Frank Joseph Riccio, Ii

Frank Joseph Riccio II, formerly of the Black Rock section of Bridgeport and a resident of Charlottesville, VA, for the past 19 years, died Sunday after a brief but courageous battle against cancer. Even before he graduated from Pratt Institute, Frank began working as an artist and illustrator. Go out to a restaurant with him, and you risked ending up as a pen and ink sketch in one of his notebooks. On his visits back "home" to Bridgeport, he and his easel could often be spotted at St. Mary's, and his work has graced the walls of many local establishments. Frank illustrated many children's books, including Conversations with God, Johnny Appleseed, and The Spirited Alphabet. His illustrations appeared in Gourmet and Sports Illustrated magazines, and he did all the graphics and art for the Café Gratitude restaurants. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Tara, and stepson AJ Frey; mother, Gioia; brother Fred (Kathy); sisters Nina (Dave Hill), Lisa (John O'Brien) and Gioia (David Sullivan), and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 26 at 10:30 a.m. at Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. If you wish to make a donation in his memory, please consider the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, c/o VABC in memory of Frank Riccio, 145 Ednam Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4629. For information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com