John Frontino, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Passes Away at Age 92

John J. Frontino, 92, of 15 Edgewood Road, passed away Sunday, June 3rd, 2012 at the Bradford Regional Medical Center.

Born September 13, 1919 in Bradford, he was the son of the late Salvador and Mary (Michalizzo) Frontino.

On May 22, 1948 in St. Bernard Church he married Dorothy A. (Pierotti) Frontino who survives.

Mr. Frontino was a 1937 graduate of Bradford High School. He had worked for the City of Bradford before he entereing the service. On January 21, 1941 he enlisted in the US Army. After basic training he was given the option of Alaska or Hawaii and he was deployed to Hawaii to serve with 672nd Air Material Squadron 422nd Air Servce Group, AAF Station 156. He fought the attack of the Japanese at Wheeler Field on December 7th, 1941 and was awarded one Bronze Star for his service in Pearl Harbor, as well as the Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Ribbon and the American Theater Service Ribbon. In December of 1942 he graduated from Ordance Officer Canadiate School. He was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant on January 8th, 1946.

After the service he returned to Bradford and worked for Taylor Upholstering which lead to sewing awnings. He then started working for the US Postal Service as a letter carrier and retired after 32 years of service. During the time he worked for the post office he started his own business, John Frontino Awning Co., which he operated for 35 years.

Mr. Frontino was a member of St. Bernard Church, the American Legion, VFW, LaStella Lodge, National Rifle Assoc., National Association of Retired Federal Employees, and a longtime volunteer for the Italian Festival. He volunteered for the Bradford Area High School Football Booster Club and cooked hot dogs at the varsity and jr. varsity games for many years. He also taught the Pennsylvania Game Commission's "Hunter Safety Course" for over 40 years, and was a member of the Hilltop Rod & Gun Club.

In addition to his wife Dorothy, of 64 years he is survived by a daughter, Ann M. Frontino, of Bradford; two sons James D. (Sue) Frontino, of Brookville, and Joseph J. (Shelly) Frontino, of Bradford, a brother, Frank Frontino of Bradford, six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Thomas M. "Tommy" Frontino on August 18, 2002, 3 brothers; Joe Frontino, Phil Frontino and Paul Frontino, and 2 sisters; Connie Grillo and Lucy Baker.

Family will be receiving friends on Tuesday, June 5th, 2012, from 7:00 to 9:00pm in the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes, Inc. South Ave., and again in the funeral home on Wednesday , June 6th, from 3 to 5 & 7 to 9pm, where a prayer serice will be held at 9:30am on Thursday, June 7th followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am in St. Bernard Church, with Rev. Raymond Gramata, pastor as Celebrant. Full military honors and entombment will be in St Bernard Mausoleum. Members of the LaStella Lodge will call as a group at 7:00pm Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorial, if desired, may be made to, Tom Frontino Memorial Fund, PO Box 233, Bradford, PA 16701or St Bernard School, PO Box 2394, Bradford, PA 16701.

On line condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com

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