Frank P. Malacaria

Frank P. Malacaria, 93, of Norwood, MA, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Frank was the beloved husband of the late Gelsomina (DiPerna) Malacaria, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage.

He was a devoted father to Charles Malacaria of Boston, MA and his partner Tracy Stewart of Sudbury, MA; Nancy Lincoln and her husband Philip of Ocala, FL; Peter Malacaria and his wife Barbara (Shope) of Franklin, MA; and Gina Tomaselli and her husband Stephen of New Braunfels, TX. Frank was a cherished “Papa” to his nine grandchildren—Matthew, Daniel, Rebecca, Heather, Sarah, Timothy, James, Christopher, John, and their loving spouses and partners—and a proud great-grandfather to eight great-grandchildren.

Frank was the brother of Victor Malacaria of Norwood, MA, and the late Vito Malacaria, John Malacaria, Nicolina Carchedi, and Josephine Cuggino. In addition to his children and their families, Frank is survived by many caring nieces and nephews.

Born in Filadelfia, Calabria, Italy on August 3, 1932, to Vito and Barbara Malacaria, Frank immigrated to the United States with his parents and siblings in 1934 and settled in Norwood, MA. He graduated from Norwood High School, where he served as President of the Class of 1950 and was a three-sport varsity athlete. In his later years, Frank took great joy in keeping his Norwood High classmates together, meeting regularly for coffee and ensuring those lifelong friendships remained strong.

Frank was always eager to give back to Norwood, a community he loved dearly. As such, he served as a Town Meeting Member for many years, and he was an active member of the Italian Lodge, the Knights of Columbus and the Norwood Senior Center. He also was part of a dedicated group of St. Catherine’s School (SCS) parents that founded the middle school basketball program and championed for the inclusion of girls in organized sports. Lacking a gym, they transformed the school auditorium into a basketball court and solicited equipment to ensure that every child could participate. Today, this program remains a vital option for SCS children to learn teamwork and stay active.

Frank proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War, achieving the rank of Sergeant. He later attended night school on the GI Bill and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Boston College in 1964.

In his civilian career, Frank worked for the Bird Machine Company in South Walpole for more than three decades. He began his career as a clerk and rose to the position of Production Control Supervisor. Never one to slow down, Frank later became a Real Estate Agent, initially as a hobby and eventually as a full-time second career. He took great pride in helping fellow Italian immigrants – his paisans - find their way to a home, a reflection of his deep sense of community.

Frank was known for his warmth, friendliness, and unmistakable presence. Many joked that he should have been the mayor of every place he went. He loved nothing more than being “Papa” and spending time with his children and grandchildren and asking them about their lives. He loved looking at photographs, sharing a meal and enjoying an ice cream cone - especially near il mare – the sea.

Family and friends are warmly invited to attend visitation on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Kraw-Kornack Funeral Home, 1248 Washington Street, Norwood, MA.

Frank’s Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, 547 Washington Street, Norwood, MA. There will be no funeral procession from the funeral home prior to the Mass.

For those unable to attend, the Funeral Mass will be livestreamed at: https://stcatherinenorwood.org/live-stream

Frank will be laid to rest alongside his beloved wife in Highland Cemetery, Norwood, MA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Frank’s memory be made to the Frank P. Malacaria Basketball Scholarship at St. Catherine of Siena School, 249 Nahatan Street, Norwood, MA 02062.