FRANCIS CHRISTOPHER LOLLI – Obituary
Francis Christopher Lolli, a prominent resident of Clayton, NJ, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. He was 92. Frank was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and local historian to all who knew him. He was known around town as the most effective, unofficial Mayor of Clayton.
Frank was born in the Tamarri family’s farmhouse in Landisville, NJ. He spent his early years living in Landisville apartments he fondly described as the “Italian ghetto.” He was a proud graduate of Vineland (NJ) High School and the Philadelphia Institue of Barbering. He also held a PhD from “The School of Hard Knocks” where he taught Master and PhD level courses the rest of his life.
A proud American of Italian heritage, he was drafted and served in the US Army as an 11th Airborne paratrooper during the Korean War. He trained at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Camp Hale, Colorado in a cold-weather warfare program that was scheduled for air deployment into the mountains of Korea. His service period concluded before deployment to Korea. Although badly injured in a parachuting exercise, he was a proud serviceman who deeply loved his country. Frank was rarely seen without a paratrooper-themed baseball hat.
In 1959, Frank married Joyce V. Fisher, the love of his life. They later settled in Clayton, built a house and started a home for their two sons. He was a proud citizen of his adopted “home town” of Clayton where he lived for most of his adult life. For many years, he served in the Jaycees and Kiwanis (sometimes as an officer) and sat on the Board of Directors at the Peoples Bank of Clayton, Franklin Savings Bank and Clayton Building and Loan. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Clayton Veterans Committee.
While best known as “Frank the Barber,” he was also a successful businessman and entrepreneur. He owned apartment buildings, purchased (and later sold) building lots in Clayton with his partner and best friend Jim Gaglianone and owned D. W. Thomas ( gun stock manufacturer) in Rosenhayn, NJ, with his partner Al Romalino.
In January of 1996, Frank sold his barbershop to Scott Vignola, a self-described “scared to death, 22 year old kid.” “Frank’s Barber Shop” became “Scott’s Barber Shop” and Frank gained another son and the Lolli boys gained another brother.
Frank is survived by his 2 sons, Steven (Anne) and David (Alice), 6 grandchildren, Patrick, Andrew, Olivia, Hannah, Ava and Nina and a great grandson, Wesley. Dear brother to Bert Giumetti and his wife, Mary, Uncle Paul and Aunt Lois and extended family. His life-long friend – Albert DeStefano – passed in 2024.
Predeceased in death by his wife Joyce, joined together once again and just in time for their 66th Anniversary. May they never spend another moment apart.
The family would like to extend their thanks to: Jonathan Pan, MD, Phyllis Duda, MSN, APN-C, AOCN and the entire MD Anderson Cooper Oncology Team for their compassion and expert care; Redeemer Health’s Lisa Gedaka for her years of incredible in-home care for both Frank and Joyce; and, Nancy Fox, their Clayton neighbor, who was always ready to lend a hand regardless of the time of day.
Relatives and friends will be received on Friday, April 11, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at Pancoast Funeral Home 676 S. Main Rd. Vineland, NJ, 08360 where his funeral ceremony will begin at 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow in the Our Lady of Victories Cemetery in Landisville.
PLEASE! In lieu of flowers or ANYTHING else, please instead consider a donation to:
Prostate Cancer Foundation: https://cure.pcf.org/site/Donation
National Multiple Sclerosis Society: https://www.nationalmssociety.org/
Death with Dignity: https://deathwithdignity.org/c4-donate/
Last Salute: https://lastsalute.us/donate/