Frank Louis Bonaccorso “had a beautiful way of loving and embracing all those who had the privilege of being around him,” his wife, Linda Bonaccorso, wrote. His “loud and boisterous laugh” was contagious, and he was known “for his warm hugs.”
“Frank embodied a rare and unique gift of making others feel special,” his wife said. “He treated every human being with dignity and kindness.”
Mr. Bonaccorso, who lived on Shelter Island, died of cancer on May 6. He was 59.
He leaves a wide circle of friends. Although he had no children of his own, “he managed to ‘father’ many people, young and old,” Ms. Bonaccorso said.
He was born on April 1, 1966, in Kew Gardens, Queens. He and his wife, the former Linda Lee, met as teenagers in 1982, when Mr. Bonaccorso, who was in the foster care system, moved to Sag Harbor. They “immediately became best friends,” she said, and remained so for the rest of his life. They were married in 1992, and lived in East Hampton until 2001, when they moved to Shelter Island.
Mr. Bonaccorso started his own heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning business not long after finishing high school and later worked for the HVAC companies Matz-Rightway, Grant Heating and Cooling, and Flanders Heating and Air-Conditioning, where he taught the skills of the trade to his crews as a manager, but also led by example, his wife said.
Mr. Bonaccorso was a man of deep faith, and that Christian faith was a “source of strength through the many
trials he faced in his life,” his wife said. A selfless man, he often put the needs of others before his own. He led church youth groups with zeal, and although he was not a member of the clergy, “he understood how to minister in a way that touched so many.”
In addition to his wife, Mr. Bonaccorso is survived by a sister, Nancy Fenter of New Hampshire, and a younger brother, Johnny Ebert. He also leaves his foster family, Rita (Mom) Youngs of upstate New York, Carol Youngs, Ruth Youngs, Jimmy Youngs, and Fred Youngs, and two sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, and seven nieces and nephews.
An older brother, Alfred, died before him, as did his foster father, Allan Youngs, and a foster brother, David Youngs.
A celebration-of-life service will be held at the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church on July 19 at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow.
His wife has suggested memorial contributions to East End Hospice, at eeh.org.
