25 responses to Frank John Santoni

1. 

   Kathryn Santoni-Arkell says:

   April 20, 2006

   Babbo,
   There is such a hole in my heart without you here. I will love you and miss you forever.
   Rest in peace my sweet Babbo, as we try to heal ourselves from grief.

   Ti voglio tanto tanto bene.
   Your Ugly Duckling, K

   Reply
2. 

   Catherine Riffel says:

   April 21, 2006

   You will be missed very much. You were my brother-in-law for 56 years. I couldn’t ask for a bettrer realative. You were a wonderful husband and father. You were well loved by all. I wish I could have been there for the ceremony. I was there in spirit.
   Love to you family, Catherine

   Reply
3. 

   Jim Santoni says:

   April 21, 2006

   Frank John Santoni had a wonderful life. Never without a joke and a smile, he had an enthusiasm for living like few people I’ve met. I guess that’s why he was a salesman for most of his life. He started as a child helping his parents in their hardware store in New York. Moving to California with his family after the war, Dad landed a job at Sears in Santa Monica and, eventually, sold plumbing supplies at several companies throughout the rest of his life. Not one to sit around the house after retirement, Dad continued to work part-time in a plumbing supply store .

   Frank John Santoni did have a wonderful life. He married a good woman, helped to raise four children, and, not to be taken lightly, had a standing start time at his favorite golf course every Sunday morning. Dad was never more excited or aggressive than he was on the golf course. He moved through 18 holes like General Patton stopping only to retrieve a few balls he may have spotted in the lake. Those of you who were fortunate enough to have played golf with Frank knew of his unorthodox stance. Just before he addressed the ball, he would shake his backside like a duck. This came to be known as the “Frankie Wiggle”. When it got to be too cold for Dad to get up at 5:00 in the morning, he began playing regularly on Thursdays with his good friend Dick Ortell. Once a month, the two of them would travel all over Southern California playing the IPGA Tournament circuit. This was so important to him and made him very happy.

   In 1993, Dad and family travelled to Italy for a family reunion. Dad joined his cousins and their families in Porto San Giorgio and had a dinner celebration in the walled city of Moresco, where Pacific, Dad’s father was born. There were over 100 Santonis present. There were speeches made and songs sung but most of all, there was food. Course after course of Italian food. Dad was in heaven.

   The most important thing to Dad was family. At least twice a month, we would all gather at Mom and Dad’s for Sunday dinner. Dad would tell of his conquests or losses on the golf course, usually relay a joke or two, and listen as we all got caught up on our busy lives. After family, food was Dad’s second love. One of his favorite meals was Veal Piccata with a side of pasta and olive oil. If you happened to comment on how wonderful the veal was, he would inform you of how much it cost per pound as my mother scolded him from across the table. After my father’s surgery and through the rest of his life, he wasn’t able to swallow. This was a tremendous sacrifice Dad was forced to make on top of the trauma and pain of the medical procedures.

   Even in his final months, in and out of hospitals, tubes in and out of him, Dad’s sense of humor never left him. When a nurse would come in and announce that she was going to inject him with
   one medication or another, Dad would rotate his index finger in the air giving her the international “whoopee” sign while rolling his one eye. Cancer had gotten to his body but could never deter
   his spirit.

   Recently, Dad was admitted into Saddleback Hospital for treatment of pneumonia. When doctors informed us that further treatment was hopeless, Dad was informed that he could be released from the hospital. Even in his advanced condition, he reacted like a little boy being told he was going to Disneyland. He couldn’t wait to be in his own home surrounded by the people he loved.

   Yes, Frank Santoni had a great life. It was full of love, family, friends, old and new and lots of laughter. Who could ask for anything more?

   Reply
4. 

   Rick Hill says:

   April 24, 2006

   To the Santoni family,

   I was one of the fortunate ones to have met and played golf with Frank and witness the “Frankie Wiggle” duck shake. It was an honor and a pleasure. I can see as I see in my own family, he was deeply loved, and I’m sure he will be sadly missed.

   Reply
5. 

   Tonni Hemphill says:

   April 24, 2006

   Dearest Jim,

   I was deeply sadden to see your email regarding your Dad. For I had no access to my email until the day of the memorial service.

   I had been praying along with my Prayer Circle for your Dad for him ever since I found out about his surgery and all the follow-ups.

   I am continuing my prayers for you and your family at this difficult time as well as some of us from the Prayer Circle.

   I don’t recall if I had mentioned to you that one of the members of my prayer circle is Herbie Hancock. I do know this, Herbie has emailed me to inform me that he prayed for everyone and every situation I posted. Therefore your Dad was included in Herbie’s prayers. Since Herbie and I are Buddhist we will pray for his eternal happiness for awhile as we believe your Dad will have a safe journey to his next life and that he’ll be eternally happy always.

   Also in my Prayer Circle are two ordained ministers! They too have prayed for your Dad.

   I myself will pray for your Dad in my prayers for all the deceased we Buddhist of the SGI do that dailythat I was close to, but since you’re one of my dearest friends,your Dad will be in my prayers daily.

   Please take care and enjoy all your moments.

   Always your NASA/TDRS H,I,J
   Buddy;

   Tonni

   Reply