Francesco “Frank” Polito, 86, of Port St. Lucie, FL.

By Isabella Pang

Baker by trade, comedian by instinct, and caretaker by nature, Francesco “Frank” Polito was the kind of man who fed your belly and lifted your spirit. With a big heart and a bigger laugh, he was a devoted son, husband, father, brother, cousin, grandfather, uncle, and friend to all who knew him. He died fighting a battle with cancer on Nov. 17, 2025, in Port St. Lucie, FL. He was 86.

Though born July 24, 1939, in Termini Imerese, Sicily, his birth certificate listed July 27 – a date he joyfully celebrated alongside his loving wife, Luciana, who shared the same birthday. He was the son of Rosalia and Pietro Polito and the brother of Phil, all of whom will be greeting him in heaven.

At 14, he arrived in East Harlem by boat, speaking no English but determined to make a life. Within six months, he was fluent, playing handball with friends and working in a bakery where he found both purpose and pride. In 1969, he established  Polito Bakery in New Hyde Park, NY, where the smell of fresh bread and his warming presence became a neighborhood staple.

Food was Frank’s love language. From his childhood in Sicily, he carried a passion for pasta – especially seafood dishes that reminded him of home. Every September, he turned his backyard into a family workshop, using industrial sauce-making equipment so that his children and grandchildren could join him in producing hundreds of jars of what his family called “liquid gold.” Those days of laughter, stirring pots, and sealing cans became treasured family traditions.

Frank loved baseball, tennis, boxing, ping pong, playing cards, fishing, making wine, gardening, and cooking, but nothing more than his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Luciana; his older sisters Josephine and Maria; his children Rosalie, Christina, Giovanna, Janet, and Johanna, as well as Gabriel, who was like a son to him. He is also survived by his sons-in-law Victor, Javier, Rob, and Stefan; and his grandchildren Victor, Xavier, Frankie, Isabella, Orlando, Sophia, Eden, Giovani, Daniel, Sebastian, and Tristan, who knew him as “Nono.” He is further survived by many extended family members and friends who cherished his humor, generosity, and big heart.

Frank’s favorite colors were blue and gray, but his life was anything but muted. He lived with passion, humor, and generosity. His memory will live on in the stories, recipes, and laughter he leaves behind.

His legacy lives on in the love of his wife, joy of his children, the strength of his sons-in-law, and the laughter of his grandchildren.