Francis (Frank) S. Briganti, 89, of Delray Beach, FL, formerly of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ passed away Thursday December 7. Frank was the son of the late Vincent and Gussie Briganti and brother of the late Marie Krajci and John Briganti. Frank was also predeceased by his grandson, Dr. Christopher Seiffert.

Frank was born in Staten Island, New York on January 20, 1928 and moved to Garfield, NJ in 1944. Frank attended Pope Pius XII High School where he played football. Upon Graduation from high school in 1947 Frank immediately enlisted into the United States Air Force and served 2 of his 3 years in post WWII occupied Japan under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur. During his 2 year deployment in Japan Frank played more football, now representing the USAF. The devastation of nuclear detonation inspired Frank to focus his attention to helping war orphaned children. During his time serving in Tokyo, Japan, Frank became pen pals with Palma Iannarone who was living in his hometown of Garfield, NJ. When Frank returned home to Garfield, he met Palma for the first time. Within a year they began their 67 year marriage.

Frank had a passion for family, community involvement and sports. Frank and Palma raised their 3 children in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, where Frank was very active in PTA and Cub Scouts. However, his greatest passion was coaching football. During his coaching tenure Frank founded the Briganti Raiders, a football team for young boys aged seven to nine.

Some of Frank's other hobbies included planning family vacations and traveling. He loved to shop for cars and assisted his children in purchasing cars throughout their adult lives. Frank was also an amateur photographer (very amateur), but loved taking pictures of family and the many places he visited. His nephews and nieces warmly nicknamed Uncle Frank, "Frankie Photograph". Every morning Frank enjoyed reading his daily newspaper from cover to cover during breakfast. Frank, along with Palma, had fun dressing up for Halloween and decorating their home for every holiday. As technology advanced through the years, Frank advanced with it going from a teletype operator to a computer whiz enjoying emailing and social media as well as everything else the internet has to offer.

In 1979 Frank retired from his position as a welding engineer in the nuclear division of the Curtis Wright Corporation. Frank began a second career as a mechanical maintenance supervisor for Hackensack Medical Center. In 1995, Frank retired from HMC and continued to work part time for another 12 years as a limousine driver, driving for Heights Executive Limo and Bergen Limo in New Jersey and TEAM Services in Florida.

In 1995 Frank and Palma moved to Delray Beach, FL where he immediately became involved in his Country Manors community becoming a director for his HOA for eight years. He also called bingo numbers for 12 years, even though he never played. A devout Catholic, Frank was a Eucharistic Minister for the Outreach Program at Emmanuel Catholic Church. He served communion at Mass as well as visiting home-bound parishioners.

Frank is survived by his wife Palma (Iannarone), children Vincent (Nancy), Jo Ann (Joseph) DeCanto and Frank (Michele) Briganti, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Lorne and Sons Funeral Home, 745 N.E. 6th Avenue, Delray Beach, FL. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at Emmanuel Catholic Church, 15700 South Military Trail, Delray Beach, FL, at 11:00AM followed by internment with honors at the South Florida National Cemetery, Lake Worth, FL at 1:15 PM in Lane 3.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Frank's memory can be made to either Emmanuel Catholic Church, 15700 South Military Trail, Delray Beach, FL 33484 or to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, P.O. Box 305, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302.