Frank Sam Cascio

July 6, 1945 - September 7, 2019

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If you heard a crashing sound on September 7 that is because Frank Sam Cascio sped past

St. Peter behind the wheel of his Corvette, busted through the gates of Heaven, and

jumped out saying “What an awesome ride!” Undoubtedly God broke the magnificent, if

a bit irregular, mold He used to make him. To his family and the countless others who

came to know him, there will never be, and perhaps never was, another character like

Frank Cascio. The whole County will join his large, extended and loving family in

mourning his loss.

Trying to describe Frank to the uninitiated is a bit like trying to describe the color blue to

the colorblind (which, in fact, Frank was). You just had to experience him for yourself. If

you ever watched him hold court from the corner of one of his bars or sat enraptured

while he told and retold hilarious stories beside a bonfire, you know what we mean. His

inner light burned so brightly and now our world is a bit darker without it.

Secret agents in Hollywood movies have fewer identities and only cats live more lives.

Frank was born on July 6, 1945 to Sam and Barbara Alice Cascio in Vanport. He

attended Vanport Elementary and St. Peter and Paul Catholic School in Beaver. Despite

his impish nature and penchant for trouble as a youth, he felt God calling him to the

priesthood. Frank enrolled in St. Fidelis Seminary in Butler. But, thanks in some part to

his tendency for misadventure, Frank was encouraged to take another path and left the

Seminary. As a graduate of Beaver High School, he prepared himself to enter the steel

mills as his father and so many others in his family had done for two generations. Frank

graduated from Pittsburgh Technical Institute and apprenticed as an electrician. He soon

married and welcomed two sons.

Though he worked long hours in the mills, often night shifts to earn more money for his

family, Frank always seemed to have a side business. While it started with a paper route

as a youth, the list of “hats” he wore included bartender at Little Joe’s café in Beaver

Falls, refurbishing and reselling used vehicles, as well as running a vending business, a

roofing business, and a contracting business. No surprise then when he and his friend

Carl Larson jumped at the chance to invest in a small roadside bar in Chippewa Township

called the 19

Hole. The business flourished to the point where Frank and Carl

purchased and refurbished the former Traveller’s Lunch in Bridgewater, renaming it Pier

19. A few years later, they then purchased Frankie’s Sports Bar in Industry and

rechristened it Roadhouse 19.

Through his businesses he not only shared his love of good food and drink, but served as

a mentor to many customers and employees. Frank developed such strong ties to people

in his universe it could be said he had two families—one at home and another at his bars.

He had many friends who were more like brothers who, in turn, were called “uncles” by

his sons. His family grew further when he remarried Cheryl Mitro and became a

cherished father-figure to her two children. The success of his businesses allowed him to

finally slow down and fill his leisure time boating on the Ohio River, skiing in Laurel

Valley, and travelling. He also indulged in his love of classic cars by purchasing two

classic Corvettes and joining the Corvette Club of Beaver County on many trips around

the country. Frank finally sold his businesses and split his time between his home in

Chippewa and Sarasota, Florida.

Frank is survived by his wife, Cheryl Cascio, sister Barbara Hamilton and brother-in-law

Joseph Hamilton, sons Michael Cascio and Christopher Cascio, daughter-in-law Megan

Cascio, step-daughter Christy Santangelo and son-in-law Tony Santangelo, step-son

Bryan Mitro and daughter-in-law Pam Mitro, grandchildren Benjamin Santangelo,

Samuel Cascio, Jonathan Santangelo, Sophia Cascio and Sage McDanel, and great-

grandchildren Addy Carr, Skarlette Talbot and Alaya Carr, as well as his ex-wife and life-

long friend Colleen Rae Brown. He will also be greatly missed by his childhood friend,

Bob Flynn, who was a constant source of support and comfort throughout his illness.

While Frank’s memorial service will be private, an evening celebrating his life will take

place at his old bar, the 19

Hole in Chippewa Township.

In lieu of flowers, the family urges friends of Frank to send a contribution to the Good

Samaritan Hospice who provided extraordinary care and compassion for him and his

family during his final days. They can be reached at:

Good Samaritan Hospice

1000 Dutch Ridge Road, Tower B

Beaver, PA 15009

(724) 933-9161

www.good-samaritanhospice.org

If you heard a crashing sound on September 7 that is because Frank Sam Cascio sped past St. Peter behind the wheel of his Corvette, busted through the gates of Heaven, and jumped out saying “What an awesome ride!” Undoubtedly God broke the magnificent, if a bit irregular, mold He used to make him. ToContinue Reading

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So sorry for your loss. He was a wonderful man. Me and a team of girls played pool at his bar for a few years and he was nothing but good to us. May he Rest in Peace.

I’m sorry Cheryl and your family for your loss. Sorry we did not acknowledge sooner. Sharon was in Allegheny General Hospital and passed away yesterday morning. Dave and Sharon from the Pier.

So so sorry to hear about Frank, I thought he would be around forever. To the Cascio family and the extended family that was treated as his own, you have my deepest sympathy. But I know, there are many friends waiting for him at the pearly gates to hear more stories. Love, Cindy

Separated by miles- Connected with my heart... A lifetime of memories fill my head from laughter to tears and everything in between. I will be eternally grateful for the lessons learned, the guidance given, and the acceptance shown by Frank to me. I will always be thankful for my time with Frank. All my sympathy & love, Bobby

Separated by miles- Connected with my heart... A lifetime of memories fill my head from laughter to tears and everything in between. I will always be thankful for my time with Frank. All my sympathy & love, Bobby

Planning ahead is prudent. Call us now.

My heart is heavy today. Frank was truly a father to my Bob, and loved him fiercely. I can still remember the first time Bob was going out of town without me- Frank said to me, "If he needs bail money, you just call your Uncle Frank!" I always knew where I stood with him. He loved his family and friends. He loved the sunshine. He loved Cheryl. I will always miss him. Bonnie

We will miss Frank's stories and his readiness to have fun. He was always up for an adventure, and loved to laugh. It hardly seems possible that he can be gone, but his legacy is truly in the stories he told- he could weave a tapestry with words- it truly felt like you had been there for every event he spoke of! We will always have a huge place in our memories and an even bigger space in our hearts, for Frank. Love, Bobby & Bonnie

Frank definitely was one of a kind. It's been years since I've seen or talked to him but I have thought about him and his family every now and then . May he live on forever in heaven

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.