Francis (Fran) Paul Tocco, formerly of Stone Ridge and Ballston Lake, NY, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 28, 2021 at the age of 74. He was born April 28, 1947 and raised in Blakely, PA and Stone Ridge, NY. He attended both Rondout High School and South Kent School. Upon graduating from South Kent School he attended the University of Miami. At the University of Miami, Fran was an active member of ATO Fraternity and his brothers were his brothers for life. Fran graduated from the University of Miami and spent the next 40 years in telecommunications. If you had an issue with your phone line, he was your guy. Fran restored to perfection his Model A in the late 1990s, was an expert in all matters genealogy, loved being a sideline sports parent with his beloved wife, Ruthann, and all things involving his children and grandchildren’s activities. Fran and Ruthann met in 1971 during the telephone strike in New York City and their 38 year love affair followed. Ruthann passed away in 2009 and Fran was by her side during her illness. In his later years Fran retired and moved to Winters, CA where he spent his time watching grandchildren playing sports, attending school plays, ballet recitals, and numerous birthday parties, and school events. He became an active traveler making frequent trips to Ann Arbor, MI and St. Albans, VT to visit with his other grandchildren. He was a regular at annual events at the grandchildrens’ schools and friends and neighbors looked forward to his meatballs and pizzelles. He spent years replicating the Dallas Hot Dog Sauce from Kingston, NY and his family and friends all shared in his test kitchen. Recently, he “perfected” the recipe. This past October he took a cross country trip to meet his newest grandson in the pandemic in Vermont. Of course, the newest addition got quality time to make meatballs with Grandpa too. Fran had a wonderful 12 years after the love of his life, Ruthann passed away. He made lots of plane trips and recently was having the time of his life with his dear friend, Joyce Synder, Winters, CA. They enjoyed morning coffees together, early evening dinners, tons of laughs, lots of car rides in rural Northern California, and sharing in their children and grandchildren’s accomplishments. In 2019 they took a once in a lifetime cruise to Alaska and Joyce joined Fran on his cross country adventure this past fall. If you are at a loss of what to say or do, go have a hot dog with the works, make pizzelle or meatballs, have a thin slice of well-done NY pizza (rolled up, cold and dunked in coffee is a bonus), eat black jelly beans, eat burnt toast, watch youth sports, eat Italian Bread with butter, lots of butter, take a nap or two, or go for a long car ride, and if you can in an old car even better, and call/text your children and grandchildren. We will all continue his legacy, with Dallas Hot Dogs, well-done NY pizza, pizzelles, and meatball making for years to come. He was preceded in death by his parents Dr. Anthony and Jean Tocco (Stone Ridge), and his beloved wife, Ruthann. He is survived by his three beloved children, daughter, Ruthann Thorne (husband, Dr. Marc Thorne and grandchildren, Ella and Clara) of Ann Arbor, MI.; daughter, Laura Mariani (husband, Matt Mariani and grandchildren, Miles, Mia, and Ty Francis) of Winters, CA.; son, Paul J. Biron (wife Emily Biron and grandson Beau Francis) of St. Albans, VT. He is also survived by his sister Mary Jean Tocco (Steve); his sister Vanessa Stevens (David); and his brother Anthony Tocco (Lori), and many extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. His legacy lives on with his pride and joy grandchildren, Ella, Miles, Clara, Mia, Ty Francis, and Beau Francis. A private family burial in his and his late wife’s Ruthann’s honor will be organized at a later date in NY with a social gathering to follow. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made in his name to Winters Little League Association. ℅ First Northern Bank, Winters Little League, in honor of Fran Tocco, 48 Main Street, Winters, CA 95694.
