As a retiree, Frank Litterio embodies everything a person could wish for. He had a wonderful career working in various banks, a loving wife, five children, 19 grandchildren, and now an entirely new career and a lifestyle that affords him one of his most cherished values-FREEDOM-freedom to do what he wants, when he wants, and how he wants; and almost all of his "wants" revolve around family. After high school Frank intended to go to work at Western Electric in Kearny, N.J.. His girlfriend talked him into working at the bank where she worked, and he did, starting at the bottom of the totem pole as a "burster," a person who separates the perforations between pages of computer fan-fold output. Over the years, he progressively worked his way up the banking hierarchy until he reached the position of Senior Vice President, Director of Operations. His girlfriend became his wife and the mother of their five children. Now, 19 grandchildren later, ranging in age from 24 to 2, Frank is living a very different existence. After his job was eliminated in one of the frequent bank mergers and before his sixtieth birthday, Frank decided to look for work doing something different from what he had been doing for the previous 39 years in banking. He had always had a love of and a talent for carpentry and remodeling and decided that he would start a small handyman business doing what he loved doing-repairs and remodeling. With the financial challenge of raising so many kids, Frank had became quite skilled in personal home repairs, from plumbing to electrical to more detailed woodwork. He particularly enjoyed seeing the finished product, something he couldn't enjoy or physically see as an IT (computer) person in his bank Unfortunately, shortly after Frank left his banking career behind, his loving wife, the picture of health for most of her life, became quite ill over a four-year period that he describes as the best of times and the worst of times. The irony was he was finally able to spend quality time with her, and he agonized watching her suffer from her illness. Frank is not lonely. His family makes sure of that, and he is proud of each and every one of them. Frank cherishes his close friends. Every winter he goes to Naples, Fla. to stay in the condo he had purchased for his wife when he retired. There he meets some of his closest friends. They fish, play Bocce, go dancing, drink wine and eat and eat and did I mention they eat, but what he enjoys most is the laughter. They laugh enough in two months to last the rest of the year. In only one meeting, we found Frank to be an easy-going, friendly, warm, successful and thoroughly delightful man who is truly enjoying this phase of his life. Taking our impressions further, we believe he has captured the essence of a happy life, centered around his immediate family, all 30 of whom live in close physical proximity, which is why he intends to stay in his large home forever. Where else can you entertain 30 people during holidays and maintain the family traditions that are so important to him. He has enjoyed good health throughout his life, but does not take it for granted. He is always busy-working, going to his grandkids' games, moving, and working out at the gym. His attitude is positive and up-beat, and he consistently looks for the positives in life rather than the negatives. He surrounds himself with people like him, people who enjoy life. He has also rediscovered a passion. When Frank rented the downstairs in his first two-family home, he found the cabinets too high for his 5'2" wife, so he lowered them. His father-in-law was handy, so he helped out. Whenever anything needed to be done in his home, he adopted the attitude, "I can do this!" He enjoyed the finished product, so when he retired, he began working with his brother and fixing up houses and addressing any problems that arose that they could fix. The freedom he so loves includes going to work when he wants, avoiding the stress of traffic, going to his beach house when he wants, being with his friends and family when he wants. When we asked what he misses most from his working days, Frank said he misses the camaraderie, the conversations, the spontaneous chatting with co-workers, but most of all, the laughter. His advice to future retirees is have a plan. Know where you are going, and what you are going to do. His bucket list includes going to Italy, the Grand Canyon and seeing a baseball game in every Major League stadium. Ultimately, however, he wishes to dance with his youngest granddaughter at her wedding!! We not only enjoyed this interview with Frank but also felt he validated what we think is most important at any stage of life and particularly retirement; and that is a positive attitude! Frank's is the best! |
