Frigid weather didn’t stop hundreds of mourners from queuing up at Iovanne Funeral Home on Wooster Street in New Haven on Friday, December 16th, to say goodbye to Frank Criscuolo, one of New Haven’s most beloved figures. Many key community and press members could be spotted paying their respects.
East Haven resident Criscuolo, along with his wife Claire, co-owned vegetarian Claire’s Corner Copia (which opened in 1975) and adjacent Basta Trattoria (which opened in 2004) in the heart of the Elm City. I also used to patronize the Claire’s Restaurant that most people have forgotten that was once located at the bottom of Branford Hill.
I can’t write this without crying because my wife and I have been friends with Frank & Claire for many years. It’s a long list of people who can make that claim, because Frank & Claire are two of the kindest and most generous souls who ever walked this earth. Who ever had a readier smile or warmer handshake than Frank or a nicer hug than Claire? It seemed as if I ran into Frank and Claire absolutely everywhere. They appeared ubiquitous, because they were so involved in the community and their hearts were so open. Here is a photograph I took of them two years ago at Claire’s Corner Copia.
I have many fond memories of Frank, but I will mention three that involve shared repasts. A few years ago, I dined with Frank and Claire at the Connecticut Magazine awards dinner, at which I was a guest. A couple of years before that, my wife and I had a wonderful dinner with just Frank and Claire at their house in Cozy Beach, where it seemed as if their garden had leapt into the cooking vessels and then onto our plates. And I once took Frank and Claire with me on a review of Noah’s Restaurant in Stonington, where it was great fun getting the two veteran restaurateurs’ take on the meal.
The Criscuolos already lost close family members during the past year as well as their beautiful home due to the ravages of Hurricane Irene. Dear Claire will undoubtedly need a return hug after this last terrible loss. Now is the time for family and friends to step up. Memorial contributions can be directed to the Connecticut Food Bank, P.O. Box 868, New Haven, CT 06513 (www.ctfoodbank.org) or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org).