Frank Michael Barchiese

Frank Michael Barchiese, of Islamorada, FL, passed away in New Britain, PA on December 20, 2025 with his family by his side. He was 75.

Frank was born on June 6, 1950 in Philadelphia, PA to Frank and Anna (Pratico) Barchiese, and grew up in Broomall, PA where he made cherished lifelong friends. His closest friend who was like a brother to him was Greg. They met as one-year olds when their families became neighbors, and they shared a 75-year bond that was very special. Together, they made so many memories and would relive them and laugh about them until their sides hurt.

Frank was drawn to the ocean from a young age. His love of boating started at age ten when he bought his first boat! He learned how to scuba dive by watching the character Mike Nelson on the TV show, "Sea Hunt" and he revered Jacques Cousteau. Frank continued to buy and rehab boats, enjoying them at the Jersey Shore and eventually Florida where he bought his prized 33-foot go-fast boat, an Avanti that he named Enterprise.

Frank graduated from Marple Newtown High School in 1968 and excitedly packed his bags to attend Miami Dade College, but after a semester, returned home. He started his career in the graphics industry which kept his roots planted in Pennsylvania, but his love of the ocean and warmer weather eventually brought him back to South Florida. There, his true passions of boating and scuba diving became staples of the life he would come to share with family and friends alike.

Frank lived life on his own terms -- his own rules and schedule -- and made no excuses about it. He was a hard worker yet balanced work and play. Over time, he traveled nearly every week to his home in Islamorada from Philadelphia and proudly earned his Million Mile wings from the now American Airlines.

In 1977, Frank took over his father's business, Enterprise Graphics, and evolved the company with the advent of computers that so greatly impacted the graphics industry. His company worked with all the big Ad Agencies and department stores in the Philadelphia area. He was recognized in May, 1999 by the Philadelphia Inquirer in their Italian Problem Solvers series. He also successfully eradicated the union from his shop after a long and difficult struggle, much to everyone's surprise, and pleasure! While Frank may have been small in stature, he was a mighty force to deal with. As the industry needs changed, he too changed with the times. Frank started his new company, 00Color, which focused on large format graphics for the trade show industry – a business he would continue to operate until he retired in 2024.

In early 2002 he connected with Edith, who would become the love of his life. They had initially met years earlier through their business networks. She, however, came as a package deal with her two sons Paul and Nick, who at that time were aged 11 and 7, respectively. Frank was a bit awkward with them at first. And despite having always committed to not having children of his own, he soon understood the gift of having a family. Edith and the boys loved all the things that Frank loved. He taught them all how to snorkel and dive. He shared his love of the sea and soon the boys were at the helm of his boat. He would jokingly refer to the boys as "staff," grooming them to take over all boating operations independently so that he could enjoy a rum punch while barking orders from the cushy seat towards the bow of the boat. Yet he would become so proud and emotional for being able to share his home in the Keys and all the special things that made life there magical.

A true Italian at heart and by descent, food was very important to him. His adage was that he lived to eat, not eat to live. He always enjoyed a good, hearty plate of pasta and "gravy." For over 30 years, every Thursday night, Frank would join his best friends for dinner, patronizing a select few restaurants in South Philadelphia. Over the years, the Thursday night "supper club" grew to include girlfriends, wives, kids and friends. When he took the boys to join his crew, and when asked upon their return home "how was dinner?," the standard response was "what happens at Thursday night dinner, stays in South Philly" or they'd say "geez, that Greg sure is a funny guy!"

As the family grew when Paul and Nick got married, and grandchildren joined the fold, Frank's heart grew two sizes too big! The grandkids were the bright spot of his day, whether in person or via FaceTime. He'd ask: "Are we babysitting today?" And he was not shy to get down on the floor and play and marvel as they grew. How 'bout that?

Frank had always said that if he got sick he would just "go away" – whatever that meant. However, when he found out he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May 2024, he did not hesitate to start treatment. His family was his motivation to fight for his life – and he fought valiantly. His goal was to get better and share with them his bucket list destination of the Out Islands of the Bahamas. It was a beautiful goal to strive towards.

Frank is survived by his wife, Edith, sons Paul (Ashley) and Nick (Ilise), grandchildren Madilyn, Ariana, and Miles, sister Rosemary, nieces Alicia and Natalie, his Uncle Steve (Mary), Aunt Anna, his two great-nephews, and numerous extended family and friends.

A memorial and private interment will be held in his honor on a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network).org), Doylestown Health Hospice, or Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA).