Frank Filippi

Frank Filippi, 81, a resident of the City of Erie passed away at home on November 16, 2015 after a lengthy illness. He was born in the mountain village of Gello, near the city of Lucca in the Province of Tuscany, Italy on July 17, 1934. He was the son of Anselmo and Genoveffa Leofante Filippi.

Frank’s father Anselmo Filippi immigrated to the United States in 1903 and settled in Erie. He operated a fruit and produce business and was believed to own one of the first trucks in Erie. In 1927, he obtained his citizenship. A bachelor, he returned to Italy around the beginning of the Great Depression. There, he married and had four children. Frank was the second child.

As a young boy, Frank witnessed the impact of the Second World War in Italy first hand. After the War, opportunities in Italy were bleak so Frank’s family scraped together enough money to send him to the United States. He arrived in America in 1950 a day before his 16th birthday which was a requirement to claim his derivative citizenship from his father. He learned English at the old Columbus School in “Little Italy.” He entered the Army and served our nation for 12 years, including service in the 59th Signal Company in Vietnam. He was also stationed at the U.S. army base in Vicenza, Italy where he met his beautiful wife, Ines. They were married in 1959. In the Army, his specialty was radio repair. He attained the rank of sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1967.

Prior to his military service, Frank worked at Phillips Fruit Company, Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., Marx Toys and General Electric.

Frank was self- employed and an entrepreneur most of his working life. Upon returning from the service, he operated Filippi T.V. Sales and Service at 27th and Cascade Streets for approximately 20 years into the late 1980’s. In 1989, he became the owner and manager of Sullivan’s Pub, an Irish landmark and Erie’s oldest family owned drinking and eating establishment. Frank was always proud of his “adopted” Irish heritage. In 1994, the Filippi family, led by Frank purchased Hector’s Café, another Erie landmark, from the DiTullio family. Frank and his wife, Ines, operated Hector’s together, until Ines’ death in 2002. Frank continued to operate Hector’s until 2008.

Frank was also a real estate developer. Starting on his own and later with his sons, he invested in and redeveloped residential and commercial rental properties in the city. Frank was a jack-of all trades. His skills included refrigeration, heating, electrical, plumbing and anything involving construction. If he caught you at the bar, he would often describe detailed refrigeration or electrical systems, over a few drinks, of course.

Besides his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his wife of 33 years, Ines, in 2002; and his brother Aldo. He is survived by his two sons, Dr. Ronald Filippi, M.D. and former Erie Mayor, Attorney Richard Filippi and his wife, Claudia, of Erie; his grandchildren Nicholas, Emilio, and Gemma Filippi, also of Erie. He is also survived by his sisters, Mina and Anna, of Florence, Italy and his nephew, Anselmo Filippi and his family of Rosario, Argentina.

Friends may call on Thursday at Burton Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc., 602 West 10th Street from 4 to 7 p.m. and are invited to a service there on Friday at 10 am with Monsignor Henry Kriegel officiating.

Burial in Erie Cemetery with full military honors.

Memorials may be made to the ANNA Shelter, 1555 East 10th St., Erie PA 16511 or St. Patrick’s Food Pantry, 130 East 4th St. Erie PA 16507.