Frank Bertucci

Frank Emanuel Bertucci, age 85, of Gulfport, died Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at his home in Gulfport. He was born April 27, 1924 in Gulfport, Mississippi to parents Salvador and Bernice Bertucci. The family lived at West Beach Gulfport just west of Woodward Avenue until the mid 1930’s when they moved to the Splendid Cafe & Hotel building owned by the family in downtown Gulfport. During the family stay in downtown Gulfport, all of the children had chores to do in the café operation. In 1941 the family moved to 1416 East Beach, Gulfport. He attended the Gulfport Public Schools graduating from Gulfport High School in May 1942 and enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin, Texas in September 1942. He was accepted into the Naval ROTC unit at the university in September 1942. In December 1942, he enlisted in the Navy Reserves and stayed at the university with the Navy ROTC unit. With an accelerated program at the University of Texas, he earned a BBA degree and was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy Reserve in February 1945. In March 1945, he was assigned to the Pacific area and reported for duty on a Landing Craft (LCI) that he served on until his discharge from the Navy in May 1946. In August 1946, he associated with his father, Salvador, in the beer distributing business that he had started in 1934 along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In January 1947 he acquired interest in the family beer distributing business in the Jackson, Mississippi trade area that had been in operation since 1941. On June 6, 1948 he married Ardeth Mary Ryland a Gulfport native. Mr. Bertucci was Chairman of the Board of F. E. B. Distributing Company, Inc. in Gulfport and Capital City Beverages, Inc. in Jackson and Greenwood. He served as the City of Gulfport appointee to the Mississippi State Port Authority for the Port of Gulfport for almost fifteen years and as the Mississippi wholesaler representative on the National Beer Wholesaler’s Association Board of Directors for a three-year term. He served as Chairman of the Mississippi Malt Beverage Association. He reigned as King D’Iberville in 1961 for the Gulf Coast Carnival Association and was a past president of the Gulfport Jaycees. Mr. Bertucci was a member of St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Gulfport, The Knights of Columbus Council #1583 of Gulfport, of BPO Elks Lodge #978 of Gulfport, member and organizer of the Gulfport Business Club, member of the Gulfport Yacht Club, the Great Southern Club of Gulfport, the Great Southern Golf Club and Sunkist Country Club. His hobbies were his family and his work. In April 2006 he was inducted into the Prestigious Miller Legends, Miller Brewing Company and was awarded the National Beer Wholesalers Association Lifetime Service Award in September 2007. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ardeth Mary Ryland Bertucci; his mother, Bernice Catchot Bertucci, father Salvador Joseph Bertucci; brother, Salvador J. Bertucci Jr.; sisters: Bernice “Sis” Ingrassia, and Dorothy Drennan Peck. He is survived by his five children, Merrily Carter (Millard), Patty Edwards, Ardeth Hessell (Bill), Frank E. Bertucci (Janie), and Paul J. Bertucci; a sister, Caroline Duncan; ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The family would like to express a special thank you to the doctors and staff of the Medical Oncology Group in Gulfport, and to Memorial Hospice, especially to Rosetta and Barbara. The family prefers memorials to St. John Catholic Church, 2414 17th Street, Gulfport, Ms 39501 or Memorial Hospice, P.O. Box 1810, Gulfport, MS 39502-1810. Visitation will be held Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church in Gulfport where friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until the service. Interment follows at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Gulfport. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.