Obituary: Emilio A. 'Steve' DiFranza, Artist and Teacher

Obituary from Croswell Funeral Home:

Emilio A. “Steve” DiFranza, 87, of North Reading and formerly of Melrose, died Monday evening, September 29, 2014, at the Woodbriar Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facility in Wilmington.

Born in Boston, MA on October 13, 1926, he was the son of the late Joseph and Filomena (Perillo) DiFranza.

He was a graduate of the Vesper George School of Art in Boston in 1950, just as the Korean War was getting underway. After a tour of duty with the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Korea, he entered The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in 1952. Completing a double major in graphic design and painting in 1956, he was awarded a Clarrissa Bartlett Traveling Scholarship to study in Europe.

Upon his return in 1957, he taught drawing and design at the Museum School. In addition, he worked as an Art Director at several Boston Advertising Agencies. He has exhibited paintings in The Boston Arts Festival, the American Federation of Art Traveling Exhibit, the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Boston Museum School Centennial Exhibition.

He was given a one-man show of his trompe-l’oeil paintings at the Flint Memorial Library in North Reading in 1995. His paintings are in private collections in the United States and in Europe. He was featured in Hot Lines in the Sunday Globe Magazine and has had great success with commissions for his “Wedding Trompes.”

He has also created the series of panels for the North Chapel at Christ Church, Andover. Steve retired from advertising in 1992 and has been devoting his time pursuing his painting and helping his wife Happy, with her rug hooking business. Steve was a co-author with his wife Happy in producing Hooking Fine Gifts with Stackpole Books. He has volunteered his time for numerous projects and designs for the Town of North Reading.

Steve has been a resident of North Reading for the past 55 years. He was a member of the Christ Church Andover and the Boston Museum School Alumni Association.

Family members include his beloved wife of 54 years, Mabel D. (Gorton) “Happy” DiFranza; his loving daughters, Elizabeth DiFranza and her partner Lawrence Terry of Arlington and Suzanne Petretta and husband Joe of Pittsfield; his brother, Michele DiFranza of Peabody and his sister, Marie DeSisto of McKenzie,TN; grandchildren, Domenic and Angela Petretta and Georgia and Jordan Terry.

His funeral service will be held at the Christ Church Andover, 25 Central St., Andover on Friday, Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. Calling hours will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading, on Thursday, Oct. 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. Burial will be private. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Edith A. O’Leary Senior Center, 157 Park St., North Reading, MA 01864 or to Christ Church Andover, 25 Central St., Andover, MA 01810.