Frank also leaves his daughter in-law Allison Vinci, future daughter in-law Linda Soun and sons in-law James Freese and Travis Janeway. Frank leaves behind eight grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.

Frank was a strong man. He worked hard. He played hard. He enjoyed playing cards and going to the casino. He loved to laugh. He always enjoyed hearing and telling a good joke. He taught his children by the example of his life.