Frank N. Miceli

1921 - 2022

Frank passed away peacefully on July 29, 2022 in Redding, California. Frank was born in San Jose, California on December 16, 1921. As a young boy Frank served as an altar boy at Holy Cross Church in San Jose. During his San Jose High School years. Frank met the love of his life: Alvina (Ardie) Schmidt. They married at Saint Patrick's Church in 1942. Six months after they were married. Frank enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Fleet stationed out of Pearl Harbor until the end of World War 11. He worked in the Joint Intelligence Center, Pacific Ocean Area conducting aerial photography used for creating invasion maps of the many islands in the Pacific Ocean. In 1946, after leaving the Navy and returning home, Frank and Ardie purchased a new home in Willow Glen where they raised their three sons and hosted many wonderful family gatherings.In that same year Frank and his brother-in-law, Pat DePonzi, started the Valley Milk Company which was located in downtown San Jose at the current site of The Center for the Performing Arts. Their business became very successful and was eventually purchased in 1961 by Foremost Dairies. Frank worked with Foremost during a two year transition period and then decided to pursue his love of photography. Frank became an investigative photographer working for a variety of insurance companies and attorneys in the Santa Clara Valley. He then built the first bay area color photo processing lab located in San Jose called Superior Color Lab where he processed film and photos for many San Jose area photographers. Along with running the lab. Frank pursued his love of photographing weddings. Frank was also a member of The Light and Shadow Camera Club in San Jose where he met and befriended Ansel Adams. In 2000, Frank donated a variety of his framed photographs depicting the history of the San Jose Police Department. Those photos are currently hanging on the walls of the Police Administration and Substation buildings. Frank and Ardie were faithful San Francisco Giants fans. In 1962, Frank's photography skills won him a first prize in a photo contest with the photographing and portrait of Willie Mays. As a result in winning the contest, Frank and Ardie were invited pregame into the Giant's dugout to meet and be photographed with Willie Mays and his teammates. Frank was also an avid wood carver and loved carving beautiful carousel horses. In 1989, Frank and Ardie sold Superior Color. During their retirement they loved to travel in their motor home. Frank and Ardie were married for 63 years prior to her death in 2005. Frank is survived by his three sons, Wally (Jan), Mike (Sharon) and Mark (Barbara), 8 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Frank is predeceased by his parents. Samuel and Lena Miceli. brothers Charles and Mike and sister Florence Mazzurco. A thank you to Frank's good friend Laura Hinkle, for all the great times they shared. A private family burial was held at Calvary Cemetery in San Jose and Frank is now eternally reunited with his best friend and the love of his life. Ardie.