Frank P. Marcucci

Frank Marcucci was born in Philadelphia on 6 June 1901, 'the son of a minister', probably Giovanni Marcucci (b. 24 Aug., 1857? - d. 27 Dec 1931), an associate of Luigi Francescon in Philadelphia, and Lucrezia nee Pugliese (b. 11 Mar 1862-d. 12 July 1942). After his parents migrated to the USA, they lived with Frank's older brother, Charles (b. 14 Nov 1887, Attessa, Chieti, Italy), an electrician with the Reading Railway, and his wife Marietta. Charles' WWI Draft Card gives his place of birth as Attessa, prov. Chieti, Italy, and so that may have been the point of origin for Giovanni and Lucrezia. They arrived in the port of New York on 15 Nov 1893, aboard the

There is no public information on Marcucci's birth, but Luigi Francescon notes in his Fedele Testimonianza that his visit to Philadelphia in 1909 resulted in the salvation of "il fratello Giovanni Marcucci, sua moglie, ed un figlio, sua sorella Carolina, ed una sua figliuola, e la sorella Concetta." The 1908 Philadelphia directory, however, lists no Giovanni Marcucci, though there is a Giovanni Marcucci who comes through Ellis Island in 1906, whose father Antonio Marcucci (tailor, 809 Earp St). is listed as resident in Philadelphia. That he was still involved, indeed an Elder, of the Italian Christian Church meeting in the old Bethany Methodist Episcopal Church (on 11th and Mifflin Streets), as late as 1923 can be seen from court records of an appeal from the pastor (Frank Fraccasia) and other members for an injunction against Marcucci and other elders. (Philadelphia Inquirer 3.7.1923) It is possible that the Carolina Marcucci mentioned by Francescon was the Carolina Marcucci who married Giovanni D'Alessandro (b. 25 June 1875 - 2 Aug 1935, Cincinnati, OH) in Philadelphia on 8 Jan 1900, and was (at the outbreak of WWI) living at the three story brown brick house, no. 1233 Ellsworth St., Philadelphia (the Marcuccis lived at 1018 Ellsworth). Carolina nee Marcucci died aged 93, at her residence 122 Parker St., Cincinnati. (Her obituary indicated that she was the mother of 'Louis Marcuso', though this is probably an error). The Flower PHC Minister's file on Quirino Grilli notes that Grilli was ordained in 1918-19 in Philadelphia by 'Rev. Marcucci and Rev. Fracaschin [Francescon]', indicating the 'minister father' that Frank Marcucci is probably referring to was indeed Giovanni Marcucci. (Giovanni and Lucrezia were originally buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Philadelphia, which in 1951 was acquired by the Philadelphia Housing Authority for construction of the Raymond Rosen housing project. They were relocated to Lawnview Memorial Park in Rockledge, Pennsylvania).

As a younger man, Frank Marcucci originally took classes at Strayer's Business College and Drexel Institute of Technology. As his interest in ministry grew, he put himself through the Philadelphia School of the Bible, and the American Theological Seminary, Wilmington. In 1922, he began working for the (Bell) Telephone Company in Philadelphia, a job he kept up much of his life, even after entering the pastorate. In 1935 he began studying at the extension program of the American Theological Seminary in Wilmington DE (better known as Wilmington Bible College, a revivalist Baptist school run by George J. Apel, Jr, a convert of Billy Sunday's who became a well known evangelist in the tri-state area), (Lumadue 2007) while working a job and 'sleeping when he got the chance'. In 1939 he graduated with BA (Biblical Education) (Philadelphia College of the Bible); and in 1941 with an MA (Wilmington Bible College).

Frank was originally ordained by the Camden County Baptist Association [NJ] on 26 March 1942. He first served as assistant pastor of Third Rosedale Baptist Church in Camden, under Omar N. Barth. From 1944-1959 he was pastor of Richmond Baptist church on East Indiana Ave and Tilton St., Richmond PA. He kept working, founded two Bible schools, and taught English to Italian immigrants.

He married Jennie Jane Mungioli (1899–1995), with whom he had five children Lucrezia (Lucretia) (1923–2010; m. Ivan Dale Heim); John Paul (1924–1990); Gerald J. (1925–1996); Frank Paul Jr. (1930–2012); Carey (1939–2012). Lucretia played the organ at the Richmond Baptist church.

From 1945 he founded and became Dean of the Baptist Institute for Christian Workers, which ran free night classes for lay training, and was based at 1425 Snyder Ave, Philadelphia. In addition he was President of the Italian Ministerial Association of Philadelphia and Vicinity; Chaplain for Transport for Christ, Canada.

In 1961, after 40 years with Bell Telephone, Marcucci retired. In 1965 he received an honorary DD from William Carter College and the Evangelical Theological Seminary, of Goldsboro, North Carolina. In February 1965, he was installed as pastor of Jamesburg AG, by the leadership of the Italian Branch of the AGUSA (Philip D'Angelo; Sam Totaro; Quirino Grilli, who was now General superintendent of the Italian branch, and had been ordained by Frank's father; and John Leardi), assisted by music by Bruno Malara. In 1965 (1 March) he transferred his ordination to the Italian Branch of the AGUSA, and pastored at Jamesburg AG. He immediately became involved in community life, serving on such bodies as The Jamesburg Office of Economic Opportunity, the Jamesburg Ministerium, was secretary of the Northeast Evangelical Ministerium in Philadelphia, and chaplain of Carver Nursing Home in Englishtown. He was official representative and treasurer in the USA of the Evangelical Hospital in Naples, Italy. [Jamesburgh AG was later taken over by the multicampus Spanish mission 'La Senda', run by F. Roberto and Sonia Arias]

In 1965 Frank helped found the Ministerium for pentecostal ministers in Middlesex, Mercer and Union Counties. Frank Marsarano (Princeton) was secretary, and Norman Kirk (New Brunswick) was treasurer. In 1967 he ran for the Jamesburg Board of Education. His failure in the election caused him to consider whether his other civic roles - as Chair of the Tri-Area Neighborhood Action Committee and as a member of the Board of Trustees, Legal Services, OEO - were wanted. He resigned from both, signalling that his overcommitment had caused him to neglect his duties to his church. 'In serving the community, I have always felt outside forces and influences always embattled against me, so much so that I could not share the platform on candidates night, and more recently I have had to spend the last week in bed.' [Central New Jersey Home News, 18 Feb 1967, 2] He continued, however, to represent neighbours who felt aggrieved, for instance, at planning decisions by Borough Council. [CNJHN 27 Jun 1967, 8] He was later that year nominated to the boards of Northeastern Bible Institute, Green Lane, PA, and the Italian Branch AGUSA founded Pine Grove Bible Institute, Camp Meeting and Home for the Aged.

Frank Marcucci died at his residence on church grounds at 75 Stevens St., Jamesburg, on 17 November 1967.

He too was buried at Lawnview Cemetery, 500 Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge, PA.

Family:

Several of Frank's children went to Temple University, and followed eminent careers, including three sons who became dentists (Paul, Gerald and Carey). His son John Paul (a noted dentist) also developed influence as a church choir leader, and founder of a Christian retreat at Williamstown. He married Catherine Capriotti (daughter of John Capriotti, d. 28 May 1976 and Concetta nee Pellei), and had three children (Paul John, Richard J., Paula J [mn Schwartz]). In 1950, Frank had performed the wedding of Sarah Capriotti to C. Edward Carey, in Tacony Baptist Church. Later in life he had a particular connection to Faith Bible Church, Vineland, where his son, Paul John, continues to practice as an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Dental Specialist. Paul John Marcucci married Marilyn in 1973 and now have two adult children: Christopher, a lawyer practicing in the Cherry Hill area (married to Joy Marcucci, nee Keeton) and Joshua who owns and manages the Philadelphia Flight Academy at Cross Keys in Williamstown, NJ. Frank's son, Frank P. Jr., became a Master Sergeant in the USAF.

Sources:

Ancestry.com

Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, Ministers Files.

Lumadue, Richard T., 'Remembering Dr. George J. Apel, Jr: A Posthumous Tribute to an Innovative, Obscure Pioneer in Christian Higher Education', Christian Higher Education 6:5 (2007): 447-454.