Frank Fusco: Iconic Frank’s Pizza Napoli founder dies at 81

Tributes have poured in for iconic Townsville restaurateur Frank Fusco who died this week aged 81.

Tributes have poured in for iconic Townsville restaurateur Frank Fusco who died on Wednesday, aged 81.

Mr Fusco was the founder of the popular Italian family-run restaurant Frank’s Pizza Napoli, which has been operating in Townsville for over 40 years.

His death was confirmed in an obituary in the Townsville Bulletin on Saturday, which said: “Frank passed away peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Wednesday, September 28.”

As a young man, Mr Fusco learned to make pizza in Venice before he came to Australia at age 19 and eventually settled down in Townsville with his wife, Josephine.

Regulars at Pizza Napoli could almost always find Frank sitting in his usual chair at a table facing the entrance and welcoming customers.

Townsville restaurant owner Francesco ‘Frank’ Fusco has sadly passed away at age 81.

His son Alfonso Fusco, who’s now in charge of the long-running family restaurant, previously described his dad as a “bit of a Townsville icon.”

He said before Pizza Napoli was established, the family had owned and operated Sorrentos on Flinders St West for four years in the 1970s, and then for five years from 1987, also ran the restaurant, Alla Capri, on Magnetic Island.

Frank is survived by his wife Josephine, children Dino and Alfonso and grandchildren Liam, Julian, Ioanna and Francesco.

Relatives and friends have been invited to attend Frank’s funeral at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Mundingburra at 10am on Friday, October 7.

The cortege will proceed to the Belgian Gardens Cemetery.

Originally published as Frank Fusco: Iconic Frank’s Pizza Napoli founder dies at 81