Chesterton resident Frank Gucciardo died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007. He was 83.

He is survived by his wife of 52 1¦2 years, Joan (Kevens) of Chesterton; son William Gucciardo (wife Kathy) and grandson Michael, all of Chesterton; brothers Donald Marazza (Elizabeth) of Manchester, Tenn. and Manuel Gucciardo (Mediam) of Monterrey, Mexico; many nieces, nephews, and dear friends; and his loving fur ball Dazzle.

Born in Gary in 1924, he attended Gary Schools and graduated from Horace Mann in 1941. He volunteered for the U.S. Army Corps in 1942 at 18 and attended Oklahoma City University and flight schools at several Texas locales. He graduated in the spring of 1944 as a 2nd Lieutenant. He went overseas to the European Theater, flying 52 combat missions with the 15th Air Force. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant at the age of 20. While overseas, he was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart for wounds in action, four air medals, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Good Conduct Medal and Theater Operations ribbons for combat.

After returning to the United States, he served 15 years with the Air Force Reserves. He joined the Gary Police Department in 1950 as a patrolman with the traffic division and worked through the ranks of detective, sergeant, captain and chief of detectives. He was appointed assistant chief of police before retiring in 1972.

He attended Indiana University, the Northwestern University Traffic Institute, and Case-Western’s Law/Medicine School. He was appointed executive director of Lake County Criminal Justice Agency, coordinating the distribution of funds from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration to local agencies for 10 years.

He also served as president of the Great Lakes Forensic Laboratory through 1983. He accepted a position of Vice President of Operations with Industrial Security Manage-ment Company, and served more than eight years as a treasurer and trustee on the Gary Public Library Board. He also held a position as a special deputy U.S. marshal protecting federal judges before retiring to Florida at the end of his working career.

He was a 50-year Master Mason of Gary Lodge #677, a 32nd degree member. He was also a member of the Valley of South Bend Scottish Rite Masons, a 50-year member of Orak Temple in Michigan City and a member of American Legion Post #17 for 32 years.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov. 30, at 10 a.m. at the Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 517 Broadway, Chesterton, with Father Lawrence Heeg officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home prior to the service on Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contributions may be made to the Independent Cat Society, 4061 South County Line Road, Westville, Ind., 46391.

Posted 11/29/2007