Sunday, August 27, 2017



When you’re at a Vandetta reunion, frankly, you’re surrounded by Frank Vandettas.

Frank Vandetta III, born in 1955, and wife Brenda Vandetta are used to it.

Frank III is the guy in the yellow shirt in the photo. Brenda is wearing a green top at the Rivesville gathering.

Their son, Frank Anthony Vandetta IV, is in blue holding a child,  Frank Vandetta V, whose mother is Stephanie Kishbaugh Vandetta, on the far left, a paramedic who once lived in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. Frank IV is a North Marion grad and Monongah Fire Department firefighter.

There’s a previous photo of Frank V being held by WVU’s The Mountaineer.

Nathan Kotsko is behind Frank III and Brenda. Nathan Kotsko and Meya Kotsko, I suspect, have Vandetta blood in them.

The first Frank Vandetta, married to Olga Grandoni Vandetta, was born in the early 1900s. The second was Frank Junior Vandetta,  born in 1928. The third is Frank Vandetta III,  born in 1955. The fourth is Frank Anthony Vandetta IV, born in 1990. The fifth is Frank Charles Vandetta V, born in 2015.

Frank, Jr., who passed away in 2013, was married to Fannie Caputo Vandetta, who survived him.

His brother-in-law is Sam Lopez, Sr. of Monongah, one of 19 remaining survivors of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in 1945 and the father of Linda Lopez Gandy, Class of 1965, Monongah Alumni Association president.

Frank, Jr. was predeceased by son John Vandetta and sisters Joanne Vandetta Lopez (Sam’s wife), Mary Jean Vandetta Bonfantino and Margaret Vandetta Shaffer.

Joanne passed away in 2012.

Monongah Mayor Greg Vandetta, Class of 1975, is Frank III’s cousin.

Valerie Vandetta Aldridge is Class of 1973.

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