Obituary of Frank A Sarno

Frank A. Sarno, retired owner of Frank Sarno Disposal, passed away after a brief illness on Saturday, December 30, 2023.  He was 81 years old.  Frank was born in Woburn MA and grew up in Burlington when it was just a small farming community.  He started working with his dad at the age of 15 to help expand the business.  It was a six day a week job working with business in and around the Burlington and Woburn area.  He ran his business with a sense of honor.  Frank’s handshake was his word and was better than a contract.  If a customer needed something special, he was more than willing to accommodate them.  Every customer was on a first name basis and business associates became lifelong friends.  After 28 years in the business, he sold the business he then continued with trucking first ZBR Trucking and then C.N Wood until he retired at age 64.

Frank simply loved people.  He was a conversationalist and would talk to anyone if they were willing to listen. He was big vintage car enthusiast.  He had a great wit and loved telling a good story.  He sponsored and played for the Sarno Trucking softball team for years.  He loved spending his Sundays at the family cottage on Providence Lake in Effingham, NH.  He was a member of the Billerica Elks, Woburn Sons of Italy, and and “Breakfast Club” in MA and ‘Burger Boys” in Florida. He made the most out of his retirement years.  He spent 17 years wintering in Bonita Springs.  He picked that location because of spring training.  He was a huge Boston sports fan, with the Red Sox being his most favorite team.  He was an avid sports memorabilia collector.  He had a wide collection from all sports.  He would spend days going to shops and shows chatting up the salesman and trying to add to his collection rather than sell.  In Florida, he filled his days playing tennis, pool, and dancing, he played Bocce even winning a trophy last year for his skill. He loved going out to eat with friends, although he always preferred Barbara’s food to restaurants.

Frank was the beloved husband of the late Jean (Haverty) Sarno.  He was the proud father of Lisa Manzo & her husband Russell of Wilmington, NC, Laura Cote & her husband Craig of Leland, NC, Linda DeSimone & her husband Stephen, of Wilmington MA, Leslie Kenney of Chester, VT, and the late Francis A. Sarno, Jr.  He was the proud grandfather of Rebecca Manzo, Melissa Messersmith, Brian Cote, Anthony DeSimone, Michael DeSimone, Adam Kenney, Sean Kenney, and Alison Kenney.  He was the great grandfather of Blake Messersmith, Banks Messersmith, Benjamin DeSimone and Gianna DeSimone.  Frank was also blessed to have Barbara Pagliuca of Billerica be his companion for the past 23 years.  Frank will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Friday, January 5 from 4-7pm. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Saturday, January 6 at 9am. Followed by a Mass of Christian burial at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10am. Services will conclude with a burial in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington.  

Memorials in Frank’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.  

For online guestbook, obituary, and video tribute see wwwsullivanfuneralhome.net