Frank P. Castelnovo

1922 - 2016

CASTELNOVO, FRANK P.
94, of Portsmouth, formerly of Barrington, passed away unexpectedly at home on November 29, 2016. He was the beloved husband of the late Mary Louise (Daniel).
Born on September 2, 1922 in the Roxbury section of Boston, he was the son of Theresa (Balzarini) and Peter T. Castelnovo, who had recently emigrated from northern Italy. He grew up in Boston, graduating from Roxbury Memorial High School in 1940. He had fond memories of spending some summers with his mother and her family in Italy, and other summers working for twenty-five cents a day at his uncle's apple and peach orchards in Sterling, Mass. During the brief interlude between high school graduation and World War II he studied at Burdett College and worked as a stenographer for the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration Service in the enemy alien department. Frank entered the Army in January, 1943, and was ultimately assigned to Company A, 96th Signal Battalion as a radio operator. The unit embarked from Hampton Roads, VA stopping in Oran North Africa and Bombay, India, and then overland to Burma. The voyage included a harrowing two and one-half hour attack by German Heinkel bombers on November 26, 1943. Frank's transport suffered minor damage, but he witnessed the sinking of the next transport in line with heavy loss of life. His experience in Burma is summarized in a Meritorious Service Unit Citation in part as follows: "The 96thSIGNAL BATTALION was called upon to construct, maintain and operate an intricate signal communications system in the jungle of Burma under most severe and adverse conditions of monsoon and disease and in the face of enemy action. The entire battalion saw prolonged service with combat units in Northern Burma serving side by side with Merrill's Marauders. It operated telephone, teletype and radio installations along the Ledo Road from Ledo to Myitkyina, where installations were made under intense enemy shell fire." Following his discharge from the Army in January 1946, he returned to the Immigration service, initially in Arizona, where, he enjoyed pointing out, he had been an extra in a western movie. His acting career seemingly stalled, he happily accepted an opportunity to work with the State Department in Italy, processing refugees from World War II and later from the 1956 Hungarian revolution. After an initial assignment to Sicily, there was a fortuitous transfer to Trieste, where he met and, in 1956, married Mary, who was to be his loving wife for 59 years. They later lived in Vienna, Rome and Salzburg, where they welcomed the birth of their beautiful daughter, Annie. His duties required travel throughout Italy and his investigations involved cooperation with the FBI and CIA. Both Frank and Mary had many fascinating reminiscences of the people they knew and the events they witnessed during this period. In 1958 the family returned to the United States to be closer to Frank's recently widowed mother. They lived in Emerson, New Jersey, while Frank worked as a special agent for the Immigration service in New York City, until they moved to Barrington, Rhode Island in 1968, when he became Director of Immigration and Naturalization in Providence. They remained in Barrington for almost 40 years before moving to Portsmouth. Frank and Mary travelled extensively in Europe and the United States, as well as to art exhibits throughout southern New England, as Mary, an accomplished oil painter, showed her work. In addition to his leadership position in the Immigration Service, Frank was active in civic affairs, including Chairman of the Rhode Island Federal Executive Committee, member of the Federal Executive Council Policy Committee, Vice-Chairman Rhode Island Conflict of Interest Commission, and President of Barrington Kiwanis. He was also a proud member of the American Legion and the Providence Art Club. Throughout his life Frank remained an avid stock picker and reader, enjoying a wide range of fiction and non-fiction. He was able to talk knowledgably about a wide range of subjects. True to his Boston heritage, he remained an enthusiastic Red Sox and Patriots fan through thick and thin. He is survived by his loving daughter, Annie Castelnovo-McMullen and her husband, Bill of Bristol, RI, and by cousins: Mary Jo Gerolamo of Worcestor, MA; Phillip Castelnovo of Havana, FL; Marina Corvi and family of Biandronno, Italy; Eugene Nigro of North Reading MA; Jean Nigro of Arlington, MA; Carol Lucyniak of Reading MA; Mary Howie of Plymouth MA and Robert Balzarini of Stoughton, MA, as well as his dear friend Chris Bisbano, who was like a son.
Calling hours will be held December 10, 2016 at 8:30 AM in Smith Mason Funeral Home, 398 Willett Ave. Riverside, RI with a Funeral Service at 10:00 AM in Smith-Mason Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will follow at Newton Cemetery, Newton MA. A celebration of Frank's remarkable life will be held in early 2017 at the Providence Art Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum, 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809 or the Potter League for Animals, 87 Oliphant Lane, Middletown, RI 02842.