Francis M. Prezioso
Francis M. “Fran” Prezioso, lifelong Pittsburgh resident, died at the age of 87 on Sunday, October 1, 2023.
He was born in Dormont in 1936, a son of the late Nicholas and Rose (Audia) Prezioso, and attended St. Bernard Grade School and St. Vincent Prep School. He graduated from Duquesne University in 1959. While at Duquesne, he joined Alpha Phi Delta, an Italian heritage fraternity.
In 1978, Fran started a family trucking business with his brother John called Pittsburgh-Fayette Express (PFX), which is also affiliated with West Penn Warehousing, Inc. and Xprez Transportation. He served as President and part-owner for 41 years before (mostly) retiring in 2019.
In 1964 he married Ellen “Sue” Crew and moved to Bethel Park, where he was an active member of St. Thomas More Church (now called Resurrection Parish). Upon the death of his daughter in 2002, he and Sue, assisted with donations, endowed the Catherine Prezioso Lacouture Memorial Library at St. Thomas More School.
In 1992 he and Sue moved to Presto, where they were founding members of The Club at Nevillewood. Fran served on the Board of Directors for three years and was elected President in 2007, and lived at his home in Nevillewood until his death.
Fran was most proud of his deep involvement with the Alpha Phi Delta fraternity. In 2009 he was honored by the Pittsburgh Alumni Club and awarded the Adam DiVincenzo Award for Outstanding Community Service, which was given in recognition for his charity work. In 2014 he was one of three alumni chosen by the National Fraternity Office to elect the inaugural class of distinguished alumni at the 100th National Convention, and was awarded Man of the Year in 2017 by the Pittsburgh Alumni Club. Aside from his fraternity work, Fran was awarded Man of the Year along with his brother John by the Audia Caring Heritage Association (ACHA), a charity that assists families in need in Southwestern PA and Calabria, Italy.
Fran kept an active social life that rivaled those of his children and grandchildren, and loved going out to eat with his many friends. He was a long-time regular at DeBlasio’s, Scoglio’s, and the now closed Piccolina’s. Fran felt most at home when golfing with his fraternity brothers of 65 years, with whom shooting 100 was very acceptable. He was a lover of crossword puzzles and word games, could tell a story better than anyone, and considered slacks and a polo to be “casual wear” – he was always impeccably dressed. Above all, he will be remembered for his welcoming spirit, extraordinary kindness, generosity, and humility.
Fran is survived by his wife Sue; son, Francis (Deanne); and daughter, Donna Lund (Don); and is preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Catherine Lacouture (surviving spouse, Andre). He will be lovingly remembered as Pap Pap to his seven grandchildren: Nicole, Donny, Catie, and Brian Lund, and Matt, Zach, and Jessica Prezioso. He was the brother of the late John (surviving spouse, Erma) and the late Mary Gustman (David).
Family and friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, and 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 5, at Beinhauer Funeral Home, 2828 Washington Road, McMurray, PA 15317. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 6, at 10 a.m. in St. Thomas More Church (Resurrection Parish), 126 Fort Couch Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15241. Interment will be held at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 2900 Washington Road, Canonsburg, PA 15317.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Fran’s honor to a charity of your choice.
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