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LUCENTA, Francis A. "Little Bucko" Longtime Newton resident, passed suddenly on Nov. 4, 2021. Devoted father of Dennis Lucenta and his wife Amy of Natick and Tricia Matta and her husband Pierre of Westwood; loving grandfather of Katie, Conor and Ryan Lucenta. He also leaves his former wife Carol Lucenta and his sister Marcia Lucenta. Francis served in the US Marine Corp Reserves during the Vietnam Era and for almost 40 years owned and operated as a Master Stone Mason, a masonry and landscaping company. He finished his career on the City of Newton Highway Dept. Visiting Hours in the Magni Funeral Home, 365 Watertown St., NEWTON on Sunday, Nov. 7th from 4-7PM and again Monday morning at 11AM before proceeding to Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 573 Washington St., Newton for a 12 Noon Mass. Burial to follow at Newton Cemetery. Andrew J. Magni & Son FH, Newton
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Victor Colantonio
Our paths crossed in 1952, kindergarten, age 5, Carr School Mrs. Hunt’s class. Age 9-12 we played on the Indians, NN Little League. Francis was our catcher, I was a pitcher; batteries have a special bond. Coach Bob Roach, instilled a never give up “can do, will do” attitude that we carried the rest of our lives. In a flash, F A Day, where Fran played football, he loved hitting and tackling. One year John Eldert set up a game against “a school in Concord”. We took the bus, seemed like forever. Eldert didn’t know the game was against the Concord Reformatory; these guys shaved, tough as nails. We got beaten up on every play, punched, kicked, bitten, scratched. Eldert called the game off after the 1st half. To save face he said, “because of darkness,” but we knew if it continued we’d have a floor at Newton-Wellesley. Francis didn’t want to get back on the bus. On the ride home he asked Eldert get a rematch if he could get facemasks for our leather helmets; tougher than nails.
In a flash NNHS, thick as thieves. I remember his home phone number by heart still to this day. NNHS ’63-‘65, was our time of self-realization, social exploration, less so for learning. You can see Fran’s football jersey, with him in it, in the yearbook, tough guy yet a soft touch to his friends.
Then came college. One weekend we did “Winter Carnival” at his school. It was to be an overnight for Janis Joplin / Country Joe MacDonald but they got arrested at Keene Airport. The college president had them released with a promise to return them to the jail after the concert. The bands arrived very late, Janis told us to leave and come back at 10:00 pm, “We got to go back in the can when this gig is over, so get your sleeping bags and some food, this gig ain’t getting over ‘til morning.” They performed all night, she with her new group Cosmic Blues Band debuted for the 1st time ever there. When it became obvious the bands were too stoned and drunk to hold their instruments we left. Janis sat on the edge of the stage chugging her third bottle of Southern Comfort, fell over backward – out cold. Francis said, “This is a night we’ll never forget,” and he was right, I didn’t.
Like me, Fran had highs and lows, some self-inflicted. I can say this for sure, after Anna, his mom, died a part of him died with her, he ever got over it. We were really tight for our most formative years, age 5 to 23, the years that would shape us as adults, husbands, fathers, granddads. As I think back on our time together, friendship, brothers … when Fran passed on November 4, a part of me died that day too.