Frank Vincent DePace

Frank Vincent DePace, 74, of Cape Coral (formerly of Enfield, CT), passed away suddenly at home on Tuesday, January 11, 2022.

Born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania on August 28, 1947, Frank was the son of the late Vincent and Dorothy (D’Amico) DePace. He attended Freedom Area Jr-Sr High School and graduated in the class of 1966. After graduation, Frank enlisted in the Army and proudly served his country in Vietnam where he was, notably, the recipient of a Bronze Star Medal with valor.

After being honorably discharged from active duty, he reenlisted in the Army Reserves. He furthered his education by completing a lineman apprenticeship program. Frank would go on to work for nearly forty years as a lineman. He began his career working for Republic Steel in 1977 and was laid off in 1985 due to economic downturn. While looking for employment, he saw a full-page ad in the Sunday paper for a lineman position with the Connecticut Light and Power Company (“CL&P”). He applied and was hired on the spot. Frank moved his family from Ambridge, PA and settled in Enfield, CT. He worked for CL&P for the next 29 years and was a proud union member of IBEW Local 457. In 2011, Frank was awarded the Chairman’s Lifesaving Action Award for saving the life of a boy that had been hit by a car while riding his bike. The boy had been injured and was lying in the middle of a busy roadway. Frank blocked the road with his truck and comforted him until the paramedics arrived. He retired in 2014 and moved to Cape Coral.

In his retirement, Frank worked with local veterans’ organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Anglers, the AMMILVETS, Healing Waters, PTSD Awareness Summit and Fish with a Hero.

Frank loved fishing, gardening, cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers, swimming in his pool, watching movies and listening to country music. He might not have remembered the words, but he could always whistle along. He was a great bowler and billiards player. He was also an amazing handyman that could fix or build anything.

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Marsha of Cape Coral; two sons, Jon and his wife Marie, Mark and his wife Marissa, both of Enfield, CT; three sisters, Catherine “Tootsie” Lockheart and Donna Little both of Converse, TX and Pauline Hyde of Wampum, PA; a brother, James Hoffman of San Antonio, TX. There are also two grandchildren that “Pap-pap” loved tremendously, Anthony and Logan.

Frank was predeceased by his sister, Rose Marie (DePace) Harris; his niece, Victoria Harris and his nephew, Joshua Hoffman.

He will be missed dearly by all he knew – his wife, his family in CT, his siblings in TX and PA, his extended family in Western PA, his life-long friend Gary Snair, all the veterans in Florida that he had befriended in retirement and all the linemen he worked alongside throughout his career at CL&P.

Funeral Services with Military Honors will be held 6:00 PM Friday, January 21, 2022 at Mullins Memorial 3654 Palm Beach Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33916 with Father Tom Heck officiating. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 4:00 PM until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his memory may be made to PTSD Awareness Summit (https://ptsdawarenesssummit.org/services), Fish with a Hero ( https://www.fishwithahero.com/make-a-donation) Healing Waters (https://healingwaters.org/) or to the American Heart Association (https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageNavigator/drtv_helpheart.html?s_subsrc=global_nav) or PO BOX 840692, Dallas, TX 75284.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.