Community grateful to “Mr. Brownsville”
Frank Ricco dedicated his life to community service, earning the nickname “Mr. Brownsville,” even though he served only one term as an elected official.
Ricco, owner of Brownsville Bus Lines and president of the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce, passed away Thursday at the age of 94. He served as a Brownsville Township supervisor for one term in the 1960s. According to Jack Lawver, a longtime Brownsville council member and Ricco’s transportation coordinator, Ricco used his own truck and his children to plow snow and spread ashes in the winter while he was a supervisor because the township didn’t own a truck.
The title “Mr. Brownsville” came from Ricco’s involvement with just about everything in the community for as long as most people can remember.
“We just celebrated our 200th anniversary last year and for 95 years, Frank Ricco was part of that. He was part of Brownsville when Brownsville was happening,” Lawver said.
Ricco founded Brownsville Bus Lines with one school bus 68 years ago, Lawver said, growing the company to its present 47 buses and 51 school vans, serving the Brownsville and California area school districts and the Intermediate Unit 1.
Lawver has worked for Ricco for the past 39 years.
“My dad died when I was 22 years old. Frank’s been my dad and my mentor ever since,” Lawver said. Ricco and several other men started Little League baseball in Brownsville in the 1950s.
“He used to take Brownsville teams out to the Little League World Series in Williamsport so they could experience that level of play,” Lawver said.
Ricco was also instrumental in developing youth football and basketball programs in the Brownsville area and was the announcer for both baseball and football for decades.
Former Brownsville No. 1 (North Side) fire chief Clark Sealy said he heard Ricco’s voice calling baseball games from the time he was 6 years old and living on Water Street. It was the voice that followed him through his own days playing baseball and football.
“Anything that had to do with children, he was involved with. When he started something, he made sure there was longevity to it,” Sealy said. “As I became older, I became friends with him too. You could count on him for anything.”
Sealy said Ricco was an honorary member of the fire department and often provided mechanical services for the fire trucks through his bus garage.
Ricco was also a staunch supporter of Kennywood Day sponsored each August by the area fire departments. With an Aug. 1 birthday, the event became a traditional way for Ricco to celebrate.
“That was the first thing I thought of. I always made sure I went over and saw him on that day. He would make you feel special on his day. He was that way,” Sealy said. “He was 94 years old, but you never thought of him as old because he was always running.”
Sealy noted that Ricco was inducted into the inaugural class of the Brownsville Area Alumni Sports Hall of Fame last year.
“He was Mr. Brownsville,” said Norma Ryan, a former mayor and council member in Brownsville who is active in the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation. “He never bragged about what he did. He did things quietly and never said anything.”
Ricco donated the Flatiron Building to BARC in 1990, starting the ball rolling for what is now a local history center and art museum.
“He said all he wanted was a plaque to his parents, which tells me he loved family,” Ryan said.
Ricco was also a founding member of the Brownsville River, Rail and Transportation Museum and was instrumental in the development of the Brownsville Wharf Riverside Park. He was also a long-time member and chairman of the Patsy Hillman park board.
“When I think of Brownsville I can’t help but thinking of Frank. His love and passion for Brownsville and it’s betterment was second to none. He gave countless gifts of time, talent and treasure to the Brownsville community for decades. He gave to and supported the community more than anyone will ever know,” said Carl DellaPenna, vice president of the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce under Ricco’s presidency. “I served as vice president of the Chamber of Commerce under Frank for probably 20 years, and vice president of his Sons of Italy Lodge for almost 10 years.
“Frank was board president for the hospital, Luzerne Park, State President of the (Sons of Italy) Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania … so many organizations you can’t name them all. He was a mover and shaker. When Frank was involved he wanted and expected it done, and done right. He was a pillar businessman in the community. To me he was an inspiration and an idol,” DellaPenna said.
While Skirpan Funeral Home is handling the funeral arrangements, visitation for Ricco will be held at the Brownsville Sons of Italy Frank Ricco Lodge. It is one of the few lodges that had been named for someone prior to their death,
“This is highly unusual. The lodges are not usually named after you until you are deceased. Frank Ricco was honored at the (Greater Brownsville) Chamber boat ride. Frank thought he was just being honored as man of the year. I had the great opportunity to let him know we were changing the name (of the lodge) from La Vittoria Lodge to the Frank Ricco Lodge. He was so dedicated to that lodge. He was in the lodge every day to make sure everything was fine,” Richard Quarzo, the immediate past president of the lodge said. “Brownsville was his life. He was so proud to be from Brownsville.”
Tony Lizza, the immediate past state president of the state Italian Sons and Daughters of America as the organization is now known, said Frank was president emeritus at the time of his death.
“Frank was the first state president from the western part of the state,” Lizza said. He moved up through the ranks in the state association. He held a lot of positions. He served three years as state president.”
Lizza said Ricco introduced him to the Sons of Italy.
“We were both on the Private Industry Council for Westmoreland and Fayette counties,” Lizza said. “He was like a father to me.”
Lawver said Ricco’s driving force in all he did was the betterment of the Brownsville community.
“He said ‘The Brownsville community has been good to me and my family and I want to give something back,'” Lawver said of Ricco.