This Painting, called “Daddy-O”, is an original painting by Still Runnin's featured artist Bob Petillo. It’s a tribute to the life of Frank Stefanacci commissioned by his twin sons, Vinny and Matt Stefanacci.
What was so special about Frank? On this year’s Father’s Day, we can say, the kind of father he was to his sons. “He was like another brother to us; more like our best friend”, said Vinny, ‘We did everything together. Every day was Father’s Day. All our friends called him ‘Daddy-O. He was the kind of guy everyone loved.”
What makes this story so touching to us is the way Frank left this world. It was Valentine's Day, 2008 and suddenly, he was gone. “Just like that”, said Vinny, ‘something happened on the job and that was it. Our father was in our lives every day and then he was gone.
Vinny remembered Bob Petillo, an artist he met at Lead East in ‘07 and called about commissioning a portrait of Frank with his 1950 F-1 Ford Pickup.
“Bob really responded with a full understanding of the importance of this painting. He promised us he would capture dad’s personality and he really nailed it”, said Matt. “We unveiled it at our birthday party and the whole family was there. It was like Dad was there, too.”
“The painting remains as a way we celebrate who our Dad was”, said Vinny, a regular guy who was to us, the world’s greatest dad.”
I spoke with Frank Stefanacci's twin sons, Vinny and Matt, for the longest time in Parsippany, New Jersey during the world's largest 50's party, Lead East, last year.
By the time we were through speaking the energy of their Father's life filled the parking lot by passage of his two sons. You could not help feel energized with each story the boys told me. Frank Stefancci may have been the man who brought these two young men into the world, but it is without question he was more than their Father, he was their best friend.
Frank has left his imprint of his passion for life and hot rods in his two sons, a gift that not everyone gets ... these two boys will cherish Frank's gift forever! It was my pleasure to have made their acquaintance.