Our brother Francis Fugini, OFM Cap, former Provincial Minister of our Capuchin Province of St. Augustine and a veteran of the Navy during World War II, entered eternal life in the early hours of Friday, August 13, 2021. He was 95 years old at the time of his death, the oldest friar of the Province.
He was born on October 1, 1925, the third of eleven children of Peter and Marie (Piccola) Fugini, and baptized Richard at Mater Dolorosa Church in Chicora, Butler County, PA. He was educated at the public elementary and high schools of Chicora and enjoyed a close-knit, faith-filled Italian family life with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandmothers (distinguished by the color of their houses as “green Nonna” and “white Nonna”) all near at hand and frequently visited. He never lapsed in gratitude and love for his family and the richness of his Italian heritage, sharing memories and seeking distant relations until very late in his life.
The shadow of World War II eventually clouded these family comforts and young Richard enlisted in the U.S. Navy upon graduating from high school in 1943 at 18. Upon completion of boot camp in Sampson, NY, and enjoying a brief home furlough, he was shipped to Fort Hueneme, CA (Tent City), to Treasure Island in Oakland and ultimately to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he first worked repairing airplane engines. He was later recruited by the Catholic Chaplain to serve as Chaplain’s Assistant and base librarian – an opportunity he accepted with relief and enthusiasm. This combination of faith-filled service and administrative competence would mark his time 
far beyond that spent in the Navy. He wrote: “While in the service I corresponded with Fr. Giles Staab, OFM Cap., at St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, PA. I had met Fr. Giles on the occasion of a Boy Scout retreat at St. Fidelis Seminary. I also saw him when he assisted at our parish church in Chicora. A couple of weeks after my honorable discharge, I drove to Herman and met with Fr. Giles and Fr. Victor Green who welcomed me to St. Fidelis. I entered St. Fidelis College Seminary in September of 1946.”
Completing his second year of studies at St. Fidelis, Richard entered the Capuchin novitiate on July 13, 1948, receiving the habit of the Order and the Religious name “Francis,” which he held for the rest of his life. Following his Capuchin profession of the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in 1949, he returned to St. Fidelis to complete his college studies before moving on to priestly formation at Capuchin College in Washington, DC. He was ordained a priest on June 5, 1954, with his younger classmates and confreres Andrew Hohman (+2011), Charles Knoll (+2015), Howard Bich (+1994), Brendan Malloy (+2006) and Benedict Pope (+2008).
For most friars, the reception of Holy Orders begins a life of ministry that includes changes of assignment on a fairly regular basis. Francis, on the other hand, moved only three times during the entire sixty-seven years of his ministry. Following a brief stay at St. Charles Borromeo Friary in St. Louis, MO, from 1955-56, he was assigned to St. Francis Seminary in Victoria, KS, where he would spend the next sixteen years as Professor, Prefect of Discipline and Studies and ultimately as High School Principal. One friar recently remarked that “Frank Fugini formed the seminary culture at St. Francis Seminary during my years there.” When the Seminary had to close its doors in 1970, Fr. Francis graciously and wholeheartedly assisted in transforming the former seminary into St. Francis Renewal Center, where he spent his final two years in Kansas as Director.
It was difficult for our brother to leave Kansas with the heartfelt efforts he had invested in training young men for priesthood and Religious life. It is a hallmark of his career that when faced with difficult circumstances and decisions he spoke his mind clearly and with charity but gave himself wholly to the resulting outcome - whether it served his preferences or not. He trusted deeply in God’s providence, saying, “My biggest surprises came after ordination to the priesthood. On a scale of 1 to 10, not one of my assignments after ordination would have been on my personal list of preferences. I was gratefully surprised at the peace and grace I experienced in working with people in places and ministries to which I was assigned. God works in wonderful, mysterious and surprising ways. Indeed, God is good."
In 1972 Fr. Francis was called back to St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh. For the next forty-eight years, he served the friars and the Province in its administration. Initially named Director for Personnel, Ministries and Liturgy, he added the positions of Executive Secretary and Archivist to his list of duties in 1979. He handled each and every task with graciousness and competence, yet no one was more surprised than he when he was elected to the first of his two terms as Provincial Minister in 1989. Plans were in place to demolish the 19th century friary of St. Augustine's in Lawrenceville and to house the friars in a safer and more familial building. Francis led the planning and execution of that building that was dedicated in 1991.
At the completion of his second term as Provincial Minister in 1992 he moved immediately into the work of updating and stabilizing the Seraphic Mass Association, the Province's Mission Office, continuing in that role for the next 19 years until limitations of age and health began to take their natural toll.
He loved the liturgy of the Church and had a fine singing voice, usually adding harmony to the hymns sung by the friars during the Liturgy of the Hours and at Mass. He was an organist and pianist following in his father's footsteps who was an entertaining accordion player. Francis was health-conscious and remained an avid cyclist 
into his 80’s and was known for his weekly swims and longs walks. He had a fine memory and mind for details until the latter years of his life and was a treasure trove of institutional memory for the Province of St. Augustine. He was a fervent gardener and enjoyed hours planting and tending the friary gardens.
After suffering a fall on May 22nd, Francis was admitted to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. Over the following weeks he underwent procedures to stem bleeding in his brain but nevertheless, his health gradually deteriorated before his final passing to the Lord.
Francis was predeceased by his brothers Carl, Alfred, Robert and Lewis, and his sister Gloria (Sacharski). He is survived by brothers Vincent of Chicora and Franklin of Butler, and sisters Bernadette (Martin) of High Point, NC, Sylvia (Pennington) and Rose Mary (Rumbaugh), both of Chicora.
Viewing and Visitation
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
7:00 p.m.
St.Augustine Friary
221 36th Street
Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville), PA
A Vigil Service was prayed beginning at 8:00 p.m.
Funeral Mass of Resurrection
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
10:00 a.m.
St.Augustine Church, OLA Parish
Burial took place at Saint Augustine Cemetery,
Millvale (Shaler Twshp), PA, will follow the Mass.
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Memorial donations to honor
the life of our brother Francis
may be made online
to the Capuchin Franciscan Friars
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