Frank Michael Gaudioso

Frank Gaudioso, affectionately known as Pop Pop, Poppy, Frankie, Frank-a-Tron, Mousie and Funny Frank, passed peacefully with his loving family by his side at the Embrace Hospice House, Myrtle Beach SC. He was 98 1/2 years young.

Born in the Bronx on September 18,1925, Frank attended Elementary School at PS 102 and High School at PS 47.  He attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in the Bronx. Growing up on Hoffman Street, a block from Arthur Ave, he loved how he could frequent the bakeries for a nice Italian pastry. When he was in the 10th grade, his family moved to Pine Bush, NY, where he worked at his father’s Meat Market in Newburgh, as a butcher.

At 17, he left high school to join the US Navy, proudly serving our country during World War Il from (1943-1946) aboard the USS APC 101, USS APC 95 and The USS General J.R Brooks as the ship’s cook or “Belly Robber,” a position he loved because the ship’s crew all loved the cook as he would sneak them food late at night. 

As a proud WWII Veteran, he wore his Navy hat every day and appreciated when people stopped and thanked him for his service. His Navy background was evident in the precise way he made his bed every morning and turned it down a certain way every night.           

Following the Navy, while selling Fuller Brush he then met his first wife, Angela Canissario. They married in 1949, had 2 children and moved to Orange Lake, NY until her death in 1957.

After a winter car accident landed him in Horton Hospital in Middletown, NY Frank met Caroline Carter Gale, a nurse and widow with three sons. They married August 10, 1958, had three more children for a total of 8, and were married 58 years creating their own version of “The Brady Bunch.”

As a husband, father, grandfather, and the “fun uncle,” he was very compassionate, loving, amazing father, who treated all eight children the same with no favorites, although we all joked, we were “his favorite.” He was always looking for the fun in life.

Frank loved coaching his sons’ little league baseball teams, taking his kids to the Bronx Zoo, Palisades Park, Yankee Stadium, and in later years, camping in Canada, as well as Pizza Fridays when he made pizzas for the neighborhood kids.

Always looking to connect with people and share his generosity and advice, solicited or not, he would stop and help anyone in need, giving them the shirt off his back or at least a joke to make them smile, typically sourced from a popsicle stick or Cracker Jack Box.        

A hard worker, Frank worked many jobs throughout his life, including at a Pocketbook Factory in Newburgh and sales for Nat Pac Frozen Food Sales Company. After working for Vista Camera and the camera store in Lloyd’s Shopping Center, he eventually bought the business and opened Gaudioso Camera and Video in Newburgh, first located at Zayre Plaza and then on Robinson Avenue.

In 1991, he retired from the camera and video business and moved to Myrtle Beach to enjoy retirement with Caroline. His love to work and socialize brought him to manage the seafood department at the local Winn Dixie.

In 2014, Frank and Caroline moved to Myrtle Beach Grove Assisted living, where he was known as the “Mayor” or Mr. Frank. He loved playing bingo and corn hole, doing crossword and sudoku puzzles, attending church on Sundays and enjoyed all the Wednesday outings with the other residents.

Frank loved the Yankees, was an avid bowler for 60 years, enjoying many bowling tournaments, fishing, playing horseshoes, golf, and all sports. Additionally, he took great pride in his vegetable garden, loved dancing with his Caroline, playing lotto and scratch-offs, as well as watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and The Price is Right. Frank was a member of the Newburgh American Legion Post #1796, New Windsor, NY, and The Elks Club #247, Newburgh, NY.

Last year, while holding hands and walking with his daughter, she told him, “I will miss your smiling face and walking with you, I will be sad.” Dad replied, "Don’t be sad, laugh like hell!”  His way of telling us it is ok and to enjoy life.

We would like to thank all of the wonderful staff at Myrtle Beach Grove AL, who were like family to our father these past 10 years. Along with Agape Hospice, Angelic Hospice and a special Thank You to Connie DiSano Fine and Embrace Hospice House who helped Dad leave us with dignity and Grace.

Left to cherish Frank’s memory are his adoring daughter, Nancy Hanlon (Tom) of Palm Coast, FL, son, Philip Gaudioso (Sandy) of Newburgh, NY, son, Steven Gale (Lori) of Seneca, SC, daughter, Elizabeth Gaudioso-Stewart (Cory) of Newburgh, NY, son, Frank Gaudioso (Jodi) of Myrtle Beach & daughter, Barbara Greene (Michael) of Myrtle Beach; 25 grandchildren: Tom (Amanda) Hanlon, Christina (Michael) Testa, Philip (Guadalupe) Gaudioso, Sean (Ed Weber) Gale, Christian Gale, Max Alfonzo, Al Alfonzo, Karina Alfonzo, Brandon (Heather) Gale, Cara McCall, Gena Gale, Melissa Johnson (Cory), Danielle (Colby) Stopper , Austin (Lacey) Stewart, Justin Santiago, Amanda Santiago, Santino Gaudioso, Giorgio Gaudioso, Alex (Nicole) Mangot, Corey Catabay, Nicholas (Hannah) Catabay, Sean Greene, Patrick Greene, Ryan Greene & Ciara Greene; 27 great-grandchildren; sister, Gloria Diamonti of Avon, CT; daughter-in-law Nori Gale of Anderson, SC; daughter-in-law Debra (Greg) Doxsey of Newburgh, NY; as well as an army of nieces, nephews and cousins; a large, loving extended family and many supportive friends and neighbors.

Along with his parents, Philip Gaudioso & Adele Ardone Gaudioso, Frank is reunited in passing with his first wife, Angela Canissario; second wife, Caroline Gaudioso; sons, Douglas J. Gale and Christopher Cushing Gale; brother, Bartholomew Gaudioso; & brother in-law, Patrick Diamonti.

A Funeral Mass in Celebration of Frank’s life will be held on Thursday May 9, 2024 at 10:00AM at St. Michael Catholic Church, 542 Cypress Ave, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576. Burial with Military Honors will immediately follow the service, within Hillcrest Cemetery, 1000 SC-544, Conway, SC 29526.

At the request of the family, please consider memorial contributions in lieu of flowers. Donations in Frank’s name may be made to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans at, nchv.org or to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or to Embrace Hospice House of Myrtle Beach, 175 Village Center Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579.

Burroughs Funeral Home of Murrells Inlet (843-651-1440) is honored to assist the family.

To view these details online or to offer words of comfort through the online guestbook, kindly visit the funeral home website at www.burroughsfh.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.