FRANK CACCAVO, 79

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Lifelong Staten Islander Frank L. Caccavo, 79, the renowned chef and owner of Roma Restaurant and Pizzeria in Grasmere, died yesterday in Clove Lakes Health Care & Rehabilitation Center, Castleton Corners.

Born in West Brighton, he moved to Grasmere in 1968. In 2000, he moved to Tottenville to live with his daughter. He entered Clove Lakes in July, due to illness.

Mr. Caccavo owned and operated Roma's for 20 years, until retiring in 2000. In 1968, he opened a second location, Roma II in Dongan Hills, which he sold a couple of years later.

He also served as a consultant for people who wanted to open restaurants, traveling to New Jersey, Virginia and other locations in the Northeast.

In an Aug. 25, 2000, Staten Island Advance article, a reviewer wrote that pizza lovers living in Grasmere, Dongan Hills and South Beach were familiar with the excellent pies at Roma's, ascribing their delicious taste to Mr. Caccavo's knack for concocting robust tomato sauces.

Another article on May 1, 2001, described the Caccavo family's retirement from the restaurant business, after 60 years of serving what loyal diners called the best Italian food.

"The reason is a combination of health and age," Mr. Caccavo said.

Forty-one of those years were at Roma's, although his late father, Donald, and mother, Filomena, 91, ran Capitol Restaurant & Bar in West Brighton before opening Roma's in 1959. Four generations have cooked and served in the family-owned restaurant

Mr. Caccavo "worked day and night with his father, learning the trade and special recipes from him," said his wife of 55 years, the former Ann Barbato.

Son Donald and daughter Pamela Kelly of Eltingville and three grandchildren "have all helped," said Mrs. Caccavo.

Mr. Caccavo graduated from Bernstein High School, Brooklyn.

He served in the U.S. Army's 28th Infantry Division from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War, stationed in Germany.

Mr. Caccavo enjoyed sports, especially baseball, football, and hockey. He loved playing cards and taking trips to Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

Mr. Caccavo, who died on Veterans Day, was proud to be an American and have served in the military, family noted.

"My dad always was there for our family. He was the best of his time with hands of gold. He was a wonderful father and grandfather. And he will be missed by all of us," said his son, Donald.

"He was one in a million," said his daughter, Pamela.

Along with his mother, wife, son and daughter, Mr. Caccavo is survived by a sister, Anne Fairchild, and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be tomorrow from the Virginia Funeral Chapel, Dongan Hills, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Christopher's R.C. Church, Grant City. Burial will be in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.