Obituary of Richard Michael Mancini

Mancini, Richard Michael Rochester: Age: 83 Survived by his nieces, Kathy (Sonny) Grenga, Donna Bennett, Karen (Dan) Nifeneger, Eileen Carbrello and Norah Molinari; many other loving relatives and dear friends. A bright light in our lives dimmed on June 30,2016 when Richard Mancini passed away peacefully. He was born in 1932 to parents Mary and Ercole and brother Dominic and sister Angelina(Molinari). He was surrounded by a wonderful extended family of Aunts,Uncles and many cousins. He first appeared on a community stage at age 18 with Blackfriars, then known as Catholic Theater. Before that, he was active in theater at Aquinas High School. Even earlier than that, he was organizing kids in his Almira Street backyard ( now the site of the Coca Cola bottling plant) into impromptu theatrics, using blankets as curtains. If other kids were not around, he would stage finger puppet productions in the front window of his house, entertaining anyone who was walking by. Movies were also his passion as a boy; he would spend entire weekends at the old Lyric Theater on North Clinton Avenue, around the corner from his home. His favorite stars were Carmen Miranda, Deanna Durbin and Alan Ladd. He would spend all day watching and rewatching movies like "How Green Was My Valley". Richard served two years in the Army, where, naturally, he staged theatrical productions at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu. He loved Hawaii! He returned to Rochester in 1958, and played Shakespeare himself in a George Bernard Shaw one-act, "The Dark Lady of the Sonnets", part of a trio of Irish one-act plays RCP called "Three for the Play". Richard went on to work with Blackfriars for years, both as a play director and as President of the Board of Directors. Among many other shows, he directed "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in 1977. His day time job was as head of the Display Department at B.Forman Company. In 1979, he moved to Washington,DC, working at the Smithsonian Institute. For the next thirty years, he performed constantly, usually five productions a year. he was one of the founders of the Washington Shakespeare Company, started in 1990. He also worked with Studio R Theater, SCENA Theater, the Shakespeare Theater Company and with Folger Theater at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Met Stage, Signature Theater, Studio Theater, JCC, Erie Playhouse, Pittsburgh Children's Theater and Phoenix Theater. He was the recipient of The Mary Goldwater Award in 2002. In 2010, Richard returned to Rochester, having retired from The Smithsonian. After more than two hundred productions as a performer, and countless others as a scenic designer his participation in his beloved theater continued right up to this year. Most recently he completed his book , "The Costilluzzo Family In The Twentieth Century, 1890 to 2000". This book was a labor of love and was presented at a "Cousins Lunch" this Spring. He loved the Cousin Lunches, which are infamous for continuing from noon right through to the evening, moving from a restaurant to one or another of the cousin's homes. Richard was beloved by his family and many, many dear friends. He was a wonderful cook and enjoyed great dinner parties. His table was always spectacular and he was a gracious host. He loved theater, opera, Shakespeare and life! He will be missed by all! Well done Richard, rest in peace! Bravo!! Calling Thursday, 4 - 8 PM at Falvo Funeral Home, 1395 N. Goodman St. Funeral 9 AM on Friday at Spiritus Christi Church (121 Fitzhugh St. N., 14614). In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Spiritus Christi Church. Interment private.