building Nunraw New Abbey 1950s
Photo from Maria Jordan, niece of the late Francis Ricardo
‘Real Lives’
Dedication of a larger than life character
Frank Ricardo was born on October 5,1936 into a large family of Italian origin in
The Ricardos moved to Fettes Row in
After school he got a job as a marble terrazzo restorer for Toffolo Jackson along with his older brother Joe. One of the projects he was most proud of was the work he did on the floors of Nunraw Abbey near Garvald,
The Ricardos moved from Fettes Row to Trinity and kept a holiday home in the grounds of Nunraw Abbey, which Frank made his full-time base when the last of his 13 siblings passed away.
Poor health eventually caused him to change career and he spent the last few years before his retirement as a nursing assistant at
Frank never married and the church played an important role in his life. He was a passkeeper at St Mary's RC Cathedral in
At his funeral in St Mary's Monsignor David Gemmell remarked that the Cathedral's 9.30am mass would never be the same without Franks’s ' loud; friendly and welcoming chatter.
He belonged to the Catholic associations, the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Men's Society.
Frank had been to the pilgrimage site of
He was one of a group of older helpers, who wore green caps with the nickname "Dad's Army" emblazoned across them.
One of his proudest moments was being part of a guard of honour in
Frank spent every weekend with his niece Maria Jordan at her home in lnverkeithing and it was there that he died suddenly on January 7.
Maria said: "He was larger than life and never had a wrong word to say about anyone and would do whatever he could to help people.
He had a very kind heart and was a gentle giant with a brilliant sense of humour. His life was dedicated to the church and his family."
Frank's funeral was held by six priests in St Mary's Cathedral and he was buried in
He is survived by his nieces, Maria Jordan and Catherine Johnston and her husband George.
Abbot Raymond Jaconelli of Nunraw Abbey said: "Frank was a very outgoing man and he will be sadly missed."