05/20/2026
Pittner
Frank J. Pittner of Philadelphia PA passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Saturday May 16, 2026, at the age of 94. Frank was the beloved husband of Dorothy A. Pittner, who together shared 69 years of devoted marriage.
Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1931, Frank was the son of the late Anna Pittner.
In his earliest years, Frank lived in several different states with his mother and half-siblings before settling back in Philadelphia as a young adolescent. He graduated from North Catholic High School in 1949 as an accomplished athlete and student. At the age of 20, he proudly enlisted and served in the United States Air Force from 1951-1953, stationed in Philadelphia, Missouri, Texas and Florida, and respectfully earned the rank of Staff Sergeant (Select). During his time growing up in the neighborhood and during his military service, Frank found it easy to make friends and lived by the saying “once a friend, always a friend”. His core group of buddies grew into dozens of married couples, who often found an excuse to get together, go on vacation and enjoy each other’s families. Friendships that lasted decades with most lasting a lifetime.
After leaving the Air Force, Frank settled back in Philly (of course) and got a job as a warehouseman with Unity Frankford / Shop n Bag Food Distribution, which he held for over 40 years until his retirement in 1996. He also met and married his beloved wife Dorothy of 69 years in 1956 and quickly started his family which blessed him with eight children, nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, all who he cherished and who became the purpose of his life.
Frank was an extremely hard worker who more than anything understood his responsibility as protector and provider, a responsibility that he was dedicated to and one that dictated his future life choices. When it came to earning a living, after the Air Force, his next love was accounting. While working full time at the warehouse and raising a family that grew to six young children, Frank went to night school at LaSalle University and ultimately earned his bachelor’s degree in 1966. Concerned about the financial security of his family, Frank chose to stay with his current warehouse employer but began working part-time for H&R Block doing taxes, a passion he held for his entire life, continuing to do personal tax returns for family and friends until he was 93.
Frank was a devout Catholic, a true man of faith, who put all eight of his children through twelve years of Catholic school, never missed a Sunday mass and went on annual retreats to Malvern (a weekend vacation for his kids at home and a nightmare for Mom). His faith was very important, and it instilled in him the core values of honesty, charity, humility, responsibility, accountability, community and respect. Qualities he saw as necessary in the way he raised and influenced the character of his children.
Frank had a rare blood type, so he saw it as an obligation to regularly donate blood, earning him multiple certificates of recognition from the American Red Cross. He was also a generous supporter of almost every Veteran organization, and his charitable nature grew to include new organizations each year as he learned how they helped a neighbor, a friend or any member of his family.
As a younger man, Frank was a proud gardener who took joy in sharing with friends and family the best tomatoes and peppers in the Northeast every summer. Over time, he amassed a collection of cassette tapes and DVDs that would rival Sam Goody’s, and in his retirement, he enjoyed staying at home and reliving his past loves of music and movies with tapes of Shirley Bassey, Elvis and Jerry Blavat.
When it came to sports, Frank always rooted for the Philly Home Teams, but the Phillies and Villanova basketball were his favorites, often rearranging his daily nap times to accommodate a late start or a west coast series.
Frank enjoyed his retirement, mostly keeping things low key after a long and hard life of working and raising a family, but undoubtedly, the highlight of his retirement was when his entire immediate family of 30+, including every child, grandchild and in-law, spent a week in the Outer Banks to celebrate his 70th birthday and his wife Dorothy’s 65th birthday. Frank could often be seen in his Captain’s hat tickling the ivories on the baby grand piano, playing daily Bago tournaments by the pool, enjoying great beach time day and night and celebrating the best of his children and grandchildren.
Frank was a good man, a great man. Simple, humble and dedicated to his purpose. In his last years, every time a child of his said goodbye, he said… I love you and take care of your mother.
Frank is survived by his loving wife; Dorothy A. Pittner (nee Gulyas); his eight children; Kathleen Feeley (Pat), Carolyn Sundermeier (George), Loretta Pittner, Christine Miller (George), Anita Marie Pittner, Michele Pittner (Tommy), Frankie Pittner and Dorothy Pittner (Sean); his nine grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to call Tuesday, May 26th 10-11:15 AM Resurrection of Our Lord Church 2000 Shelmire Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19152 followed by 11:30 AM Funeral Mass. Interment Washington Crossing National Cemetery, date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Frank’s name to
The American Heart Association, www.heart.org > donate or The Wounded Warriors, https://support.woundedwarriorsproject.org
Arrangements by: VISCONTO FUNERAL HOME, INC. www.viscontofuneralhome.com
